CONNECTIONS: The VDOT Library E-Newsletter

New: Virtual Library Orientation

Register for a Virtual Library Orientation ("live" with Microsoft Teams) or check out this recorded session. 
 

Because of geographical constraints (the library is located in Charlottesville, at the Virginia Transportation Research Council) many VDOT employees who could benefit from our collections and services rarely (or never) get a chance to visit the VDOT Research Library in order to orient themselves "in person" to the resources we make available. 

During the pandemic we did a great job solidifying ourselves as a "virtual library," as staff made themselves and the library's resources accessible to patrons all over the state (and in nearby states). For a while even WE weren't at the library in person very much!

As those days fade into the rear-view mirror, library business is going strong — but it is not business as usual. We have little trouble connecting with VTRC researchers (who can literally walk down the hall to check out a book, ask a question or check on the status of a request) but is that really how those interactions go down? What about the rest of VDOT?

Looking closely at the data we see that 54% of all library interactions since 2016 have been with VDOT employees in Districts and Divisions geographically distant from our location (Central Office and the 9 Districts). This is not a surprising fact, and it is also not a surprise that those interactions are almost exclusively through virtual means (phone, e-mail, live chat and online submission forms).  Here's what is surprising to us: Only 2% of ALL patron interactions took place in person, including those with VTRC staff supposedly down the hall.
 

Translation: Everybody, even people in our building, are more virtual that ever these days. So why not embrace our online status?

Whether you are new to VDOT, just discovered the library, or you've used us before and want a refresher, we hope you'll register for a Virtual Library Orientation, which we will hold on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Eastern for any VDOT employee who cares to join. 

Give us 15 minutes and we'll show you how the library's remarkable collections and services can save you time, improve the work you do at VDOT, and support your ongoing professional development. Our next scheduled orientations are: 

• Thursday, October 19, 10:00 a.m. Eastern
• Thursday, November 16, 10:00 a.m. Eastern
• Thursday, December 21, 10:00 a.m. Eastern

This event utilizes Microsoft Teams and is available to all employees (including contractors) with a VDOT e-mail address. A Teams invitation will be sent to you following your registration. 

See you online!

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Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library