Digital reference services in academic libraries

To identify the proportion of libraries conducting digital reference servic e and to examine the characteristics of: those services, we conducted a sur vey of 150 academic library Web sites. Approximately 45 percent of the surv eyed libraries offered digital reference services, with higher proportions among larger and more comprehensive institutions. We also examined: direct links from library homepages, ways in which users submit questions, FAQ doc uments, policies, technological barriers, and the role of institutional con trol.