Joe Thompson < jthompso@bcpl.net > is the Statewide Project Coordinator of the Maryland AskUsNow! service, a participant in the 24/7 Reference Cooperative since January 2003. This localized service is provided by 19 public library systems, 5 academic libraries and the Maryland State Law Library. Marketing of the service has proven very successful, with over 30,000 live chat question sessions submitted to Maryland AskUsNow! in just the first year.

A 2001 MLS graduate of the University of Maryland College Park, Joe has worked in the role of reference librarian since 1997, when he began as a Library Associate at the Towson branch of BCPL. Beginning with the coordination of a pilot "Homework Help" project between two Maryland public library systems in 2001, Joe has now provided and managed virtual reference services for over three years. Joe has been a presenter at the Virtual Reference Desk Conference, ALA Annual, and the College of DuPage teleconference series.

Click to ask Joe Thompson a question.