Make a subscription group "public"
A public subscription group is one type of virtual group that QuestionPoint subscribers can form. For general information about virtual groups, see Virtual groups (overview).
Requirement
You must be the administrator of a subscription group and your institution must have an active profile in the Global Reference Network in order to make a subscription group public.
Procedure
To make a subscription group public:
| Action | Result or Note | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Log on to QuestionPoint using your subscription group administrator authorization number. | |
| 2 | Select Administration in the Select Service drop-down menu at the top of the page. | The system displays the Create New Librarian Account page of the Administration module. |
| 3 | Click the Virtual Groups tab. | The system displays the My Virtual Groups page.
Note: If the Virtual Groups tab does not appear, your institution does not have an active profile in the Global Reference Network. For more information about a profile, see Why should your library complete a profile and keep it up-to-date? |
| 4 | Click the Make Public button. | The system displays the Subscription Group
Update page on which you make the subscription group
public.
Note: If the My Virtual Groups page has no Make Public button:
|
| 5 | For Viewing Status, click the Public button
if information about the group should be available now for other
libraries to see.
Click the Private button if it should not. |
|
| 6 | For Use This Group for, check the Referral box
if group members may refer questions among themselves when they
need assistance providing answers.
Check the Web Form Coverage box if group members may provide Web-form question coverage and extended hours of service for each others' patrons. |
Note: You may check 1or 2 boxes. |
| 7 | In the Group Name box, accept the default group name or type a group name of up-to-60 characters and spaces. | Note: In Group Name, you could describe
the purpose and scope of the group for members and potential members.
You might include the group's subject area, geographic area,
types of libraries or organizations, etc. For example: Public
Libraries with Specialized Art Collections.
Also, when libraries look for a group to join, they can search by a keyword or text string in the group name or by the first letter of the group name. Therefore, include words in the name that would be used to find your group. Begin the name with a word that might be used first to find your group. The default group name is the name specified in the Subscription Group section of the Administration module. That name also identifies the group's local knowledge base. For information about changing that name, see Set up branding for your group's patron accounts and librarian accounts. |
| 8 | In the Contact E-mail Address box, type the e-mail address to receive questions about your group from members and potential members. | Note: Use your e-mail address unless you want someone else to answer questions about the group. |
| 9 | In the Contact Name box, type the name of the person to receive questions about your group from members and potential members. | Note: Use your name unless you want someone else to answer questions about the group. |
| 10 | For Enrollment Status, click the Open button
if institutions may join the group now.
Click the Closed button if institutions may not join the group now. |
Note: If you select Closed,
you must update the group to select Open when institutions
may join the group. For more information, see
Update
or delete a public subscription group.
If the enrollment status is open, the Join this group link appears with the group's information on the Group Enrollment page and institutions may join the group. If the status is closed, the link does not appear. |
| 11 | For Activation Status, click the Active button
if group members may participate in group activities now.
Click the Inactive button if they may not. |
Note: If you select Inactive, you must update the group to select Active when members may participate in group activities. For more information, see Update or delete a public subscription group. |
| 12 | In the Description and Purpose box, type information about the group that you want to share with members and potential members. | Note: Describe the purpose of the group and any qualifications required. Institutions should be able to tell from this description whether this group is appropriate for them or not. |
| 13 | Click the Save button. | The system makes the group public. |
Related topics
- Virtual groups (overview)
- Why should your library complete a profile and keep it up-to-date?
- Set up branding for your group's patron accounts and librarian accounts
- Update or delete a public subscription group
- Activate and manage members of a virtual group or public subscription group
