Refer to the Global Network

You can refer a question to the Global Reference Network for an answer when your library needs assistance.

• Overview
• Begin the procedure
• Steps on the Send Question to Global Network page
• Steps after you click the Choose a Library button
• Steps after you click the Automatic button
• When QuestionPoint sends your request

Overview

When you refer a question to the Global Network:

• You provide information (called "routing information") about the question. QuestionPoint uses it to search the profiles of libraries in the Global Network to find the libraries most qualified to answer the question.
• You specify who receives the e-mail message when the answering library sends the answer: the patron only, the patron and the requestor (your library), or the requestor only.
• You choose from a list of libraries the one that receives the question.
  Or, you let QuestionPoint choose the library automatically.

Begin the procedure

To refer a question to the Global Network for an answer:

1. Go to the Full Question.
2. In the Refer To drop-down list, select Global Network.
3. Click the arrow next to the drop-down list.
   QuestionPoint displays the Send Question to Global Network page.

Steps on the Send Question to Global Network page

1. Optional: You can click either of the following buttons at any time if necessary:
   • Click Reset to begin again to provide information about the question.
   • Click Cancel to cancel your request and return to the Full Question.
2. Click the Full Question View link to view all information about the question in a separate window. Resize and position the window as needed.
3. Provide global routing information that describes the question.
   Global routing information
4. Click one of the following buttons:
   • Click Choose a Library to list the libraries most qualified to answer the question so you can choose one.
     If you do, see Steps after you click the Choose a Library button.
   • Click Automatic to automatically send the question to the library most qualified to answer the question.
     If you do, see Steps after you click the Automatic button.

Steps after you click the Choose a Library button

If you click Choose a Library, QuestionPoint displays the Best Match Results page.

Do one of the following:

• To send the question to a library, click on the library in the list of libraries (if QuestionPoint displays a list).
  If you do, see When QuestionPoint sends your request.
• To send the question to the On-Call Librarian, click the Route to On-call Librarian button (if QuestionPoint displays a message stating that no libraries matched the information in your request).
  For additional information, see What is the on-call librarian? (FAQ)
  If you click this button, see When QuestionPoint sends your request.
• To return to the Send Question to Global Network page and change the routing information so you can try again to find libraries, click the Change Routing Parameters button.
  If you do, see Steps on the Send Question to Global Network page.

Steps after you click the Automatic button

If you click Automatic, QuestionPoint does one of the following:

• Sends the question to a library.
  If it does, see When QuestionPoint sends your request.
• Or, displays the Best Match Results page if no libraries matched the information in your request.

If QuestionPoint displays the Best Match Results page, do one of the following:

• To send the question to the On-Call Librarian, click the Route to On-call Librarian button.
  For additional information, see What is the on-call librarian? (FAQ)
  If you click this button, see When QuestionPoint sends your request.
• To return to the Send Question to Global Network page and change the routing information so you can try again to find libraries, click the Change Routing Parameters button.
  If you do, see Steps on the Send Question to Global Network page.

When QuestionPoint sends your request

When it sends the question to a library or to the on-call librarian, QuestionPoint:

• Returns you to the last question list that you viewed. The list may or may not contain the question that you referred to the Global Network.
• Changes the status of the question to "pending"
  
• Changes the status of the question to "referred out to Global"
  
• Places the question in your library's Pending, Referred, and Active question lists

Related topics

• Global routing information
• Update global routing information
• About the Global Network
• Receive questions from Global Network