Global routing information
When you refer a question to the Global Network, use the information below to help you provide the global routing information that describes the question.
For information about how QuestionPoint uses the global routing information, see How is a question submitted to the Global Reference Network routed to an institution? (FAQ).
| Field | Required or optional? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subject Area | Required | Select a general Subject Area that describes the
question. Select "None" if you want to select a Geographic Subject Area but not a Subject Area. Note: If you are more familiar with DDC than with LCSH, see Map Dewey (DDC) Classification to LC (LCC) for help selecting a Subject Area and Subject Broad Class. |
| Subject Broad Class | Required | Select a specific Subject Broad Class that describes
the question. Select "None" if you selected "None" for Subject Area. |
| Geographic Subject Area | Required | Select a Geographic Subject Area that describes
the question. Select "None" if you selected a Subject Area and a Subject Broad Class and you do not want to select a Geographic Subject Area. Note: Click the Find button to begin a search of the Geographic Subject Area list. Click the Find Next button to continue a search. |
| Response Must Be In | Optional | Select a language in the Response Must Be In drop-down
list if the answer must be provided in a particular language. Select "Any Language" if the answer may be written in any language. Note: The number shown with a language in the drop-down list indicates the number of libraries that can provide an answer in that language. |
| Time Deadline | Required | Select a Time Deadline to specify when the answer
must be received. Note: The options are 8, 12, 24, 48 hours or 7or 30 days after you send your request to the Global Network. |
| Education Level | Required | Select an Education Level to specify the education
level of the patron who needs the answer. Note: The options are "Adult/Life Long Learner," "Master/Ph.D," "Primary/Elementary," "Secondary," "Undergraduate/VoTech." |
| Format | Optional | Select a Format to specify any materials format
in which the answer is needed. Or, select "No Special Format" if the patron did not request a particular one. Note: Examples of format options are "Art Work," "Book," "Picture," "Video Recording." |
| Preferred Country of Answering Library | Required | Select a Preferred Country of Answering Library to
specify the country in which you prefer that the answering library
be located. (This does not limit the location of the answering library
only to the country you select.) Do not select "None" because QuestionPoint will not accept it as a valid choice. Note: The number shown with a country in the drop-down list indicates the number of Global Network libraries in that country. |
| U.S. Zip Code | Optional | If you selected the United States as the preferred country, enter a U.S. Zip Code to specify a U.S. location in or near which you prefer that the answering library be located. |
| Exclude Libraries in My Group | Optional | Check the Exclude Libraries in My Group box if the Global Network should not refer the question to a library in your group. |
| Send Reply To | Required | Check one or both Send Reply To boxes to specify who receives the e-mail message and any attachments when the answering library sends the answer or a clarification request. For more information, see Notes about Send Reply To. |
| Reason for Research | Optional | Select a Reason for Research to indicate
the reason that the patron asked the question. Note: The options are blank (no reason given), "Educational Assignment," "Classroom Instruction," "General Interest," "Job Assignment," "Other." |
| Keywords | Optional | Supply Keywords that describe the question and
might help a librarian find an answer. Separate individual keywords
with commas. Example: Isaac Newton, history of science, gravity |
| Resources Consulted | Optional | Identify any Resources Consulted when you looked for an answer. Separate individual resources with a semicolon. |
| Comments | Optional but recommended | Supply Comments to provide additional information
about the question that might help a librarian find an answer. When you update the routing information, supply a comment that states the reason for the update. |
Notes about Send Reply To
Check one or both Send Reply To boxes to specify who receives the e-mail message and any attachments when the answering library sends the answer or a clarification request.
Regardless of who receives the message, QuestionPoint adds the answer or clarification request and an entry indicating any attachments in the Question History of the Full Question.
Patron only. If you check only the Patron box, only the patron receives the message. Your library does not receive it.
QuestionPoint changes the question status to "answered" for an answer or "pending" for a clarification request.
Patron and Requestor. If you check both the Patron and the Requestor boxes, your library receives a copy of the e-mail message sent to the patron with any attachments. Your copy is sent to your library's Alert E-mail address (Profile > Institution Services > Contact > Alert E-mail).
QuestionPoint changes the question status to "answered" for an answer or "pending" for a clarification request.
Requestor only. If you check only the Requestor box, only your library receives the e-mail message with any attachments. The patron does not receive the message. The message is sent to your library's Alert E-mail address (Profile > Institution Services > Contact > Alert E-mail).
QuestionPoint changes the question status to "new" for an answer or a clarification request.
If the library sends an answer, you do not need to update the routing information and check the Patron box before you send the answer to the patron.
To send the answer to the patron:
- Read the e-mail message and any attachments.
- Save any attachments on your computer so you can include them when you send the answer to the patron.
- Go to the Full Question. The library's answer is in the Question History. The patron receives the Question History when you send the answer.
- Click the Answer button to view the Answer Question page.
- Attach any files that you received from the answering library or that you want to add.
- Include any text or scripts to supplement the answer from the answering library.
- Send the answer to the patron.
If the library sends a clarification request, you can send a message back to the library to reply to the request.
To send the message:
- Read the e-mail message and any attachments sent to your library's Alert E-mail address.
- Save any attachments on your computer so you can use them later if necessary.
- Go to the Full Question.
- Click the Send Message link to view the Librarian Message page.
- Prepare and send a message to the librarian who requested clarification.
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