GCRIO Exemplary Service Award

The Virtual Reference Desk (VRD) awarded "Ask Dr. Global Change," a service of the US Global Change Research Information Office (GCRIO), a prestigious VRD Exemplary Service award at the VRD 2002 Digital Reference Conference, "Charting the Course of Reference: Towards a Preferred Future," on November 11, 2002 in Chicago, IL. At the time, GCRIO was implemented by The Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University. The awards ceremony recognized outstanding digital reference and AskA services for their contributions to the field of online Q&A;, and for the provision of high-quality information to members of the K-12 community and beyond.

"Dr. Global Change" is a reference service that assists domestic and international researchers, students, educators, resource managers, policymakers, and the general public in finding information and data relevant to global environmental change. Staff from the US Global Change Research Information Office, along with staff from U.S. Government agencies, provides answers to questions related to climate change science. GCRIO provides access to data and information on climate change research, adaptation/mitigation strategies and technologies, and global change related educational resources on behalf of the US Climate Change Science Program and its participating Federal Agencies.

Past VRD Exemplary Service award winners have been selected based on the "Facets of Quality for Digital Reference Services." The characteristics and features outlined in the "Facets" document, as identified by an expert panel of digital reference service representatives, include Accessible, Prompt Turnaround, Clear Response Policy, Interactive, Instructive, Authoritative, Trained Experts, Maintain User Privacy, Reviewed, Provides Access to Related Information, and Publicized.

U.S. Global Change Research Information Office, Suite 250, 1717 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20006. Tel: +1 202 223 6262. Fax: +1 202 223 3065. Email: . Web: www.gcrio.org. Webmaster: .