ChaCha, the human-powered search engine, is partnering up Indiana University to create a virtual reference tool for students.
This "help desk" will connect students with a wide range of experts and other resources. This allows students and faculty to find information that's been marked by Indiana University experts. They will also be able to find additional information with ChaCha's signature real-time chat with search experts. The system will basically operate as a branded ChaCha search for Indiana University.
The experts will initially be comprised of the university's librarians and IT staff, working just for the university's ChaCha search. Indiana University will be paid based on how often the ChaCha system is used, which gives both ChaCha and IU room to experiment with the system and see how it could work with other systems and institutions as well.