Points North, Northern New York Library Network

Points North Newsletters

October 2008

Page 1

Ask Us 24/7 Is Now Available

NNYLN member libraries are now eligible to join the Ask Us 24/7 reference service.

Ask Us 24/7 is a virtual chat service that connects people with reference librarians, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

The NNYLN is partnering with the Western New York Library Resources Council to provide the service, which lets participating libraries join together to share responsibilities for providing this service to their patrons. Clients who call Ask Us 24/7 will not necessarily be chatting with a librarian in their community or even at their library, but will be communicating with a reference librarian. The librarian who answers an Ask Us 24/7 call will be able to help with questions about the library and will find answers to other questions by using a range of Internet sources and specialized databases. If the client needs assistance specifically from his/her home library, the question will be referred and a librarian from the client’s home library will reply via email. The following North Country libraries/systems will be joining the 28 libraries already participating in Ask Us 24/7:

  • SUNY Canton
  • SUNY Plattsburgh
  • SUNY Oswego
  • SUNY Potsdam
  • Paul Smith’s
  • North Country Library System
  • North Country Community College
  • Jefferson Community College

Staff of these NNYLN member libraries began training in Ask Us 24/7 with an all-day class held at the Northern New York Library Network’s office in Potsdam on August 26. Trainers from WNYLRC assisted students in setting up accounts and establishing security, and led them through practice sessions, letting them learn to use the system to assist patrons. NNYLN member libraries will begin Ask Us 24/7 service in October.

Other libraries in the region interested in Ask Us 24/7 should call the Northern New York Library Network at 315-265-1119, 877-833-1674 (toll-free in New York) or email Bridget Doyle. Information may also be found at the WNYLRC’s website at www.wnylrc.org, click on "Programs & Services," then on "Ask Us 24/7."

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