Hi Shirley,
We have implemented an Ask A Librarian service via an online form which users fill in and email to a selected librarian (see http://www.honni.qub.ac.uk/AskaLibrarian/). Basically this is just a web page which could be easily compiled by your in-house web developers or anyone with a knowledge of HTML. When the user clicks 'Send Query' the content of the form is emailed to the relevant subject librarian who simply responds to the email address provided.
It's possible to provide such a service via 'instant messaging' but there are more complex service issues involved, e.g. who would staff it, how would transfers be managed, and what hours would it be made available. There is also more setup involved and there can be technical support issues. You need to acquire an instant messaging 'widget' such as plugoo (www.plugoo.com) or meebo (www.meebo.com), customise it for your library, and then embed it into your website. Since IM widgets rely on external systems which sometimes crash, the reliability of any service based on them can be adversely affected. We decided against using IM for our Ask a Librarian service, but Queen's University does use it for general enquiries if you want to check it out (http://www.qub.ac.uk/lib).
I hope this of some help. If you require further information contact my colleague
Helen Jenkins, Library Information Systems Officer, Tel: 028 9063 5039 email: [log in to unmask]
Regards,
Mildred
Mildred Saunders
User Services Librarian
Medical Library
Mulhouse Building
Mulhouse Road
Belfast BT12 6DP
tel: 028 9063 2500
fax: 028 9063 5038
-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ward, Shirley
Sent: 01 April 2009 13:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: ASK a Librarian
Colleagues
Here at Bolton we are thinking of instigating an 'ask a librarian'
service, either online or via e-mail. We feel this would be of value to
off-campus users, but also those on-campus who are reluctant (for
whatever reason) to speak to someone in person.
I would be grateful if those of you who have such a service could give
me some information about how you set it up, how it operates, and
generally any advice about such things.
Many thanks
Shirley
Shirley Ward
Liaison Team Leader/Learning and Teaching Fellow
The University of Bolton
The Library
Deane Road
BOLTON
BL3 5AB
01204 903553
|