Get Real Answers from Real Librarians with Live Chat and Live Text
January 18, 2013 — When you want to get an accurate answer to your burning questions, you ask a librarian, right? Now there’s another way to talk to one in real time – without the telephone. (But that always works, too.)
Reference librarians across the 10 branches have begun staffing “Live Chat” and “Live Text” during library hours.
It means you can chat online or text one-to-one, right then, to get help with any topic or information you need. They’re experts at researching questions in the Library’s electronic and print collections. The more basic questions about hours, library card accounts, fines, etc., are best left to branch calls.
Live Chat and Live Text work anywhere you have Internet access.
Both options are online, interactive reference services located on the bottom of the Library’s home page, thelibrary.org.
For Live Chat, just click the icon, type in your question and click “send.” For Live Text, just dial the number from a text-capable device. If a librarian is not available for live answers, the icon will say "Chat offline," and the phone number normally listed there for Live Text will not be visible.
If that happens, you can always call your neighborhood library, or click on "Ask a Librarian" at the top of the website, thelibrary.org, and submit your written question. Staff makes every effort to respond to those questions within 24 hours.
Chat sessions can’t provide lengthy answers to complex questions, but librarians will do their best to provide full answers or sources for more extensive research.
Next time you need some help, try Live Chat or Live Text, and tap into some of the area’s best resources – your librarians.
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Bothered by that overdue-book fine hanging over your head? Start the new year right – pay down or pay off your fine with food during Food For Fines week, Jan. 27-Feb. 2 during business hours at any of the library branches and Mobile Library.
The Library will deduct 50 cents from your overdue book, CD, DVD fine balance for each item of non-perishable food brought in during that week. (The offer doesn’t apply to fines for lost or damaged items.) All the food will be collected and after Feb. 2 and donated to Ozarks Food Harvest.