Annual Report Available

The 2006-2007 grant year was a great year for Ask a Librarian. The year saw Ask a Librarian grow 94% in use from the previous year. Through Ask a Librarian, Florida Librarians answered 43,844 questions (31,359 live chat, 12,485 email). Several new libraries joined the Ask a Librarian community last year; they are: Bartow Public, Clearwater Public Library, Florida International University, Florida Memorial Library, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, and Parkland Public Library.

We also implemented the Academic Desk and an Associate Partnership Membership for schools. We feel that both have fit in with Ask a Librarian wonderfully and have helped the service mature even further. Quality Assurance also took the forefront last year, and will continue this year. Strong customer service is a core value of Ask a Librarian and essential for our success. The Quality Assurance Workgroup grew to 9 members to help manage the growing number of sessions, and has been trying to generate more involvement by opening up the nomination for Exemplary Reference Awards to everyone.

Last year also saw several new marketing campaigns: Ask a Librarian in Social Networking Sites, and niche focuses on community college students, the business community and back to school in high schools and colleges throughout Florida.

To read about these accomplishments and more, view the Annual Report online here:  aal-annual-report-2006-07.pdf.  Paper copies are on the way to each participating libraries director, and additional copies can be sent upon request.