Posts filed under 'Tips and Tricks'
Only 6 more days until the academic desk goes live!
On Tuesday, September 4th, all academic libraries should check the “academic desk” option when logging in between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM Monday to Friday. The check box to log in to the academic desk will not be available until Tuesday. When you are staffing the academic desk do not check the box for collaborative, only academic.
Collaborative desk staff will still check the collaborative desk option, as they currently do. Academic libraries staffing outside of the academic desk hours will also check the collaborative desk option.
Libraries staffing local desks outside of their collaborative or academic desk hours will check their library’s name when logging in.
We have some answers to frequently asked questions here:
http://www.tblc.org/askalibrarianblog/2007/08/15/academic-desk-kicks-off-september-4th/
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
August 29th, 2007
Please use this demo to show people how the service works from a user’s point of view.
You might also want to include your library’s Ask a Librarian URL. I left it out so you could promote your library page.
aaldemouser1.swf
Please let me know if you need something different, or a different format, and I can work on producing it.
July 26th, 2007
I just wanted to remind you that tomorrow, July 10th, is our monthly practice day. We will have regular practice sessions for everyone in the state on the second Tuesday of each month.
Please join in and practice your skills in a low-stress environment with your colleagues. I will be online from 9-11 and Michelle Oleson will be online from 1-3 as a librarian and/or patron to help facilitate the practice.
Just go to this site http://www.askalibrarian.org/info/training.asp and log in as a librarian or take a turn asking questions as a patron.
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.
July 9th, 2007
I want to remind everyone that tomorrow, June 12th, will be our first monthly practice session. We will have regular practice sessions for everyone in the state on the second Tuesday of each month. Please join in and practice your skills in a low-stress environment with your colleagues.
I will be online throughout the day as a librarian and/or patron to help facilitate the practice.
Just go to this site http://www.askalibrarian.org/info/training.asp and log in as a librarian or take a turn asking questions as a patron.
I look forward to seeing you online!
June 11th, 2007
I just wanted to share some information about why co-browsing configures successfully sometimes and doesn’t other times.
Our current version of Docutek VRLplus allows a user to connect with us first in chat mode only. We can then choose to initiate co-browsing or not, depending on the session. When the user logs in we have information about what operating system and browser they are using, however there are more requirements for successful co-browsing including security settings and how java is set-up on their computer. The software doesn’t test these items until we try to configure co-browsing, which will either be successful or not. It is important to note that there is nothing “wrong” with the co-browser in these cases. The co-browse configuration should be seen as a test of the user’s system to see if they are capable of co-browsing. If they are not, then the co-browser will go to classic mode and you can continue the session in classic. We are working with Docutek to make this process a little more transparent so that the user and librarian will have more information about the co-browse configuration process and we will know which users will be capable of co-browsing in pro mode or in classic.
You can also make use of this script to communicate with your patron if their computer fails the co-browse configuration process:
“I’m sorry but it looks like your browser is not able to be configured for co-browsing. We can continue our session without the co-browse function.”
The script is saved in the scripted replies under, “Co-browsing won’t config”
Please let me know if you have any questions or technical problems.
May 22nd, 2007
Individualizing Yourself in Ask a Librarian
Did you know that you can add a picture of yourself for users and other librarians to see when you’re talking to them through Ask a Librarian? Under “My Account,” you can customize the entry message your customers see and add an image. Are you like me and feel you haven’t had a good picture taken since 1986 or feel just a bit uncomfortable with sharing your image with the world? Here is a different idea to consider — create an avatar! As a digital image of yourself, an avatar can be as real or as “cartoony” as you like. Several sites offer the ability to create free avatars for download including Yahoo and Meez.
The great thing about avatars is they are easy to change – so have fun, and let the users get a peek at who is helping them. Please avoid political statements and anything that may alienate your user. Use your judgment; we are all adults!
The picture is my current avatar. If you add an avatar, let me know! I would love to see it! If you need some help, please let me know.
April 20th, 2007
LitFinder - the largest, most accessible collection of literature available online - is now available through the Florida Electronic Library and through Ask a Librarian! This comprehensive database guides users easily through the world of poetry, fiction, drama, and much more. It connects users with reliable, in-depth and constantly updated information on authors and their works. LitFinder delivers up to a million examples of full-text, indexed and excerpted literatuer - along with thousands of citations, biographies, explanations, overviews and images to enhance understanding.
What will you find?
- 650 nationalities and ethnicities - great writers from all eras
- 850 Spanish-language poems with English translations
- 3,500 poems and stories published in the current year - an anthology of the best new work from established and emerging authors
- 10,000 plays, stories, essays and speeches spanning antiquity to the present day
- 27,000 women writers represented - an advantage for cross-curricular studies of literature, history, gender issues
- more 126,500 full-text poems.
Any Florida resident with a public library card can access this and many more outstanding resources through the Florida Electronic Library. Connect now - http://www.flelibrary.org or in Ask a Librarian click right on the LitFinder Bookmark (you’ll be IP authenticated right in).
March 23rd, 2007
Here is the current training schedule for this Spring, more dates may be added. This is the full day of training for those new to staffing the service or staff that would like a refresher. Please go to the link following the event for more information or to register.
Feb. 27th
Florida International University, University Park Campus
11200 S.W. 8th Street
Miami, Florida 33199
Register for this class:
http://www.tblc.org/ws_info.php?ws=461
March 2nd
Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus
3000 N.E. 151st Street
North Miami, Florida 33181
Register for this class:
http://www.tblc.org/ws_info.php?ws=463
March 20th
Brevard Community College, Cocoa Campus
BCC/UCF Joint Use Library
1519 Clearlake Road Cocoa, FL 32922-6597
Building 12(the Library), Room 131 (first floor)
Register for this class:
http://www.tblc.org/ws_info.php?ws=455
March 22nd
Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796
Register for this class:
http://www.tblc.org/ws_info.php?ws=464
February 15th, 2007
There will be a training session for the Palm Beach area at Palm Beach Community College, Lake Worth Campus on February 9th. Please visit this link to register or for more information http://www.tblc.org/ws_info.php?ws=426
More training in other areas will be announced soon.
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January 25th, 2007
There will an Ask a Librarian training session in on Thursday, January 18th from 9-3:30pm at TBLC in Tampa, Florida. To register, please visit the TBLC website’s training registration site and fill out the short form!
November 7th, 2006
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