Ask a Librarian is 6!

Happy Birthday Ask a Librarian!

Ask a Librarian made its debut on this day in 2003. Over the years, Ask a Librarian has grown into a strong vital service for Florida residents thanks to each and every person who staffs the desk and delivers great help to users at their moment of need.

Thanks to everyone!

Feel free to have a huge slice of cake at lunch to celebrate today!

Happy Birthday, Ask a Librarian!

Ask a Librarian is 5 years old today! We have come a long way in five years. On July 28, 2003, we were open noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday (24 hours a week); 12 of the 40 libraries that had signed up to participate were trained and ready to staff the desk; and we answered a whopping 10 questions via chat.

Today, we have 100 participating libraries and are open 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday (84 hours a week). We answered 139 chat questions last Monday alone and are anticipating over 2500 for this month.

This is because of all of your hard work. Your dogged desire to answer hard questions, willingness to use your libraries’ slim resources to staff both a collaborative and an academic desk, including helping out with occasional extra shifts, and your overall dedication to the Ask a Librarian service has made Ask a Librarian a HUGE SUCCESS!

Before I get too mushy, I will just say THANK YOU for all your work on Ask a Librarian. I feel our service is getting better every day. A milestone birthday makes it seem even more appropriate that we spread our wings with new software and really take Ask a Librarian to the next level this year.

Please feel free to go eat birthday cake today and celebrate our birthday! Included is a virtual calorie-free piece for you.