Archive for the ‘Ask a Librarian’ Category

Ask a Librarian expands service with amazing new software

Monday, October 6th, 2008

After five years of progressive and reliable virtual reference service, Ask a Librarian migrated on Oct. 1 to a software platform provided by InstantService. Ask a Librarian is a free online service that allows Floridians to chat live with a librarian for immediate assistance.

The statewide service has increased in usage by almost 200 percent and in participating libraries by more than 150 percent since its 2003 inception, with strong continued growth expected. InstantService’s range and flexibility provides unlimited support for Ask a Librarian’s growing needs.

“With the level of growth our service has experienced, we are excited to introduce this fantastic – and quite necessary – new software platform,” said Diana Sachs-Silveira, virtual reference manager for Ask a Librarian. “This is a positive change that allows us to provide even better, faster service to our users.”

Visit www.askalibrarian.org for more information about the Ask a Librarian service.

Ask a Librarian hires virtual reference coordinator

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

The Tampa Bay Library Consortium welcomes Traci Avet as the new Ask a Librarian virtual reference coordinator. Traci was with the Palm Beach County Library System for five years before accepting the position with Ask a Librarian.

“Traci has a combination of face-to-face and virtual reference experience that is vital for this position,” said Diana Sachs-Silveira, virtual reference manager for Ask a Librarian. “We’re confident that she’ll go far with Ask a Librarian.”

Born and raised in Houma, La. – a town just south of New Orleans – Traci earned her Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. Her wide range of interests include glass mosaic tiling, sewing, snorkeling, reading and writing. She and her longhaired Chihuahua relocated from West Palm Beach to the Tampa area for this position, and Traci looks forward to exploring the area and getting to know the Ask a Librarian community.

Welcome, Traci!

Job posting: TBLC seeks Ask a Librarian virtual reference coordinator

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

The Tampa Bay Library Consortium is seeking an Ask a Librarian Virtual Reference Coordinator.  This is not your typical library job! We’re looking for someone who is creative, innovative, independent and definitely techno-savvy.

Who are we looking for:  We are seeking a dynamic individual who is techno-savvy and willing to continually learn new skills and keep on the forefront of library technology, specifically technologies that can aid in the delivery and promotion of Ask a Librarian (www.askalibrarian.org).  We’d like someone with training experience and virtual reference experience.  Our ideal candidate is a self-starter with knowledge of reference services and use of online resources, project management and customer support techniques, knowledge of general library operations, general computer technology, chat, word processing, database and spreadsheet software, record keeping and general office administration procedures.  This position requires extensive travel, so flexibility and love of travel are a must.

This person must be able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing; develop and present training and presentations; and plan, organize, schedule and manage projects.  We need an individual with considerable initiative, attention to detail and independent judgment to create and modify strategies in order to achieve project goals.

This job is challenging and dynamic, and for the right person, it offers a chance to work in a unique, fun environment.

The Virtual Reference Coordinator schedules and trains individuals staffing Florida’s Ask a Librarian virtual reference program, coordinates the program with staff of the College Center for Library Automation (CCLA) and reports to the Virtual Reference Manager.

Responsibilities include training, scheduling, and assisting librarians staffing Ask a Librarian’s virtual reference desk; working with an advisory committee and working groups; periodic staffing of the desk; participation in writing grant proposals, reports, and project documentation.

Required Qualifications:  Ask a Librarian requires you have a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited graduate program and a minimum two years of library experience.

Salary and Benefits:  Salary range is $37,000 - $42,000, depending on qualifications and experience.  Benefits package includes annual vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, retirement plan and health insurance (major medical, dental, life and disability).

Deadline: Until position is filled.

To apply, submit resume including three references to:
Charlie Parker, Executive Director
Tampa Bay Library Consortium
1202 Tech Blvd., Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33619
Fax: 813-628-4425
Email: cparker@tblc.org 

The Director’s Chair video contest – ready to see who won?

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

TDC logo

Thanks to your votes, we have determined the winners of Ask a Librarian’s The Director’s Chair video contest!

Drum roll please…

GRAND PRIZE: Julie, a student at Seminole Ridge High School in Palm Beach County

SECOND PLACE: Karman, a homeschooled student from Lake County

THIRD PLACE: Jake, a student at Fernandina Beach High School in Nassau County

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!

Click here to see the winning videos.

If you have any questions, please contact Diana Sachs-Silveira at (813) 622-8252 (ext. 234).

Polls close Feb. 9 for The Director’s Chair

Friday, February 8th, 2008

Vote for your favorite video in Ask a Librarian’s The Director’s Chair contest!

TDC logo

**Polls close Feb. 9 (11:59 p.m. EST).**  

We received many creative videos, and our judges narrowed the entries down to five finalists. Now it’s up to you to help choose the winner by voting for your favorite video. Visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair and click on “vote” to see the top five videos and to vote for the one you think deserves to win.

We will announce the winner on Feb. 12.

Visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact Diana Sachs-Silveira at (813) 622-8252 (ext. 234).

The Director’s Chair video contest – WE NEED YOUR VOTE!

Monday, January 28th, 2008

The Director’s Chair video contest is in its final stages, and the finalists need YOUR vote!

TDC logo

We received many creative videos, and our judges narrowed the entries down to five finalists. Now it’s up to you to help choose the winner by voting for your favorite video. Visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair and click on “vote” to see the top five videos and to vote for the one you think deserves to win.

**Polls will be open Jan. 27 through Feb. 9 (11:59 p.m. EST).**

We will announce the winner on Feb. 12.

Visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact Diana Sachs-Silveira at (813) 622-8252 (ext. 234).

The Director’s Chair video contest – ENTRIES DUE THIS FRIDAY!

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

The Director's Chair logo 

This Friday is your students’ final chance to enter The Director’s Chair video contest. We’ve already received some very creative videos, and we can’t to see what else your high school students can do!

**Please let your students know
that they have until Jan. 18 (11:59 p.m.)
to enter their videos.**

Visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair for more information, including prizes, official rules, YouTube submission info and release forms.

If you have any questions, please contact Diana Sachs-Silveira at (813) 622-8252 (ext. 234).

Tell your teens about The Director’s Chair

Tuesday, December 11th, 2007

Are your high school students looking for something
to do during winter break?

Ask a Librarian’s The Director’s Chair contest is well underway, but we still need your help to promote it! With winter break quickly approaching, your students will have some free time to fill up. This is the perfect time to promote The Director’s Chair to them.

We are asking Florida high school students to flaunt their directorial skills by creating a 30-second video about Ask a Librarian and uploading it to YouTube by Jan. 18, 2008, for the chance to win some awesome prizes.

In order for The Director’s Chair to be a success, we need YOU! Please let teens in your community know about the contest. We’ve posted some information here that you are welcome to copy and paste into your own teen blog.

We also have flyers available as a PDF (here) or a JPG (here). Or feel free to post the contest logo (available here) on your website.

This is a great chance to get our students involved in Ask a Librarian. We hope you’re as excited by the contest as we are, and we thank you for promoting The Director’s Chair!

Visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair for more information, including prizes, official rules, YouTube submission info and release forms.

Ask a Librarian launches YouTube contest

Monday, October 15th, 2007

Ask a Librarian kicked off The Director’s Chair, and we need your help to promote it!

We are asking Florida high school students to flaunt their directorial skills by creating a 30-second video about Ask a Librarian and uploading it to YouTube by Jan. 18, 2008, for the chance to win some awesome prizes.

In order for The Director’s Chair to be a success, we need YOU! Please let teens in your community know about the contest. Here are some suggestions:

• Put up flyers in your libraries. Flyers are available as a PDF (here) or a JPG (here).
• Post the contest logo (available here) on your website.
• Link to The Director’s Chair contest website (www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair) from your website.
• Write a post on your teen blog (feel free to copy and paste the info from our blog post) or simply link to our existing post
• Post it on your MySpace and FaceBook pages. Visit Ask a Librarian’s MySpace page and look for The Director’s Chair banner. Simply copy the code beneath the logo and paste it into your MySpace profile for the banner to appear on your MySpace page.

This is a great chance to get our students involved in Ask a Librarian. We hope you’re as excited by the contest as we are, and we thank you for promoting The Director’s Chair!

Visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair for more information, including prizes, official rules, YouTube submission info and release forms.

If you have questions, please contact Diana Sachs-Silveira at (813) 622-8252 (ext. 234).

Ask a Librarian Answers Its 100,000th Question

Friday, August 24th, 2007

On Sunday, August 18, Ask a Librarian intern Louis answered a question from a gentleman who needed genealogy books about Ohio. Louis guided the patron, who typed slowly due to a stroke, to some resources in his local library that could help him prepare to teach a class on the subject.

This might seem like a typical day and a typical question for Ask a Librarian — but it was so much more than typical. It was the 100,000th question answered through Ask a Librarian!

This is quite a landmark for the service. Since July 28, 2003, Ask a Librarian’s usage has been steadily growing. Of the 100,000 questions that we have answered, over 65,000 have been live chat sessions and over 38,000 have taken place in the past 10 months.

Congrats to everyone involved in making Ask a Librarian a success. Give yourself a high five!