Presentations for yesterday’s hot topics are now available!
The not-so secret tools, tips and tricks of the Ask a Librarian interns. How to provide assistance to statewide customers with grace and ease.
One of the most difficult tasks on Ask a Librarian is assisting users from institutions other than your own with “local” questions. Learn from the Ask a Librarian Interns Kira Smith and Renee Patterson, how to answer questions you didn’t think you could with relative ease. The interns will be joined by Traci Avet, the AAL Virtual Reference Coordinator and together they will take you through the resources, tips and tricks on helping users from institutions other than your own.
Renee’s Presentation
Kira’s Presentation
Traci’s Presentation
In the presentation, Kira and Renee discussed a library’s knowledge base is an invaluable tool that librarian’s rely on to answer questions from user’s at other libraries.
Kira recommended for your library – the information she finds most valuable includes:
– Library URL
– Reference phone number
– Circulation phone number
– Catalog URL
– Database URL
– Dummy login information
– Pin/Password help – (for example – is the pin the last four digits or the user’s phone number, library card, etc)
– Library Hours
– Locations and addresses
– And other FAQs from your library – especially about policies (ILL/Fines), Netlibrary or OverDrive help information.
Need to update your knowledge base? Email Traci for information on how!