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July 2013 Statistics
Usage Summary
| Top entry by chat
Training
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Live Chat
| Local Stats by Entry PointProvides a breakdown for each member libraries individual chat, email and text message statistics. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Visits by City
| Visits-Browser & OS
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Entry by Location July 2013 Entry by Location |
Yearly Comparison July 2012 vs July 2013 |
August 2013vSuperStar
August 2013 SuperStar, Caroline Reed, New College of Florida
Each month, the Ask a Librarian team picks an outstanding member that has shown exceptional participation in the program. August’s AAL SuperStar recipient is Caroline Reed from New College of Florida (NCF).
Caroline Reed is the Director of Research, Instruction and Outreach services at the Jane Bancroft Cook Library in Sarasota. Caroline has been with NCF since 1997. She is a strong team member of the Ask A Librarian Service who helps on the statewide desk; has a positive outlook; and promotes local and statewide desk participation to NCF staff.
She always jumps on board and volunteers for beta testing to support new enhancements and features in Ask A Librarian. She was an enthusiastic participant in the launch of the new dedicated texting enhancement. Caroline has always incorporated every aspect of AAL into the learning community in their library and her hard work never goes unnoticed.
Share your 10 Year Celebration Video with us!
Ask a librarian is celebrating 10 amazing years. We want you to help us celebrate by sharing a video of your favorite moment or any important chat you had while staffing Ask A Librarian. Or, just send a “happy anniversary” message. We want to hear from you!
Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and share it with us on our social networks. Post to our Facebook page,Instagram or Twitter Account! You can e-mail it to us too!
We will share your video on Friday at the 10 year celebration at the University of Central Florida.
Statewide Email – New Enhancement
The Ask A Librarian team is happy to announce the addition of statewide email to www.askalibrarian.org. Email is available to patrons 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Even if a student or patron does not select a local library, they can choose to send an email, and ask a question.
The Ask A Librarian Interns will be answering the statewide emails, and will forward any local email to the appropriate library. (And, of course, those staffing the Collaborative Desk are welcome to jump in and help!) We are excited to be able to provide the residents of Florida with 24/7 access to the statewide virtual reference service!
FEL Friday – Ask a Librarian: Myths, Misconceptions, and Mind Blowers
Join other Florida Electronic Library (FEL) users online for a chance to learn some tips and tricks. Each month we’ll focus on a different topic, database, or service.
Ask a Librarian (AAL) is one of the most well-known services of the Florida Electronic Library. In the 10 years Florida libraries have been collaborating to provide virtual reference to their patrons, the service has changed. Do you know about all these changes?
Jessica Riggins, AAL Member Service Coordinator, and Stephanie Race, FEL Program Manager, will discuss common myths and misconceptions about the Ask a Librarian service. They’ll also share some mind-blowing information about how easy it is to make the AAL service available in your community.
Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and share their AAL success stories.
Friday, August 16, 2013
10:00-11:00 a.m. Eastern
Register Now
Event number: 640 538 434
For more information, contact Stephanie Race, FEL Program Manager, at stephanie.race@dos.myflorida.com or 850.245.6633.
Healthcare Update
Starting October 1, 2013, consumers in Florida will be able to choose new affordable health insurance options through a federally-facilitated Health Insurance Marketplace.
In the past few weeks, we have been hearing more and more about how public libraries will be involved in helping consumers apply through the new Marketplace. Although details are scarce but right now, there are several resources for libraries to help bring you up-to-date and answer a few of your questions:
- Healthcare.gov – Primary tool for delivering information to Americans about their health coverage options. This site was updated at the end of June. For Spanish speaking consumers, CuidadoDeSalud.gov has also been updated.
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will partner with libraries to connect patrons with information resources and community partners who are trained to assist with enrollment. IMLS has provided a grant to WebJunction.org for this effort.
- Navigators. These grant-funded individuals or organizations will be trained to help consumers, small businesses, and their employees as they look for health coverage options through the Marketplace, including completing eligibility and enrollment forms. The Navigators are required to be unbiased and their services are free to consumers. When open enrollment starts October 1, 2013, the Marketplace Help Center will assist in finding help for your patrons.
- Call Center for Marketplace questions. Customer service representatives are available 24/7: 800.318.2596.
- Online chat is also available 24/7. Look for the blue box on the lower right hand corner on most pages of the Healthcare.gov site. Customer service representatives will answer questions in online conversations.
- Throughout July CMS is providing webinars on Health Insurance Marketplace 101.
- Health Insurance Marketplace provides educational tools, including brochures, articles, training materials and presentations, and widgets. Materials are also available in Spanish.
- MedlinePlus, administered by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, presents information on medicine and healthcare in easy-to-understand language. The Health Insurance page has links to information on the Affordable Care Act.
Basic Timeline:
| June | July | August | September | October-March |
| Healthcare.govandCuidadoDeSalud.govupdated | Consumers canset up alogin onHealthcare.gov | Grants awardedfor Navigators | Consumers canfind where to goto get help | Open Enrollment |
| HHS Call CenterOpens800.318.2596 | Call Center openfor Small Business |
Be sure to subscribe to the Workforce Recovery Update to receive additional information on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Pam Thompson, E-Government Consultant
Bureau of Library Development
Division of Library and Information Services
R.A.Gray Building
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
850.245.6633
pam.thompson@dos.myflorida.com
Questions about Ask a Librarian training opportunities? Contact Virtual Reference Coordinator Traci Avet Hector at avett@tblc.org.