Ask a Librarian banner with logo, Florida's Statewide Virtual Reference Service. Chat, Email, and Text.

Ask a Librarian announces winners of high school video contest

Mar 5, 2010 | ,

Palm Beach County continues to dominate in statewide library video contest

On March 1, 2010, Ask a Librarian announced the winner’s of its 3rd annual Director’s Chair Contest, a contest in which Florida high school students created commercials to promote Ask a Librarian. Although the contest was statewide, all three winners came from the School District of Palm Beach County for the second year in a row. Grand Prize Winner: “I want…Ask a Librarian” Director Lauren Rautenkranz, from Park Vista High School in Lake Worth 8898700 Second Place Winner: “Even Isaac Asks a Librarian” by Director Michael Roy, from Seminole Ridge Community High School in Loxahatchee 8386526 Third Place Winner: “Ask a Librarian, Say What?” by Markella Haynes, Park Vista High School in Lake Worth 8661845 A panel of judges narrowed all the entries down to five finalists, and the public determined the three winners by voting online. Ask a Librarian is a free online service that allows patrons to chat with a librarian for help with homework or general questions. Visit www.askalibrarian.org/thedirectorschair to see the winners’ videos. Visit www.askalibrarian.org for more information about the Ask a Librarian service. For details on how to embed or get a copy of these videos, please contact me (Diana).

February Statistics

Mar 3, 2010 |

Wow!! Were we busy in February. Ask a Librarian assisted 5,359 users last month via live chat sessions. This is a 51% increase from February of last year and a 21% increase over last month.

Ask a Librarian is really taking off and it could not happen without each of you – and your dedication to good, collaborative reference!! Everyone here at AAL knows how hard it can be – and how rewarding it can be! Thank you for all your hard work.

As we continue to grow, it is more and more important that you are logged in and ready when your shift begins. (tips from Traci on scheduling are here, email me if you need the password).

Ask a Librarian Day Recap!

Feb 24, 2010 | , ,

What a success! Yesterday, Ask a Librarian assisted 331 users in one day. This is a 35% increase from our normal Tuesday average of 244 sessions. Yesterday was Ask a Librarian Day and librarians from across the state wore Ask a Librarian t-shirts and pins, created displays, baked some yummy treats and overall- spread the message! Ask a Librarian is: • Live help you’re not in our library, visit askalibrarian.org (or find the link on our library’s website). • You can use Ask a Librarian for free. • Ask a Librarian is a website where you can go to get your questions answered by a real librarian. • Ask a Librarian is open until midnight ET Sunday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. ET Friday and Saturday. • If Ask a Librarian isn’t open for chat, you can always email your question to us, and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. I am currently gathering stories, pictures and baked goods () from yesterday! If you have not already, please send them to me as soon as possible. I will post everything I receive! Remember, the key to the success is the talking about the service to your co-workers and users. Please keep this up! The idea behind AAL Day is – WOMM. WOMM is Word of Mouth Marketing. We are going to continue trying to encourage you to use WOMM at your library especially through the month of March. Next week, we will be kicking off a month of WOMM related activities to help keep AAL in the forefront so get ready for awards, challenges and some fun facts about the service.

Today is Ask a Librarian Day!

Feb 23, 2010 | , , ,

How are you celebrating and getting the word out?

*  Jacksonville Public Library made the newspaper –  (check out Advisory Committee Member & SMS Taskforce Member – Michael Shell)
* Sarasota County created posters – see the series by clicking on the poster.
* Palm Beach County School District wrote a blog entry
* The State Library of Florida has Ask a Librarian as their current status on Facebook
* Alachua County has Ask a Librarian as the main ad on their front page

Remember the goal is to spread the word about the service. There are 5 main points everyone should know:
• If you ever need help when you’re not in our library, visit askalibrarian.org (or find the link on our library’s website).
• You can use Ask a Librarian for free.
• Ask a Librarian is a website where you can go to get your questions answered by a real librarian.
• Ask a Librarian is open until midnight ET Sunday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. ET Friday and Saturday.
• If Ask a Librarian isn’t open for chat, you can always email your question to us, and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

Send us your pictures and stories!!

Don’t forget! TOMORROW IS ASK A LIBRARIAN DAY!!!!

Feb 22, 2010 | ,

Don’t forget! TOMORROW IS ASK A LIBRARIAN DAY!!!!

Get your t-shirts on, your buttons on and your cameras out! Tomorrow is Ask a Librarian Day.

Ask a Librarian is a day of focused marketing on Ask a Librarian within your library! Ask Promote the service to both your customers and to other staff members who might not be aware of the great service.
Every person (from part-time student assistants to your director) should be able to talk about the service.

There are 5 main points everyone should know:
• If you ever need help when you’re not in our library, visit askalibrarian.org (or find the link on our library’s website).
• You can use Ask a Librarian for free.
• Ask a Librarian is a website where you can go to get your questions answered by a real librarian.
• Ask a Librarian is open until midnight ET Sunday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. ET Friday and Saturday.
• If Ask a Librarian isn’t open for chat, you can always email your question to us, and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

How can you promote Ask a Librarian Day in your library? Here are some ideas from last year and new ones from Traci and I:
• Dust off your Ask a Librarian t-shirt from last year and wear it around the library and town.
• Create a booth or display within the library
• Hold a raffle for students around the service
• Handout bookmarks at checkout
• Bake! Ask a Librarian Staff decorated cupcakes to raise awareness of the service…. Your co-workers will appreciate every word…err..bite!
• Most importantly, Talk about it! Share positive stories from your time on the desk and let your user’s know the service is available.
Let us know what you are planning and please send up pictures and status reports as Ask a Librarian Day unfolds at your library!!
A press release is here- http://askalibrarian.org/blog/?p=227

Ask a Librarian Day – February 23rd! Celebrate at Your Library

Feb 17, 2010 | ,

Ask a Librarian Day is just under a week away. On Tuesday, February 23rd, we are promoting Ask a Librarian in a serious way! To prepare for AAL Day: We sent out a press release for the event, read the release here. Also, you should of received buttons from us to wear (if you have not, please let me know, we have a few left). Ask a Librarian Day is a day to focus on Ask a Librarian within your library. Promote the service to both your customers and to other staff members who might not be aware of the great service. Every person (from part-time student assistants to your director) should be able to talk about the service. There are 5 main points everyone should know: • If you ever need help when you’re not in our library, visit askalibrarian.org (or find the link on our library’s website). • You can use Ask a Librarian for free. • Ask a Librarian is a website where you can go to get your questions answered by a real librarian. • Ask a Librarian is open until midnight ET Sunday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. ET Friday and Saturday. • If Ask a Librarian isn’t open for chat, you can always email your question to us, and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. How can you promote Ask a Librarian Day in your library? Here are some ideas from last year and new ones from Traci and I: • Dust off your Ask a Librarian t-shirt from last year and wear it around the library and town. • Create a booth or display within the library • Hold a raffle for students around the service • Handout bookmarks at checkout • Bake! Ask a Librarian Staff decorated cupcakes to raise awareness of the service…. Your co-workers will appreciate every word…err..bite! • Refresh and put out Ask a Librarian Marketing Materials everywhere you can inside and outside of the library. (order more here) • Most importantly, Talk about it! Share positive stories from your time on the desk and let your user’s know the service is available. Let us know what you are planning and please send up pictures and status reports as Ask a Librarian Day unfolds at your library!! We have pictures from last year at – https://info.askalibrarian.org/aal_day2009.asp!