The newest edition of Tales From the Co-Op is here! If you missed the most recent post in this series, be sure to catch up with the September Exchanges.
The LibAnswers 24/7 Chat Cooperative provides your library with continuous, reliable chat coverage through LibChat, staffed by expert librarians with MLS degrees and cooperative members from partner libraries worldwide. Whether your librarians are busy, it's after hours, or you're focusing on in-person services, the Co-Op ensures your patrons get immediate, high-quality assistance whenever they need it.
By participating in the 24/7 Co-Op, you guarantee seamless support for your patrons, no matter the circumstances. With flexible options for customized hours and support in Spanish, the Co-Op gives your library peace of mind knowing that your patrons will always have access to knowledgeable librarians.
We’re proud to showcase some of the real-life interactions that happen within the Co-Op, where patrons rave about their experiences. One recent user shared, "This is the second time I have used the 24/7 live chat and the Librarians have been wonderful. Thank you for having a great team." As always, we prioritize privacy, removing all personally identifiable information from these interactions and adding fun pseudonyms for both patrons and librarians.
Spotlight on Librarian Excellence
We’re always thrilled to see patrons eager to expand their knowledge! The chat below is a fantastic example of how our librarians assist not only with academic assignments but also with those pursuing learning simply for the joy of it.
June 2, 2024 | 9:29 pm
Poppy Patron: I'm looking for information on the American arts and crafts movement.
Logan Librarian: Hi Poppy! I can try to help you with that.
Logan Librarian: Do you need information for an assignment, or just for your own knowledge?
Poppy Patron: Just for my own knowledge. I’ve heard the term arts and craft to describe some things recently and was curious about it.
Logan Librarian: Ok! Let me see if I can find some sources that might help.
Logan Librarian: Here are some links. Let me know if those are a good start.
Logan Librarian: Links to library resources*
Logan Librarian: Here's another good explainer from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Arts and Crafts Movement in America
Logan Librarian: And one more: The Arts and Crafts Movement in America (San Diego History Center)
Logan Librarian: Let me know if those are a good start
Poppy Patron: Those are a good start, I like the inclusion of pictures
Logan Librarian: It definitely helps to see what they are talking about!
Poppy Patron: Thank you for your help, you gave me a lot of good articles to read through tonight
Logan Librarian: You're welcome! I'm glad I could help
Logan Librarian: Is there anything else I can help you with before logging out?
Poppy Patron: nope, this was just what I was looking for
Logan Librarian: Ok, I hope you have a good evening and enjoy your research!
Poppy Patron: Thanks again! Have a good night.
*Links to institution's search removed for privacy
FAQ-tastic Interactions
This interaction perfectly illustrates how Co-Op librarians worldwide leverage LibAnswers FAQs to streamline chat conversations and deliver consistent, high-quality service every time!
July 20, 2024 | 9:45 am
Paxton Patron: I’d like to visit the library to catch up on some work (don’t need to borrow anything, just looking for a quiet spot). Do I need a guest pass?
Luca Librarian: Hi, Paxton! I'm Luca, a librarian in Michigan. I don't believe you need a guest pass, but let me check.
Luca Librarian: Guest FAQ*
Luca Librarian: You just need a photo ID.
Paxton Patron: Okay, thanks! I couldn’t find that page before. Have a great weekend.
Luca Librarian: You too, Paxton! Hope you get a lot done!
Luca Librarian: Goodbye and thanks for using our service!
*Links to institution's FAQ removed for privacy
Curious Queries
Is your patron searching for a niche topic and doesn't know where to start? Our Co-Op librarians can help with that! In this chat, our librarian helps the student narrow down their search and guides them along the process.
August 15, 2024 | 2:48 pm
Peyton Patron: Hello! I am doing a topic proposal for my Caribbean history class about the Caribbean diaspora focusing on female immigrants. I need 4 scholarly journal articles and a primary source. I haven't been able to find what I need. Thanks!
Luna Librarian: Welcome to your library's 24/7 chat service. Let me take a moment to check your library resources and see what I find.
Peyton Patron: Great thank you so much!
Luna Librarian: Is there any aspect of this population that you want to focus on? For example: arts, literature, health, occupations, etc.?
Peyton Patron: I was thinking maybe occupations. I had to read an article for class and it spoke about Caribbean women working in factories and I thought that was interesting.
Luna Librarian: So, I tried a search in your library catalog using this search string: Caribbean AND Women AND work AND (Diaspora OR Immigr*)
Luna Librarian: I also narrowed the results to "Peer Reviewed Journals" using the limiters in the left navigation.
Luna Librarian: Let me share links to a few that look good: search results*
Peyton Patron: I just took a look at a few and these really match what I am going to write about! Thank you so much!
Luna Librarian: Okay, so for a primary source...that's a little harder.
Luna Librarian: There are lots of options for what you could use as a primary source in this context. A woman's personal narrative or an interview could be one. Other options could be pieces of legislation relevant to this topic. Or art, music or poetry that expresses something about this topic.
Peyton Patron: Oh music and art count as primary sources?
Luna Librarian: Depending on the context. Like, for example, a poem by a Caribbean woman about her personal experiences could count as a primary source.
Luna Librarian: If you need to quote some basic stats about numbers of Caribbean Americans in the US, you could cite gov't documents from an agency such as the Census Bureau or the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. That would be a primary source
Peyton Patron: This is great! I really appreciate it
Luna Librarian: No problem. Have a good day, and I hope you write an amazing paper!
Peyton Patron: Thank you!!!
*Links to institution's search removed for privacy
For more information about the 24/7 Global Chat Cooperative, contact sales@springshare.com.