By Hannah on March 27, 2025
It's time for another thrilling chapter of Tales From the Co-Op! If you missed the most recent post in this series, take a look at our February Exchanges.
Our budget-friendly 24/7 Chat Cooperative is your library's secret weapon, offering patrons around-the-clock access to knowledgeable MLS-degreed librarians.
You have the freedom to choose the specific days and hours you'd like the Co-Op to support, and we offer flexible pricing tailored to your institution's unique needs. There are endless ways to personalize this service, including the ability to form a local cooperative with priority access to each other's questions! Our Global Cooperative is especially popular because, as you'll see in the chats below, many patrons find this service useful after-hours!
Dive into the collection of real-life chat transcripts below that made one patron say, “This was the most helpful chat ever!! They were so nice and accommodating.” Rest assured, we prioritize privacy by removing all personally identifiable information and using creative pseudonyms for both patrons and librarians.
Spotlight on Librarian Excellence
You already know that a quick answer can often make a massive difference for your patrons. In this late-night exchange, Laura Librarian offers a 'wild' solution that, dare we say, probably saved Halloween!
October 31, 2024 | 10:56 pm
Percy Patron: I found a journal entry on your database I was trying to source for my English class, and I just had a quick question. The article is called Using the Generation Effect to Enhance College Learning Strategies, and I didn't see a DOI, or Permalink for the article. Could you please help? I appreciate your time and just want to get a good citation for class.
Laura Librarian: Hi! Where did you find the article?
Percy Patron: In the library database *Link to article*
Laura Librarian: Do you see a cite button?
Percy Patron: That's wild. Yes.
Laura Librarian: Try that. It should give you a permalink!
Percy Patron: I feel as if I wasted my time and yours lol
Percy Patron: You're the G.O.A.T.
Percy Patron: Greatest of all time
Percy Patron: Thank you
Laura Librarian: Share with your friends! You'll be their BFF!
Percy Patron: You're telling me, that made it so much easier!
Laura Librarian: Have a great rest of your Halloween!
FAQ-tastic Interactions
Chat librarians are well versed in using LibAnswers FAQs to quickly answer institution-specific questions! Your patrons will get the right answer immediately, along with a link to use for reference.
August 1, 2024 | 8:50 pm
Paisley Patron: Hi there! If I take an Extension class, does that allow me access to the library?
Lena Librarian: Hi Paisley!
Lena Librarian: Did you want to use the library in person, like use the computers? Or try to search for articles online from home?
Paisley Patron: I live in the neighborhood and thought it would be nice to be able to use the library to just read and study.
Paisley Patron: I'm happy to pay for it, but don't know if there is a way for non-students to.
Lena Librarian: Let me see if I can find out for you, one moment!
Paisley Patron: Thank you so much!
Lena Librarian: So it looks like you are welcome to use the space, but the computers are reserved for current students. I'm looking at this page for that answer: *link to institution’s LibAnswers FAQ*
Paisley Patron: Oh, that's great! Thank you so much for that!
Lena Librarian: You're welcome! 🙂
Paisley Patron: Have a great evening!
Lena Librarian: You too! And good luck with your courses!
Paisley Patron: Thanks!
Curious Queries
Librarians love solving puzzles, so what's not to love about a puzzle-themed research question? This librarian expertly handles Perry Patron's after-hours request, by providing excellent sources for their speech.
November 8, 2024 | 9:11 pm
Perry Patron: I need help finding sources for a research-based speech about the Rubik's Cube.
Leticia Librarian: Hi, Perry! It sounds like you'd like some research support.
Leticia Librarian: Would you please tell me a little more about your research topic so that I may best help you?
Perry Patron: So, my research topic is about the Rubik's Cube, I basically have to talk about it since it's for a speech.
Perry Patron: My problem is that the sources I'm finding seem very tedious and they don't necessarily provide evidence or anything.
Leticia Librarian: Are you focusing on a specific aspect of the Rubik's Cube?
Perry Patron: I guess "What makes the Rubik’s cube so unique?"
Perry Patron: Like some examples I can think of is that it's a good challenge for your brain, the way that it's structured on 3-axis turning, there's algorithms to solve it, world records that have been around.
Leticia Librarian: Can you elaborate what you mean by unique? Do you mean as a puzzle/game?
Perry Patron: Yes. It differs from other puzzles.
Leticia Librarian: Okay. Do your sources need to meet any requirements? Be peer-reviewed? Be published within a certain time frame (the last 5 or 10 years, as an example)? Be a specific type (book, article, etc.)?
Perry Patron: So, it has to be a peer-reviewed or academic journal, earliest that it was published is 2010 and at least 10 pages per source.
Leticia Librarian: Great. We're going to likely need to do more than one search, but since you are focusing on cognition in the brain, let's try this first:
Leticia Librarian: "Rubik's Cube" AND cognition
Leticia Librarian: I'm going to recommend we start with your library's catalog, as it will search more than one database at a time: *Link to library catalog*
Leticia Librarian: We're going to enter that search and then use the filters to refine based on your requirements.
Leticia Librarian: With that search, we get these results: *Link to results*
Leticia Librarian: Take a look and let me know if we're on the right path. 🙂
Perry Patron: I found 1 article that meets the requirements and could be used for my speech!
Leticia Librarian: That's great, Perry!
Perry Patron: Absolutely. Do you think we could find an article that has to do with algorithms?
Leticia Librarian: Yes! We're going to use the same formula as before, but we're going to swap the term "cognition" for "algorithms."
Leticia Librarian: "Rubik's Cube" AND algorithms
Leticia Librarian: Here are those: *Link to results*
Leticia Librarian: How are those looking so far, Perry?
Perry Patron: I think good? I found one that talks about 3 methods to solve a Rubik’s cube and which one is more optimal.
Leticia Librarian: That's great!
Perry Patron: I'm pretty sure I could use that in my speech.
Perry Patron: There's a lot and most of them involve AI.
Leticia Librarian: How interesting!
Leticia Librarian: Is there anything else I may help you with?
Perry Patron: I think that's it, you were of great help. Thank you so much!
Leticia Librarian: You are most welcome, Perry! It's my pleasure.
Leticia Librarian: Do chat again if you need more support--we're here 24/7 and always happy to help. 🙂
Perry Patron: Thank you so much, have a wonderful day 🙂
Leticia Librarian: You, too! Good luck with your speech!
Contact us for more information about the 24/7 Global Chat Cooperative and get started offering round-the-clock support!