Tales From the Co-Op: November Exchanges

The newest edition of Tales From the Co-Op is hot off the presses! For more stories of stellar chat service, head into the archives and read our October exchanges.

Springshare's 24/7 Global Chat Cooperative is an adaptable solution, with our trained MLS-degreed librarians ready to answer any question that comes their way. Whether you're looking for after-hours coverage, backup during the holiday season, or a helping hand while your librarians are busy, the Co-Op is designed to meet the needs of modern libraries and their patrons – anytime, anywhere!

Through the Co-Op, your patrons gain access to a global network of librarians. One user shared that their librarian "was amazing in helping me find what I needed. She was also very patient with me as I navigated the virtual library."

To showcase the quality of this service, we're highlighting these interactions from the Co-Op. Privacy is important to us, so we've removed all personally identifiable information and have used fun pseudonyms for the institutions, patrons, and librarians.

Curious Queries

No spoilers about this first chat, but we love to see when curiosity about new interests deepens family ties. How special is this?! 🥰

September 8, 2025 | 9:02 pm

Landon Librarian: Hi Paula, how can I help you?

Paula Patron: Hi, I am looking for information to explain to me the role electrical engineering plays in self-driving cars. thx

Landon Librarian: Are you looking for scholarly information through your library, or general introductory information from the web?

Paula Patron: I would like scholarly info please

Landon Librarian: Okay, one moment while I do some searching.
Landon Librarian: Here is a search with some possible terms: "electrical engineering" AND self-driving cars*
Landon Librarian: I will keep looking to try and find something relevant, but take a look and let me know if any of those resources are helpful.
Landon Librarian: I think this search may be better: "electrical engineering" AND "automated vehicles"*
Landon Librarian: I substituted the term "self-driving cars" for "automated vehicles" which is the preferred term.

Paula Patron: The first article seems interesting. My son is doing electrical engineering on self-driving cars for his summer internship and coming home Friday and I would like to learn enough to have a conversation with him about it

Landon Librarian: Sounds interesting!
Landon Librarian: Your best bet for an introduction to the subject would be a book like this one: Handbook of Power Electronics in Autonomous and Electric Vehicles*
Landon Librarian: Here are a few more books I think would be helpful: The Future of Road Transportation: Electrification and Automation*
Landon Librarian: Humans and Autonomous Vehicles*

Paula Patron: That looks perfect. As an XYZ University student myself, would I be able to obtain this through interlibrary loan or online? Or do I need my son who is an ABC University student to borrow it for me? thx

Landon Librarian: These books will probably only be available to ABC University students, unless your school is part of their system.
Landon Librarian: If you would like, I can take a look at XYZ University's library.

Paula Patron: Ok if you don't mind
Paula Patron: I like the first book you found

Landon Librarian: No problem, just a moment while I take a look.
Landon Librarian: It looks like your library has access to that book online: Handbook of Power Electronics in Autonomous and Electric Vehicles*

Paula Patron: I got it! Thank you so much!!!

Landon Librarian: You are very welcome!

Paula Patron: This is awesome, thank you. I will read and be ready for a conversation this weekend when he comes home!! Thanks again!

Landon Librarian: Happy to help! I'm sure there will be a lot more he can teach you, but hopefully you'll be off to a good start.

*Links to library catalogs removed for privacy

Spotlight on Librarian Excellence

This student was familiar with searching their library's databases, but was looking for a little extra help getting pointed in the right direction – and their Co-Op librarian delivered!

July 10, 2025 | 3:26 pm

Piper Patron: I'm looking for an article with the professor's criteria being: Peer reviewed/refereed research article you found from EBSCOhost, should be about how Earth's seasons are affected by climate change

Lily Librarian: We can see what we find.

Piper Patron: Since we can't duplicate articles, I was hoping to use Italy as a qualifier. The article must be fairly recent... within three months.

Lily Librarian: Have you searched the library databases before?

Piper Patron: Barely

Lily Librarian: No worries. It's good that you know how to find the database and login and do simple search. You're already ahead of the game. 

Piper Patron: I credit the professor with that.

Lily Librarian: 😀
Lily Librarian: We'll start at the library homepage.
Lily Librarian: Because your teacher wants you to search a specific database, let's click on: Databases and select from the long list. 
Lily Librarian: I assume this is the EBSCO database you are meant to use: Academic Search Complete (EBSCOhost)

Piper Patron: I think so!

Lily Librarian: Let's both login...

Piper Patron: Ok!

Lily Librarian: I'm not sure what search terms to try, so let's start with your original question: "climate change" AND seasons
Lily Librarian: We may add Italy or Europe or other limiters later too.
Lily Librarian: After you do your search, limit the results to articles from the time period you want.

Piper Patron: It's the last three months, so I'll do 2025-2025

Lily Librarian: If you want, you could click on Advanced Search... which lets you choose a CUSTOM data range. 
Lily Librarian: You can limit to the past 3 months.

Piper Patron: Yes. I just did that. I appreciate you guiding me!

Lily Librarian: Now it's just a matter of browsing the titles, and maybe skimming the abstract (which is a summary of the article) to see if any look relevant.

Piper Patron: I think I found a good one.
Piper Patron: Change Detection Methods for Forest Expansion Assessment in the Last Twenty Years in the Mediterranean Basin.
Piper Patron: It says it's peer reviewed.

Lily Librarian: Sounds good!

Piper Patron: You've been super helpful, Thank you!

Lily Librarian: You are most welcome. You did a great job. 
Lily Librarian: Do you have any other questions today?

Piper Patron: No. Thank you! Have a great week!

FAQ-tastic Interactions

Our Co-Op librarians answer questions for all sorts of different libraries, all with their own policies and procedures – so to make sure they're giving your users the right info, referring to your LibAnswers FAQs is the way to go!

August 9, 2025 | 11:30 pm

Paisley Patron: How can I request a textbook for pick up at the library?

Lorelei Librarian: I'm not sure that you can make requests for textbooks – but I am happy to search the library's catalog to see if they own a book you can borrow 
Lorelei Librarian: What is the title of the book?

Paisley Patron: Developing and Administering: Early Childhood Education Programs

Lorelei Librarian: I see the record for the book here* 
It shows the library owns copies of the book that are on reserve. Generally books that are on reserve cannot be requested. 
Lorelei Librarian: I do read this about textbooks: "They cannot be requested in advance – they are available on a first come, first served basis."
Lorelei Librarian: From this FAQ – which has more info about borrowing textbooks: Does the library provide textbooks? How can I get one?*

Paisley Patron: I see, I will go to the library to borrow it. Just to confirm, how long can I borrow the book for?

Lorelei Librarian: The record shows it has a 7 day check out
Lorelei Librarian: If you need more help after reviewing that FAQ, please do come back and chat again!

*Links to library catalog and FAQ removed for privacy

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