Welcome back to Tales From the Co-Op where we share some of our favorite recent conversations between our Co-Op Librarians and your patrons! To see more exchanges, check out last month's post.
Springshare's 24/7 Global Chat Cooperative ensures your patrons receive round-the-clock service whether your library is open or not. So if your library is experiencing winter weather closures, you can count on our librarians in warmer climates to answer patron questions!
When you join the Co-Op, your patrons get access to our global network of MLS-degreed librarians. That means that your patrons get the excellent service they expect from your library and you don't need to figure out who is going to take third shift! One patron recently commented, "The Librarian was very kind and helpful, even encouraging, when I mentioned the topic of my paper. Thank you! You helped me so much."
Want to see how it works? Check out these conversations between our Co-Op Librarians and patrons like yours! We've replaced any personal information and added pseudonyms because privacy is a top priority.
Our Co-Op Librarian helped this student find resources for their specialized topic – and they didn't even have to ask what nephrology is (it's the study and care of kidneys).
Payton Patron: Hello, I am conducting research to write a paper about nephrology. Do you have any recommendations for resources I could use, published within the last 5 years?
Linda Librarian: We can do a search for nephology in the library's homepage search box and limit the results to 5 years for sure – what kinds of sources can you use?
Payton Patron: The prompt itself is very broad, I am writing just a general research paper. Kind of like an introduction to the topic of nephrology. I can use any source as long as they are scholarly sources.
Payton Patron: I think it could be interesting to look at research specifically done by women or studies done for women's health.
Payton Patron: Do you have recommendations on how I could search for this?
Linda Librarian: It's hard to limit by the sex of authors since scholarly works aren't indexed in that way (usually that's only literature); but we can try women's health for sure. Let's see. . .
Linda Librarian: nephrology AND wom*n* health link to results* How does that look?
Payton Patron: That looks great! Very interesting. I noticed the first result included Sweden and the UK. Is it at all possible to narrow the search to just the U.S.?
Linda Librarian: Again, it's not always indexed by location since it can be hard to pinpoint sometimes, but we can try to add a limiter.
Linda Librarian: nephrology AND wom*n* health AND (United States OR USA OR America)
Payton Patron: Got it, I think I will take some time to review these sources and create a more refined research question. Thank you for your help!
Linda Librarian: You're so welcome! Is there anything else I can do before I let you go so you can concentrate?
Payton Patron: Not that I can think of, thanks again 😊
Linda Librarian: Anytime! We're here 24/7 if you need us. 😊 Good luck on the project!
*Link to library catalog removed for privacy
This patron had our Co-Op Librarian help them find resources that will definitely help with their paper – and maybe their personal life.
Pilar Patron: I am trying to do research for a local Filipino issue that has been happening for a long time. It will be about toxic or challenging families who compare their life towards younger generations.
Lorna Librarian: That's an interesting question, so you're interested in how first or second generation Filipinos are being compared to their older relatives?
Pilar Patron: Yes Lorna! That exactly.
Pilar Patron: Like an identity crisis about how we will live on here when families keep comparing how we grew up.
Lorna Librarian: This keyword string seemed to work pretty well to start: Filipino AND "second generation" AND identity AND culture
Pilar Patron: Yes!
Lorna Librarian: I did the same search in Academic Search Complete and in your library search. The library search is here: link to search*
Pilar Patron: Thank you so much.
Lorna Librarian: You may also want to try the Psychology & Behavioral Science database.
Lorna Librarian: Hopefully this is enough to get you started, but if you need help, please don't hesitate to come back and ask!
Pilar Patron: I appreciate you so much.
Lorna Librarian: You're most welcome! Good luck on the paper.
*Link to library catalog removed for privacy
No matter where our Co-Op Librarians are located, they're able to help your patrons with policy and procedure questions by referencing your LibAnswers FAQs.
Pam Patron: Hello. How can I get this book mailed to my home? Helping the noncompliant child : a clinician's guide to parent training / Rex L. Forehand, Robert J. McMahon ; foreword by Robert G. Wahler
Lisa Librarian: Happy to help! I'll see if that's available. Are you a distance student?
Lisa Librarian: It's got one hold on it so it's not currently available.
Pam Patron: Hello, I am an online student.
Lisa Librarian: Super! The mailing is allowed if you live 40 miles or more from campus.
Lisa Librarian: You'd need to wait for it to get back from whoever has requested it before it could be sent.
Lisa Librarian: The FAQ link* explains how to set up an account to request that.
Pam Patron: Ok, thanks!
Lisa Librarian: You're very welcome ~ Come back anytime at all!
*Link to library FAQ removed for privacy
Contact us for more information about the 24/7 Global Chat Cooperative so you can get started offering round-the-clock support today!