Did you know you can receive personalized research assistance from a librarian from the comfort of your computer? Although it has not been widely publicized, beginning in Fall Semester 2007, we posted a prominent link for accessing online research assistance on the Welcome Page of the Milligan College Library website.
Clicking on the “Ask a Librarian” button links you to a page where you have the option of either initiating a real-time chat session with a librarian, or leaving an email that will be replied to by the Reference Librarian within 24 hours.
Utilize the embedded instant messaging (IM) window to initiate a chat session. This nifty service is provided by meebo.com. No separate software is required. The status bar at the top of the chat window will indicate whether the service is on- (green balloon) or off-line (red balloon). You can remain anonymous, or you can highlight the “meeboguest” nickname and type-in your real name.
We are still working out a regular schedule for this service, but it is generally staffed by the Reference Librarian 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and by an evening Library staff member until 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
If our chat service is offline, you can scroll further down on the page and fill-out the web form. When you submit the form an email of your research question will be routed to the Reference Librarian, who will make every effort to reply within 24 hours.
We are providing this online service in an attempt to assist you in a timely manner, regardless of your location. (We imagine this service will be especially appreciated by our non-resident students in graduate and adult degree completion programs.) But please bear in mind that not all research questions are easily handled through chat or email. Your question may require more extensive interaction and resource searching. The Librarian assisting you may recommend that you setup an appointment for in-person research consult. We want to reach out and be where our users are. But we also love to have you visit us here…in the Library!