Comments on: librarian call buttons http://www.walkingpaper.org/887 A library weblog by Aaron Schmidt Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:45:57 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Carson http://www.walkingpaper.org/887/comment-page-1#comment-24231 Carson Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:30:59 +0000 http://www.walkingpaper.org/?p=887#comment-24231 I work at a large public library which has 1-2 reference desks on each floor. Each room is so large, however, that it can be quite a trek from one end of the stacks to to a desk if you have a question. I have often thought that installing telephones (much like the ones at say, Fred Meyer) throughout the stacks which a patron could just pick up and instantly be connected to a reference librarian on-duty would be a great idea. I work at a large public library which has 1-2 reference desks on each floor. Each room is so large, however, that it can be quite a trek from one end of the stacks to to a desk if you have a question. I have often thought that installing telephones (much like the ones at say, Fred Meyer) throughout the stacks which a patron could just pick up and instantly be connected to a reference librarian on-duty would be a great idea.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.walkingpaper.org/887/comment-page-1#comment-24173 Jeff Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:52:20 +0000 http://www.walkingpaper.org/?p=887#comment-24173 I think patrons would use IM as the easy button just as well. We have our virtual reference page chat page on our drop page. If you perform a search and nothing comes up, or if you are not finding what you need, the button is right there. Unfortunately, many of the transactions seem to stem from laziness rather than assistance with research. Any similar experiences with virtual reference? I think patrons would use IM as the easy button just as well.

We have our virtual reference page chat page on our drop page. If you perform a search and nothing comes up, or if you are not finding what you need, the button is right there.

Unfortunately, many of the transactions seem to stem from laziness rather than assistance with research.

Any similar experiences with virtual reference?

]]> By: Paul R Pival http://www.walkingpaper.org/887/comment-page-1#comment-24171 Paul R Pival Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:25:36 +0000 http://www.walkingpaper.org/?p=887#comment-24171 Our Business Library at the University of Calgary is doing exactly that. In all the computer labs in the B-school the desktop includes an icon that launches to their Meebo IM page with the invitation to "page a librarian" who will actually walk to your workstation anywhere in the building to offer assistance should you decide not to try to work it all out via IM. Our Business Library at the University of Calgary is doing exactly that. In all the computer labs in the B-school the desktop includes an icon that launches to their Meebo IM page with the invitation to “page a librarian” who will actually walk to your workstation anywhere in the building to offer assistance should you decide not to try to work it all out via IM.

]]> By: andrew http://www.walkingpaper.org/887/comment-page-1#comment-24170 andrew Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:28:26 +0000 http://www.walkingpaper.org/?p=887#comment-24170 Not a bad idea, but then one might argue that many libraries have done one better (or equivalent, anyway), and made it super-easy/obvious to use virtual reference from the library website. Granted, providing and receiving detailed information over online chat is far inferior to RL chat, but perhaps this is a slight deterrent to using the 'easy' button as the above commenter mentioned. Not a bad idea, but then one might argue that many libraries have done one better (or equivalent, anyway), and made it super-easy/obvious to use virtual reference from the library website.

Granted, providing and receiving detailed information over online chat is far inferior to RL chat, but perhaps this is a slight deterrent to using the ‘easy’ button as the above commenter mentioned.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.walkingpaper.org/887/comment-page-1#comment-24169 Jeff Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:53:55 +0000 http://www.walkingpaper.org/?p=887#comment-24169 That's a cool idea. I think you could set that up through a Vocera system. I would bet most staff would be against it as patrons may abuse it or not take a moment to figure something out themselves, they would just press the easy button. :) That’s a cool idea. I think you could set that up through a Vocera system.

I would bet most staff would be against it as patrons may abuse it or not take a moment to figure something out themselves, they would just press the easy button. :)

]]>