LibChats is an online chat service that we provide to patrons as a quick and easy way to chat with a librarian from wherever it is they are needing assistance.
LibChat is an online library resource where patrons can ask library staff questions. Quickly responding to patron chat inquiries is one of our most important tasks.
LibChat is one of the set default tabs that opens on the circ computer. The main screen should look something like this.
LibChats needs to be pulled up and have it's status set to "Online" on the Circ computer. One of the student employees most important tasks is to quickly respond when a patron needs assistance.
NOTICE: You will want to check multiple times throughout the day to make sure that LibChat is Online. When you turn the circulation computer on and log-in to the required internet links, you should automatically be set to online.
For this example, I used the internal chat feature to show where a patron's chat would appear.
One likely scenario is that a patron will ask you for help locating a particular resource. In this example, they asked for books on religious architecture from Mesopotamia.
Again, this example is not exactly correct since I was illustrating in the "Internal chat" feature, but you will want to respond to the patron's request with kindness letting them know that you will be happy to assist them. Set the expectation that it might take a few minutes to locate what they are looking for.
To access and quickly search the Auburn Library database, click on the saved link at the top of the screen.
Once you have accessed the Auburn Library homepage, use the Search Bar indicated to search the Library of Architecture, Design, and Construction's physical collections.
or you can do a Google Search for Auburn Library's database.
which will take you to the main library homepage where can do search Auburn Library's entire collection.
A search for the patron's subject can either be done specifically (which can sometimes take you to exactly what you need) and then broadened if you the specific search does not bring results, or you can search broadly to begin with and then browse to see what might apply to their request.
Here I chose to search broadly since there are likely not many books on the topic. My broad search showed that we have 6 books that might apply to the patron's requested topic.
I chose to recommend the first one on the search result because it seemed to fit the patron's request.
NOTICE that the location states it is at the LADC, the call number is listed if the patron asks for the call number, and it tells us that the book is available for check out.
Follow the link to review the record and to have options ready to further assist the patron once you update them regarding what you have found for them.
Copy and paste the title (I also paste in the Call Number) and ask them if that looks like a resource that fits their request.
Maybe they will shower you with praises for your excellent sleuthing skills, or maybe they won't.
If it is a book that they wish to check out, offer to place a hold on the book for them until they can pick it up.
