NCknows July 2013 Monthly Report
Chats:
This Month: (coop coverage) + (libraries monitoring their own queues) = 1643
Last Month: 1387 (coop coverage) + 256 (libraries monitoring their own queues) = 1643
This Month Last Year: 1208 (coop coverage) + 185 (libraries monitoring their own queues) = 1393
Check your own traffic here: http://ncknows.philblank.net/gwentest/LibStats.php
Comments:
Embed NCknows in Ebsco/Proquest! Great news- now you can offer help to patrons when using NC LIVE’s Ebsco or Proquest databases. Here’s what it looks like:
As you can see (http://www.screencast.com/t/4YadjL3b) , this widget will have all the same functionality that the widgets on your page currently have, so we will be able to customize it as you wish and include all the service rollover layers you now use to monitor your own patrons when you are on. If you want to offer this, please fill reply to ncknows@gmail.com. After that, Heather Greer Klein at NC LIVE and I will do the work to add it and your patrons will see the widgets whenever they use Ebsco or Proquest from your library. As always with NCknows, offering the widget does not require you to staff the service and the costs are entirely absorbed by the State Library of North Carolina.
Thanks to Heather Braswell from Mount Olive College and Sarah Wagner from Chapel Hill Public for helping out with the pilot project on this.
Admin Listserv: Just FYI- the admin listserv will not be migrating to Google Groups. But it has been completely updated. Keeping this list current is always an adventure so please remember to let me know if you are no longer the correct person in your library to receive the admin updates. The staffing email *is* on Google Groups and so far, so good.
Circulation Projects: No one took me up on last month’s circulation offers (but Durham did train and add more circ staff to monitor their service). If you are interested in integrating circulation with online help, let me know. There is no extra charge for this and your patrons will greatly appreciate it.
Email Referrals Check: I will be testing all the email addresses that are currently set for “tag for followups.” This will confirm that they are up to date. Keep an eye out for the email.
Transcripts of the Month
One great thing about live virtual reference as opposed to email is that we can guide folks through the entire process whether that involves access to, searching for or using the information they need. I chose this transcript below because afterhours librarian Alicia Wyatt elegantly flows through several different tasks and makes the whole thing look easy. Imagine trying to handle this patrons’ needs through email. Thanks Alicia. (McDowell Tech CC pictured above).
17:14 PATRON i cannot get into NCLIVE I need to work on a research assignment for English
17:14 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com Hi
17:15 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com Okay, we'll get you in. Are you a student or resident of NC?
17:15 PATRON yes i go to Mcdowell Tech in NC
17:16 PATRON Marion
17:16 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com Let me see what your password is.
17:16 PATRON i dont have one
17:17 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com That's fine. We have a daily password good until 9am tomorrow. The password of the day is: y$z!xudp
17:17 PATRON ty so much
17:17 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com You're welcome. Would you like help finding anything in NClive?
17:19 PATRON well im trying to find resources for the benefits of team sports for children im doing an argument essay for benefits of kids team sports im new at NCLIVE
17:20 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com I always like to start with the Quick Search that is on the left side of the NClive homepage, http://www.nclive.org/
17:20 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com it searches across multiple databases at the same time.
17:21 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com I would use the term children instead of kids
17:21 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com 'organized sports' might bring up more than team sports
17:24 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com I see an article called "Come out and Play: Shyness in Childhood and the Benefits of Organized Sports Participation. " does that sound useful for your paper?
17:25 PATRON yes and ty so much this is for my final grade in English and have never done a research paper i need to put my sources down on the last page of essay
17:25 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com NClive is great at helping you cite your sources, by the way
17:25 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com When you
17:26 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com look at an article, on the right there a little icons. One says 'Cite'-- click on it, and it will give you all the information you will need to include at the end of your essay
17:27 PATRON oh great this is so helpful you have been a God sent to me
17:27 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com Glad to help!
17:28 PATRON if i have any questions while im doing tois is it ok to ask
17:28 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com Absolutely. We're online all day. Do you want to get started, and check back in with us if you run into problems or don't find enough info?
17:28 PATRON yes ty and have a blessed day!!!
17:29 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com Thank you, you too!
17:38 PATRON I have question I have to have at least 5 different sources for my argument essay where on NCLIVE do I look for these
17:38 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com Hi, did you try that search box on the left of the home page? That will take you to individual articles?
17:39 PATRON ok i will
17:48 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com Were you able to find some good articles?
17:49 PATRON yes im looking now and thanks so much for all your help
17:49 ncaliciaw@libraryh3lp.com No prob, I'll be online awhile longer, just ask if you get stuck on anything.
17:52 PATRON ok i will
Tis the season.... for textbooks. We are seeing a ton of questions as normal these days. As always, refer them to the bookstore and send them a link when possible. Just like Holly Mabry does here! Thanks Holly.
20:49 PATRON How do I find what books I need for my upcoming classes?
20:50 nchollym@libraryh3lp.com hi
20:50 nchollym@libraryh3lp.com you can usually find them in the bookstore, on their website
20:50 nchollym@libraryh3lp.com let me get the link
20:51 nchollym@libraryh3lp.com https://www.bkstr.com/Home/10001-29404-1
20:51 PATRON Thank you
20:51 nchollym@libraryh3lp.com sure