Patrons are encouraged to use their own library's resources. For those seeking further assistance from the participating URSUS libraries, the staff will respond to their reference and information needs to the extent possible. Because the libraries participate in a consortial network working electronically to answer questions, the online reference question may be forwarded to the most appropriate library for a reply.

Policy:

Policy for the Ask-a-Librarian service varies from library to library. Contact your home library for more information.

FAQs

What is the Ask a Librarian service?
Ask-a-Librarian allows patrons to "chat" with staff from participating URSUS libraries to get answers to questions using library resources. Our real-time system works in two modes: basic chat and co-browsing. Basic chat allows the patron and librarian to communicate by typing back and forth in real time. Co-browsing enables the librarian to display web pages from the library's catalog, subscription research databases or from the general Internet. These online resources will appear on the patron's home screen so both the librarian and patron may view pages at the same time.

When is the service offered?
Hours vary library by library. If your home library is not listed in the chat drop down menu, you may select another library or use the e-mail service to e-mail your questions.

Patrons of the University of Maine School of Law , the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library, and the University of Maine at Machias should also use the Help link to access their home library's online reference pages.

What to expect as you log-on to our service?
Question Form: Our question form requests a variety of information so we can e-mail you a session transcript and further information as necessary. The question box provides plenty of room to type your question. Please be as specfic as possible, so we may provide you with the best possible answer as soon as possible.

Activate Co-Browsing: The software will initially check the capabilities of your computer to handle the "co-browsing" software. You will need to say "yes" when it asks to install a small program that will enable "co-browsing" to take place. (Co-browsing requires Internet Explorer. Macintosh computers can only use chat or e-mail, but keep watching this page. New software is coming that will allow a Mac users to co-browse, too.)

Chat Box and Explorer Window: During the session two windows will appear on your screen - a chat window on the left and an Internet Explorer window on the right. The right window will change as the librarian pushes new pages to your screen to help answer questions or to demonstrate the research process.

Email: If no one is on duty you will be given the option to email us your question. Response time may vary from library to library.

Session Transcript: After your chat session is over, you may receive an email with a complete transcript of the conversation and a list of the web addresses of all the pages visited in the course of answering your question.

Survey: At the end of your session, some libraries provide the opportunity to comment on the service through a pop-up survey.

Please be Patient: The software is new and we occasionally experience technical problems. The librarians are also new at using it and providing service in a virtual chat mode. Expect some delays in our response as we are researching your question in the background.