Live Help

Hi Everyone,

Number of calls: 3

Issues: No issues today. The third call locating a journal article took me a while. The student found a journal article through Google, but they could not find it in our library database system. I finally found the journal in Springer. However, journal “The Chemical Educator” is only available from 1996 to 2002. The article the student was looking for was published in 2004. So I told them to request the article through interlibrary loan.

Project: I finished “I would like to learn more about Databases…” section and emailed the html files to CJ. Then I started “I would like to learn more about Search Techniques” section, and also familiarized myself with Meebo.

Thank you,
Rachel

Posted by Rachel at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi Everyone,

Number of calls: 1

Issues: No issues today. The only call I got was to test if LiveHelp works or not.

Project: I was continuing working on “I would like to learn more about Databases…” section. I have two questions left. Tomorrow I will be able to finish it, start a new section, and familiarize myself with Meebo.

Thank you,
Rachel

Posted by Rachel at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi Everyone,

Number of calls: 2

Issues: No issues about the library. But there was an issue regarding the cable service I am using. My computer suddenly was disconnected from the Live Help page. After struggling a little while, I finally found out that there were some problems with Shaw cable. Following the instructions given by Shaw staff, I finally reconnected to the web.

Project: I was working on “I would like to learn more about Databases…” section. I explored the Information Search Guide. I have two questions. First, where should I get the information for each question – wherever I can find it? Second, should I list the source of the information? – it looks like I don’t need to, just to make sure.

Thank you,
Rachel

Posted by Rachel at 9:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Number of calls 5

Finally some calls! I actually feel like I was useful today. No real issues to report.

I worked on some more stuff for the research guide. CJ you gave me some headings in MSN and then I promptly closed down MSN and lost them - I don't save IMs. Please email them to me and I'll work on them some more next shift I have.

Rachel is working my Saturday shift so good luck next week.

Thanks Rachel :)

Ciao
James

Posted by James at 5:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Number of calls today: 0

Where have all the students gone. I am beginning to think that the University of Winnipeg's students are just incredibly information literate or well... we all know the alternative answer.

I worked on a section for the Research Guide today. Finding Primary and Secondary Resources. I also spent some time just exploring the new research guide.

Well, let's hope I get 15 calls tomorrow. I am working the Sunday shift for Rachel as she is at the ALA conference. You'll have to let us know how that went Rachel.

Well, I'm out
James

Posted by James at 5:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check out this article:

Making Virtual Library Staffing a Reality
Carolyn Minor and Beth Dunning
Information Outlook; Jul 2006; 10, 7; pg. 29

It was written by my predecessor (Minor) and a former virtual employee (Dunning).
~CJ

Posted by CJ de Jong at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi Everyone,

Number of calls: 1.

Today was sort of like yesterday, James’ shift. Only one call. A student said that they were not able to find a specific article because they did not know which database would provide it. However, the student did not continue the conversation and logged out.

Issues: No issues.

Project:
I finished the project of checking databases’ subject terms today.

I would say that I have updated some of the databases’ subject terms, not a lot but not very few either. I did not make a record of which databases I have made changes – sorry about this. By checking the Database Maintenance page, I would say about 80. Based on the database description, I either added more subject term, or changed the rank of some terms.

Thanks,
Rachel

Posted by Rachel at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Total calls today 0

Yep thats right absolutely nothing. I started to fear that my ringer wasn't working or something so I used a different browser a couple different times to access Live Help - and everything seems to be working just fine.

I put together a document on downloading and installing Trillian for CJ. If I was smart enough to use the dropzone I could get it to him.

I also spent my time just getting familiar with changes at Uwinnipeg and such since I last worked over a month ago - reorienting myself.

Well I hope next week is more lively.

Ciao
James

Posted by James at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi Everyone,

Number of calls: 3

Issues: By consulting the map librarian at the U of A, I found a reference book that can answer the question about historical maps from yesterday and emailed the info to the user. The title is “Atlas of the World”, and the call number is “G 1021 A7545 2003”.

Projects: I continued working on the project of checking databases’ subject terms.

The following two databases are identical:
RAM and Recent Advances in Manufacturing (RAM)

Thanks,
Rachel

Posted by Rachel at 9:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi Everyone,

Number of calls: 3

Issues: A user was looking for old world and new world maps showing the birthplace of cities:
· Old world: tepe gawra, naqada, harappa, knossos, aksum, jericho, kojdi, phaistos
· Newworld: tikal, la venta, chichen itza
I was not able to help him. I searched the library subject specialists list, but there was not a specialist in maps. So I gave him Sherri Vokey’s contact info. I also asked the user’s email address. If anybody could find the info, please let me know. It would be greatly appreciated. In the meantime, I am searching for it myself.

Projects: I continued working on the project of checking databases’ subject terms.

I found that two groups of databases are identical:

1. MENALIB and Middle East Virtual Library (MENALIB) Periodical Contents
2. NDLTD and Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)
It might be unnecessary to point out this, but just in case.

Thanks,
Rachel

Posted by Rachel at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi Everyone,

Number of calls: 4

Issues: No issues. All the questions were straightforward. Two calls were about logging into the Learner and WebCT. I referred them to student-support@learn.uwinnipeg.ca, according to the message on the library’s homepage.

Projects: I was still working on the project of checking databases’ subject terms.

I found that three pairs of databases are identical:

1. IDLS and Internet Data Library Service
2. Institute of Physics Publishing and IOP Electronic Journals
3. Jahrbuch Project (Electronic Research Archive for Mathematics) and Jahrbuch ueber die Fortschritte der Mathematik. One of the names is in English and the other one in German?

I figured that the reason for a database in two or more names might be for users to find them more easily.

Thanks,
Rachel

Posted by Rachel at 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)