AskAway Updates

Library schools can obtain a free QuestionPoint account, which will allow faculty members and students to use the QuestionPoint virtual reference software.
For more information, see the QuestionPoint Blog.

The minutes from the October 3 Advisory Committee meeting are now available here.

Also available is the Coordinator's Report.

Columbia Bible College, one of Canada's premier Christian institutions, joined AskAway this fall. Columbia Bible College (CBC) is located in the Fraser Valley, and offers 4-year Bachelor of Arts programs as well as 2-year diplomas and certificates.
Library Director Richard Thiessen and Associate Librarian Anne Andres attended AskAway training and are currently providing 3 staff hours per week. Links to AskAway are being added to the new CBC website, so AskAwayers can expect to see CBC students using AskAway in the coming weeks.

The AskAway Coordinator's Report from Monday October 3 is now available on the BC ELN website here: http://www.eln.bc.ca/askaway/documents/AACoordRep20111003.pdf

Enjoy!
-- Reece, BC ELN

Form fields statistics for May through August are now available on the Statistics by Institution page of the AskAway Portal.

Form fields statistics provide information about how users are accessing AskAway, including the website and specific page AskAway was accessed from. These stats also include the wait time and resolution of each call, operating system and other details.

I am very pleased to share with you the news that the BC InterLINK public libraries have launched Just Ask, a new public library virtual reference service.

Patrons at all InterLINK libraries now have access to virtual reference through their library websites, and InterLINK libraries are providing staffing for the new service.  Operating hours are weekdays only: Mon – Thurs 10 AM – 8 PM and Friday 10 AM – 5 PM.

AskAway opens for the fall term on Monday, September 19th.  As we move into the beginning of another AskAway term, here’s a couple of tips for ‘falling back into AskAway’.

1. Check out the updated Shift Checklist on the AskAway Portal.  This handy guide is filled with tips to get your shift off to the right start!

Please ensure your bookmarks are updated with the new URL for the AskAway Staff Portal:

http://www.eln.bc.ca/askaway

Let me know if you have any questions.

- Sunni

BC ELN

The Coordinator's Report and minutes from the June 14th AskAway Advisory Committee meeting are now available on the Portal:

http://www.eln.bc.ca/askaway/index.php?page=advcomm

- Sunni

BC ELN

The final version of the minutes from the May 16th AskAway Advisory Committee meeting are now available:

http://www.eln.bc.ca/askaway/documents/AAMinutes20110516.pdf

The Coordinator's Report is available here:

http://www.eln.bc.ca/askaway/documents/AACoordRep20110516.pdf