What we can do for you. Everywhere you look in the library, you see the little red signs:Ask a Librarian. Quite a few members of the Temple community are doing just that: from faculty to staff, undergrad to doctoral students. Everyone is taking the time to Ask a Librarian.

In the middle of researching a paper, you have to choose between finding a source and finding some lunch, and it looks like lunch is losing? Have no fear (or grumbly stomachs!); simply log on to Ask a Librarian and select TalkNow to chat with one of Temple’s many expert librarians. TalkNow is very similar to the chat programs you’re used to, except it’s super-sized. More than just electronically conversing, you can actually co-browse with a librarian and learn just how to search for books, how to find full-text articles, or even how to request material via Interlibrary Loan, all from the comfort of your study nook or laptop!

Is it after hours and you’re already burning the candle at both ends trying to make sense of an assignment? Or, do you simply have a question but not the time to tramp on down to Paley Library at 10:30 pm? Then, Email Reference holds the answer for you! Email a librarian directly and get a response within hours (sometimes even minutes). From questions about your circulation record to how to access the databases from home to whether or not Temple has a certain book, Email Reference is the way to go for after-hours questions.

Still not convinced? Consider this: as many as ten Temple students, faculty, and staff members log on and use TalkNow or Email Reference everyday. In many cases, this is not their first time using it! You’ve got nothing to lose, but everything to gain! Log on and Ask a Librarian today!

To access TalkNow and Email Reference, as well as a list of available hours and other resources, point your browser to http://ask.library.temple.edu. It’s easy, it’s informative, and it’s at your fingertips.

–Heather Sparks