AskAway for Young Adult and Children’s Librarians

Young people across Wisconsin are heavy users of the AskAway virtual reference service. They are logging in to chats with AskAway librarians using links found on their local public library website, their school library media center website and on the Department of Public Instruction’s Reference and Loan Library website. This year alone, 30 additional Wisconsin schools have added links to the AskAway service and more schools have expressed an interest in joining up.

The AskAway Wisconsin consortium wants to be sure you’re in the know and up-to-speed on this service so you can respond knowledgeably to any questions your young patrons may have. This is a great opportunity to learn more about a valuable service your patrons are already using.

Please join us for a basic introduction to the AskAway service. We will show you both the librarian’s and the patron’s view of the chat process and describe how the service is organized and supported here in Wisconsin and around the country. We will also share the list of schools hosting AskAway links. We’d love to hear your recommendations for the most effective ways to interact with young patrons in the chat environment.

Registration for the two sessions listed below has not opened yet. Information on registering will be sent to you as soon as it is available. If neither of the sessions are convenient for you, please contact Martha Berninger (at 608-224-6168 or Martha.berninger@dpi.wi.gov) to arrange another time.

Session 1: Friday, February 12^th, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Session 2: Tuesday, February 16^th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Hope you’ll join us!

Martha Farley Berninger, Librarian Supervisor, Reference and ILL