Use of this service implies consent for the Library to use the transcript of the interaction for research purposes provided that all identifying information about the user is deleted.

Purpose

The Ask a Librarian - Chat service provides an additional way for users to contact a librarian for help using the Library and its resources.

Availability

• Hours of operation are posted at Chat Service Hours.
• They may be revised by time of year and demand for this service.
• If this service is not accepting questions or you feel the wait is too long, please send your question via e-mail to piusref@slu.edu.

Users Served

• This service is available to current students, faculty, and staff at Saint Louis University.
• In order to use Ask a Librarian - Chat, the user will be asked to enter his/her SLU e-mail username and password before proceeding to the Chat area.

Questions Best Suited for this Service

• How or where to begin researching a topic.
• Suggestions about databases or indexes to use.
• Tips about searching a particular database, the SLU and MOBIUS Library Catalogs, or the Web.
• Help determining whether the Library has a particular book, magazine, or journal in print or electronic format.
• Help locating factual information.
• Help evaluating the appropriateness of a particular resource (books, article, Web site) for an assignment or personal use.
• Explanation of library services and guidelines.

Questions not Suited for this Service

• In-depth questions that require extensive instruction in the use of the Library or any of its resources. The Research Assistance Program is available for this type of question.
• Please contact your liaison librarian to set up an appointment.
• Any question or instruction that will take over our approximate 15-minute limit for a Chat session.
• For questions about fines, materials you have checked out, or overdue books, please contact the Circulation Department at (314) 977-3087 or piuscirc@slu.edu.

Privacy Statement

Pius Library's Ask a Librarian Chat service keeps all information submitted private. The Library' chat service is based upon RAKIM, an open source program developed at Miami University of Ohio.  The program records the transcripts of all sessions. Personal information required is your name and your e-mail address although you do not have to use your real name. Your e-mail address is required in order to send you a transcript of your session. Only the librarians and staff providing the service have access to the transcripts. Transcripts are maintained on a Library server for a limited amount of time to collect use statistics, to monitor them for quality control, to use for training, and to create and update a database of frequently asked questions (FAQs). All material from transcripts used in the FAQs is separated from all personal information.

Any user may request that his/her chat transcript be removed from the transcript database by sending an e-mail to baughga@slu.edu. Please include the date and start time of the Chat session so the correct transcript can be located.