Contacting librarians can now be done 24-7 through the Sycamore Public Library Web site.

The Sycamore library has been using the library’s online Illinois reference service called “Ask Away” for about one month.

“Ask Away” enables anyone to chat online with librarians throughout Illinois at any time of the day

Larry Zevnik, head of adult services of Sycamore library, finds this online service to be very helpful.

“‘Ask Away’ provides reference services for libraries when they are closed and people need information,” he said. “Never before could you talk online with a librarian and ask any type of question they might have.”

Zevnik said another feature of the service is the ability to see what Web sites the librarians use for reference.

“The user can pull up the site and can see where the librarian got their information from, giving them further assistance,” he said.

As of right now, Zevnik has found that only about eight to 10 people in the area currently use “Ask Away.”

“I highly recommend it and hope more people will use it in the near future,” he said.
Teresa Iversen, reference librarian at the DeKalb Public Library, said the DeKalb library uses “Ask Away.”

“If you go to our Web site and click on reference and reader’s advisory, you will see the link that will take you to “Ask Away,” she said.

Tammy Lusher, assistant dean of the University Library, said NIU’s library is in the process of working with “Ask Away.”

“‘Ask Away’ will be a part of NIU’s Web site real soon,” she said. “We are just waiting now to be notified any time now in joining with their service.”

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