Kelvin Smith Library starts the spring semester by integrating research and borrowing services at the main service desk. Main service desk staff will receive enhanced training to allow them to better answer routine, frequently asked questions; questions that cannot be answered by the main service desk staff will be referred to the librarian subject specialists or transferred to the 24/7 online chat services that the library continues to maintain.
Consolidating the two former service points into one provides quick service for the routine and frequent questions. Additionally, it allows research services librarians to expand their services. They are now able to be “On Call” to provide quick assistance within the library, as well as being online with ASKSL in live chat, answering text messages and phone calls, doing research consultations during expanded office hours and much more.
Additionally, Kelvin Smith Library also launched Summon, which gives researchers a new search experience. Enter a search query in a simple search box on the library homepage, and Summon searches across a vast index of library resources. Summon highlights the different types of results, often suggesting specific databases for more targeted research.