Two exemplary transcripts for August are now posted on the QuACK Blog at the KIN24x7 Provider site. Congratulations to ad.Suzanne (AfterDark) and Librarian 176 (Massillon Public Library)! As always, everyone's contribution to Ohio's statewide online reference service is greatly appreciated. The QuACK Committee has not attempted to do a comprehensive review of all transcripts but have chosen examples of excellent work in order to congratulate and learn from them.
We welcome your comments about the transcripts or the blog and would be interested in hearing from you if you find the featured transcripts useful in your reference work, whether virtual or face-to-face. Feel free to email the QuACK Chairperson, Cheryl Lubow, at CLUBOW@sloma.state.oh.us, or post to the blog.
Sincerely,
QuACK (Quality Assurance Committee for KnowItNow24x7)
The transcripts for August are both excellent examples of how these KnowItNow24x7 providers take their sessions seriously. Just about everyone providing service through KnowItNow24x7 knows that patrons sometimes ask questions that might not get taken seriously AND that some patrons like to have fun experimenting with the software during the session. Each provider handles the session in a professional manner by taking the question seriously and supplying relevant information in a timely manner.
AfterDark Transcript
Date: 2009-08-27 20:32:08
Agent: ad.suzanne
Question: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
Service: KnowItNow
Subject: General Questions
Resolution: Completed
19:32:08 ad.Suzanne Hello. You've connected to your 24x7 online reference service staffed by librarians across the state. Please wait one moment while I take a look at your question.
19:32:23 Guest ok
19:32:29 Guest thank you
19:32:53 ad.Suzanne hi - that's a good question - I'll see if I can find an answer for you
19:33:01 Guest ok thank you
19:39:18 ad.Suzanne still looking - thanks for waiting
19:39:31 Guest ok. thanks for looking.
19:40:51 ad.Suzanne from the Tootsie Roll Company
19:40:53 ad.Suzanne http://www.tootsie.com/comp_faq.php
19:41:19 ad.Suzanne How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? It depends on a variety of factors such as the size of your mouth, the amount of saliva, etc. Basically, the world may never know.
19:42:00 Guest Thats what i figured but I didn't know if somehow someone did like testing or something and found out the average of how many licks it takes. Thanks for finding the answer to my question.
19:42:34 ad.Suzanne you're welcome
19:43:21 Guest I have another random question if you can try to answer it for me that would be wonderful.
19:44:20 ad.Suzanne ok
19:44:42 Guest How does ink come out of pens?
19:46:22 ad.Suzanne hmm - I'll see what I can find out
19:46:48 Guest Ok. Thank you.
19:47:44 ad.Suzanne I think the ehow site usually has good explanations
19:47:46 ad.Suzanne http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4600526_ink-come-out-pens.html
19:50:04 Guest that is very interesting. and when it was talking about the space pen it says that they can write upside down so does that mean that a regular ball point pen that works bc of gravity and the rolling of the ball won't write if it is upside down?
19:53:17 ad.Suzanne that sounds right
19:53:48 Guest ok. thank you. now im going to have to try to write with a ball point pen upside down and see if it stops working.
19:54:20 ad.Suzanne I think it will!
19:54:40 Guest thats so awesome.
19:56:27 Guest thanks for your help.
19:56:57 ad.Suzanne you're welcome - have a good evening
19:57:38 Guest you too.
20:05:07 ad.Suzanne thanks
20:05:16 ad.Suzanne Thanks for using our service. Come back again if you need help with another question.
Public Library Transcript
Date: 2009-08-18 13:55:35
Agent: librarian176
Question: I luv the harry potter books. what r some other books i might like???
Service: KnowItNow
Subject: Reading Recommendations
Resolution: Completed
12:55:58 Guest hi librtarian 176
12:56:04 librarian176 Hi there! Welcome to KnowItNow. :-)
12:56:07 Guest *libraruian
12:56:14 Guest *librarian
12:56:20 librarian176 You'd like some reading recommendations that are similar to the Harry Potter books?
12:56:26 Guest yup
12:56:48 librarian176 Sounds good! Please hold on for a minute or two while I find some great titles for you. Thanks for your patience!
12:56:59 Guest thnx
12:57:02 Guest :D
12:57:13 Guest :)
12:57:28 Guest :'(
12:57:42 Guest sorry, just experimenting
12:57:53 librarian176 That's okay -- I understand!
12:57:58 Guest lol
13:00:35 librarian176 Have you read Inkheart by Cornelia Funke yet? It's very popular with Harry Potter fans; you can read a summary of the novel here: http://www.amazon.com/Inkheart-Cornelia-Funke-Hardcover/dp/0439852706/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250618379&sr=1-9
13:00:55 librarian176 I'll try to find a few more books for you while you take a look at that link!
13:01:41 Guest ive read it
13:01:50 Guest it was ok
13:02:22 librarian176 Ah, okay! How about the Seeker (Book 1of the Noble Warriors series)? Have you read that one?
13:02:32 Guest no
13:02:54 librarian176 Great! I'll copy and paste the synopsis here...
13:03:00 Guest thnx
13:03:30 librarian176 "The Noble Warriors (Nomana) are dedicated to protecting the All and Only god who, according to prophecy, will be killed by the Assassin. Once a year, pilgrims are allowed on the island of Anacrea and accepted into the Nomana. Seeker after Truth, 16, has wanted to join the Noble Warriors all of his life even though his father is intent on him being a scholar. When he enters an open door into the monastery, he sees his brother being publicly humiliated and cast out of the Nomana. Soon two pilgrims arrive who will change Seeker's life forever: Morning Star, who can sense a person's colors and interpret what they mean, and The Wildman, a spiker (outlaw) who is looking for power and peace. After all three teenagers are rejected by the Nomana, Seeker formulates a plan to ensure their acceptance. Written in the same style as Christopher Paolini's Eragon (Knopf, 2003) and Terry Brooks's The Sword of Shannara (Ballantine, 1983), the quest itself will form the characters into the people they were always meant to be. A novel of friendship, loyalty, and accomplishment, Seeker will draw readers into the conflict between believing with the eyes or with the heart."
13:04:41 Guest thnx
13:04:48 Guest that sounds good
13:04:57 librarian176 You're welcome! I'll try to find a few more books for you -- do you have a few more minutes?
13:04:58 Guest i actually have 2 go
13:05:06 Guest sorry, no
13:05:11 Guest bye
13:05:17 librarian176 Oh, okay! Please feel free to come back and request more book recommendations. :-) Have a good day!