Ask a Librarian: Transitioning from In-Person Reference to 24/7 Live Chat Support

In an ever-evolving digital age, libraries are continually adapting to meet the changing needs of their patrons. Montclair State University Libraries has moved all drop-in reference to our new 24/7 live chat service.

Anytime, Anywhere

Ask a Librarian chat usage has been steadily increasing for years, but has been limited by local service hours and staffing.  The most significant advantage of our new 24/7 live chat support is its accessibility. Live chat is now available around the clock. Look for the chat widget on our website, research guides, and catalog.

Familiar and Fast

With the 24/7 live chat service, Montclair State University Libraries is joining a cooperative of academic librarians called the Springshare Global Cooperative. The look and feel of the chat will remain the same. When a Montclair librarian is not available, your question will roll seamlessly to the Cooperative. This enables us to provide a high quality live chat with credentialed professionals familiar with academic research. A dedicated team of librarians will be just a few keystrokes away, ready to provide you with immediate assistance, guidance, and answers to your questions.

In-Person Research Appointments

As part of the service transition, the reference desk in Sprague Library has closed. We understand that some queries may require a deeper level of assistance and personalization that cannot be provided through an online chat. That’s why we will continue to offer in-person and virtual research appointments with Montclair librarians. This means that when you have complex research needs or prefer face-to-face interaction, you can still schedule a one-on-one appointment with a librarian who will dedicate their time to answering your questions.

Coming Soon

We are excited to share that the Cooperative also provides reference services in Spanish and this will be available soon!

We Want Your Feedback

We invite you to explore this new feature and welcome your feedback to help us improve our services.

Photo by Kevin Handeli.