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TXT 4 Answers
On the go and need an answer? WCCLS has started a pilot project that allows you to text your question to a librarian and have the answer delivered to your phone or PDA within 10 minutes during service hours.
Text 309-222-7740
Text the code WCC in front of your question.
A librarian will text an answer within 10 minutes during service hours.
It's easy and accurate!
The service, named “My Info Quest” is the first collaborative text messaging reference service of its kind. Alliance Library System in East Peoria, Illinois has partnered with participating libraries from across the country, and the companies Altarama and Peoplewhere, to build this exciting new reference service. Local participating libraries include WCCLS and six of its member libraries, including Beaverton City Library, Cedar Mill Community Library, Garden Home Community Library, Hillsboro Public Libraries, Sherwood Public Library and the Tigard Public Library.
Anyone can surf the internet, but to have a librarian actually verify the credibility of a source provides a much higher level of confidence in the answer.
It is expected that My Info Quest will become very popular among teens and college students as a handy homework resource. However, students will not be the only ones who benefit from the rapid librarian text response service. If you have ever been stuck in a business meeting and needed to verify one last bit of information before a presentation to a big client – then you can imagine the value of such a service. Within minutes of receiving a request a My Info Quest librarian will text a response using an authoritative source.
Locally the hours of service for My Info Quest will be Monday – Friday: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. If a WCCLS patron texts a message when the service is closed they will receive a message indicating that a response will be provided as soon as My Info Quest reopens. Nationwide, librarians from the participating libraries will collaborate to staff the service. The software for My Info Quest has been donated for the pilot program and will be available in Washington County throughout 2010.
Note: If you prefer chat or email, use L-Net - http://www.oregonlibraries.net - available 24/7.
Questions? Please ask a librarian at the Cedar Mill Library.
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