Ask a LibrarianTexting

Local (first box)  Check this box to help FKCC students:  Marked “Unavailable”: and/or Texting  Marked “Available”: Allows Chat Patrons In Academic (plus Texting)  From 10a-4p M-F, a second group of librarians checks the Academic box instead, and see Academic users once inside.  Check this & the Texting box if scheduled to cover the Academic Desk. Collaborative (plus Texting)  There are librarians scheduled to check this box for every hour we are open (above). It is like the catch-all or “main” desk.  Check this & the Texting box if scheduled to cover the Collaborative Desk. Statewide Ask a Librarian Hours: Sun-Thurs, 10am-midnight Fri & Sat, 10am-5pm ALL OPEN HOURS M-F 10am - 4pm Local Desk (library’s choice)

User sends text to local phone number, with library’s keyword just before the message.

User sends texts to local phone number, with library’s keyword just before the message The “spc” keyword tells the software it is a St. Petersburg College patron.

In addition, a few libraries who staff a local desk also have a dedicated texting number that automatically lists the library name Just like the “spc” keyword, here the dedicated number also tells the software it is a St. Petersburg College patron.

User sends text Text is converted into (text) received in statewide Mail Queue Collaborative or Academic librarian replies to (text) converted back into text User receives response as text

Each time you log into Collaborative or Academic, you will also log into Texting. You can also staff Texting when staffing your local desk. Right-click to preview. ~ ~ Double-click to reply.

The text will open in lower- left corner. Right-click to preview. Preview: Text thread previews in HTML Body tab.

The HTML button and HTML Body tab will show the text thread. The SMS Helper tab assists with creating the text reply.

One thing to remember: Reply must be 160 characters or less.

Click on the SMS Helper tab and type reply into first text field. Shorten URLs (include the http) and paste after your reply. Copy/paste reply into field. Click on Send; the user will receive your reply as a text. Use SMS Helper to count characters Type final reply here (or paste from the right)

Best Practices 160 characters or less Shorten URLs; consider search results URLs for multiple user options Try to help through texting before referring (user's preferred media) Include general info if user wasn't specific so they are not empty-handed Include answer details in message - not just URL - for those users without Web capabilities. Remember not all users have unlimited text plans-- it costs some patrons to send and receive texts, so always count characters.

Technical issues? 1) If you don’t see the preview there, click on the Header tab, and then on the messageBodyHTML link. It will show the text in a new window.

Java issues? Three things. 1) If you don’t see the preview there, click on the Header tab, and then on the messageBodyHTML link. It will show the text in a new window. Technical issues cont’d: 2)Click on the HTML button above the text to open the text in a new window. 3)Open the SMS Helper from the URLs tab.

Ask a Librarian Demos (password: toolbox)

Got questions? Traci Avet , ext. 223 Help !