How it Works

This is what you can expect while using
"Ask Here PA":

Ask Here PA is a member of the nationwide cooperative 24/7 Reference. Local librarians provide coverage when our libraries are open to the public. During busy periods and off-hours the service is supported by other librarians working throughout the country from their own libraries. This national support allows us to have librarians available whenever you need information.

The librarian will communicate with you using Internet chat and may take you to various websites. An average session lasts 15-20 minutes. It may take several minutes for the librarian to search and send you an answer. We thank you for your patience while the librarian searches for a resource that satisfies your request. The librarian may ask you questions to get a better understanding of what you need and may offer to follow-up by e-mail if your question cannot be answered online. That will allow the librarian to refer to print and local resources, as well as subject specialists who may not be available during the live session.

By entering an e-mail address at login you will receive a complete transcript of your session with the librarian, including all chat and links to web sites visited. This also helps the librarian send a follow-up message to you if more information is found after your session has ended.

At the end of the session you will receive a list of live links that will allow you to go back and visit all of the pages you were shown. If you have provided an e-mail address, you will receive a full transcript by e-mail. Each page received can then be bookmarked or printed after the session.

You may also choose to select the "anonymous" setting at the top of the login screen to have no identifying information about yourself submitted. If you do so, you will not automatically receive a transcript of the session by e-mail. If you check this box, you will be able to retrieve a transcript of your session with the librarian via a link, which will be sent to your browser at the end of the session. To get a copy of your online session, just click on the link. You will have the option of emailing the session or printing it. The link will remain active for 10 days.