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Do you need help finding answers to your questions? Do you feel lost on the Internet when your search pulls up 359,876 hits? Let a librarian help you. Wherever you are, whatever your question, Oregon's libraries are ready to help at L-net. L-net is an online reference service available to all Oregonians. At L-net, you can chat with librarians online in real time or ask a question via e-mail. Either way, your questions will be answered. Like similar innovative services in New Jersey, California and Colorado, L-net offers you a whole new way of visiting the library. Librarians at 20 different public, academic and high school libraries across the state take turns answering questions at www.oregonlibraries.net/chat. You can also reach L-net by visiting the Jackson County Library's home page www.jcls.org (click on "Ask a Librarian"). "It's exciting to have so many different libraries working together," says Caleb Tucker-Raymond, the service coordinator for L-net. "It's like having a librarian in every computer in Oregon." L-net began last year as a pilot project called Answerland. More than 1,000 questions from Oregonians were answered during the yearlong trial period. Librarians have helped students do research, guided citizens to government statistics, and found everything from car-repair manuals in Newport to synchronized-swimming teams in Australia. In April 2004, the pilot project became a full statewide program called L-Net. Today, L-net's live chat service is available Sunday through Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. L-net's e-mail service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. L-net is funded by a grant from the Oregon State Library through the federal Library Services and Technology Act. For more information, visit your library, in person or on the web. Back |
