Working late or on the weekend and need library help? Is live chat offline just when you had a question? Now you can AskMac!
AskMac is an automated chat interface accessible on the library’s homepage, research guides and catalog that can guide you to the answers to our most asked questions. Do you need to know if we have a particular journal or ebook? AskMac how to locate our online collection and get immediate access! Are you having technical issues with our resources or a citation manager? AskMac can troubleshoot possible solutions. If AskMac cannot answer the question, it will prompt you to submit a ticket and our AskUs staff, who serves at the front line for library communications, will respond on the next business day.
Programmed by library staff, not AI, AskMac can help get your library research back on track when you need it. The interface is based on the same platform as our live chat service. AskUs desk staff member Durrett Winter analyzed past user questions, consulted with library staff and developed a flowchart to guide construction of the tool. After testing and revisions, the automated chat launched in late July. We will further develop the questions that AskMac can answer based on user needs. AskUs staff will continue to be available on chat during library hours for that human touch.
AskMac is named in honor of the library’s namesake and biggest supporter, Dr. Leon S. McGoogan, MD, who was affectionately known as, “Dr. Mac,” and the innovative library chat initiative that the library provided from 2002 – 2004.