Gaming, Computing & Technology Sources Highlighted in April

The April QuestionPoint Best Practices Session featured recommended web based sources covering

gaming, computing and technology.  For instructions on logging on to view the recorded Wislineweb

session check the AskAway Best Practices wiki page at: http://askaway.pbwiki.com/Best-Practices

Reference Wiki Aids Chat Librarians

Participating chat librarians can link into the AskAway Reference wiki at: http://wiki.questionpoint.org/. 

The wiki features a list of links into web based resources arranged in subject categories.

This resource was developed for the benefit of QuestionPoint’s skilled force of backup librarians.

QuestionPoint Software Update Released March 2

New Interface Easier for the Visually Impaired

QuestionPoint’s improved interface includes several features that will make the service more accessible

to visually impaired patrons.  Low-vision patrons can now customize their screen, they can select an

audible cue that alerts them to incoming messages from the chat librarian, and they can select larger

fonts and color combinations for screen backgrounds and text combinations.

“Qwidget” Offers Instant Message Option

Libraries can choose to install a Qwidget “Meebo-Me-like” instant message chat box on their website. 

In recent years many academic and public libraries in Wisconsin have used instant message technology

to meet patron’s reference and customer service needs.  Using the Qwidget, they can now have instant

message questions redirected to their QuestionPoint email service when librarians aren’t available to respond

instantaneously. Unlike the “full strength” QuestionPoint chat service,

widget questions are only visible to librarians in the AskAway Wisconsin consortium

A Better Spam Solution!

The new interface includes “Captcha” technology which requires that patrons enter characters from a

randomly generated graphic which should defeat spam bots and reduce spam.  QuestionPoint also supports

two other options which may reduce spam.  Libraries can have QuestionPoint host the forms their patrons

use to enter the service, or they can have QuestionPoint validate their “referrer” page.  Reference and

Loan and Viterbo College have both implemented the Captcha and found that it virtually eliminates email spam. 

If your library is having spam problems please try it. For more information please contact

Mark Beatty at WiLS or Martha Berninger at Reference and Loan.

Want to Know More? View the Wislineweb Sessions

Mark Beatty of WiLS presented web-based training sessions on most of the software updates.  

To view the recorded sessions on Wislineweb go to: 

https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/wislineweb/view

Enter Your Name 

Recording ID: 58GFCQ-080310 (March 10^th on Qwidget and Asterisks)

Recording ID: 58GFCQ-080317 (March 17^th on Forms Creation & Chat2 interface)

Recording ID: 58GFCQ-080324 (March 24^th on spam fighting and reports.)

Recording Key:  (Leave Blank)

Click View Recording

Share your concerns, comments and questions about AskAway

The participation of the Wisconsin library community has been instrumental in the growth and

development of the AskAway service.  Wisconsin residents are enjoying the benefit of those efforts,

and we want to continue to incorporate your feedback.

Please share your concerns, questions and comments by phone, email, or snail-mail. 

Call me (Martha Berninger) at 608-224-6168, email to Martha.berninger@dpi.wi.gov,

or send a note to 2109 South Stoughton Road, Madison, WI, 53716.

Thanks for your input and your ongoing support of AskAway.

Newsletters as Doc files

AskAway March-April 2008 newsletter.doc 

AskAway Feb newsletterv2.doc

Those Reponsible Contacts:

Martha, Martha.Berninger@dpi.wi.gov

Mark, mbeatty@wils.wisc.edu