Zoom can be utilized via LibChat. In cases where reference staff have begun a chat and believe it will be easier or beneficial to use Zoom, they should do so.
Ref operators who want to move to Zoom, should inform the other chat operators on shift.
Ref operators should keep zoom transactions to no longer than about 20 minutes in length, though if it is quiet, there can be some flexibility there.
Research questions can be enriched by using Zoom rather than chat in a number of situations, e.g.:
You need more information to understand the problem than you can get quickly through chat--sometimes you just need to see something.
You want the patron to learn by doing, and to walk them through the search process. This can ensure stronger understanding, and also can leave the patron with tabs open and resources to use when the chat ends (where they agree to screen share with you).
French: Bienvenue au service de clavardage des bibliothèques de l'Université York. Malheureusement l’opérateur bilingue est occupé sur Zoom en ce moment. Merci de patienter.
English Translation: Welcome to York University Libraries chat service. Unfortunately, the bilingual operator is currently busy on Zoom. Thank you for waiting.
French: Nous nous excusons de cette attente. Si vous ne pouvez pas patienter, veuillez laisser votre nom et votre adresse électronique et notre opérateur bilingue fera un suivi par courriel. Nous nous excusons pour tout inconvénient. Merci de votre compréhension.
English Translation: We apologize for the wait. If you do not wish to continue to wait, please leave us your name and email address and our bilingual operator will follow up with you by email. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
I recommend we switch to Zoom so I can help you by screensharing. I'll send you a Zoom invite through chat. Would that be all right?
Je recommande de passer à Zoom pour que je puisse vous aider en partageant l'écran. Je vais vous envoyer une invitation Zoom par le biais du clavardage. Cela vous conviendrait-il ?
We're able to provide about 20 minutes of help per Zoom session to balance time between students needing research help. I'll send you the invitation to screenshare now.
Nous pouvons accorder environ 20 minutes d'aide par session Zoom afin d'équilibrer le temps entre les étudiants ayant besoin d'aide pour leurs recherches. Je vais maintenant vous envoyer l'invitation pour partager l'écran.
All of our chat operators are currently busy. If you're able to wait, I can give you an estimate of how long it will be until an operator is free to Zoom. Or, I can help you through chat right now.
Tous nos opérateurs et opératrices sont actuellement occupé(e)s. Si vous êtes en mesure d'attendre, je peux vous dire combien de temps cela prendra avant qu'un opérateur soit libre pour Zoom. Ou, je peux aussi vous aider par le biais du clavardage dès maintenant.
Here is a quick summary of how to use Zoom with a LibChat patron. (Springshare has a longer version.)
1. Connect
a) Click on the Request Screenshare button:
b) The patron will get a message with a link to join the session:
c) Click on the green Launch button. You are the host.
2. Share
a) Audio
b) Screen-sharing
c) Video
3. Ending a session
a) Click the Stop Share button in the screensharing controls to stop sharing your screen.
b) To end the meeting, click End Meeting.
c) Your chat session will still be active in LibChat and you can return there to continue if needed.