Category: Site Coordinators
Creating and Editing Canned Messages and Macros
Procedure to Create Personal Canned Messages
Procedure to Create, Edit, and Use Macros
– Site Coordinators Only –
Creating and Using System Canned Messages
Add Canned Messages specific to your library which can be accessed by all users in your Ask a Librarian local department. These can only be added and edited by site coordinators.
Chatbot Tutorial
Chat Widgets – Creating and Editing
An email/FAQ widget training is in the works! For now, check out what Springshare provides:
Widgets & Tickets: Create and customize a question form widget
Widgets & FAQs: Create and customize a search form widget
AAL Account Type Access
View or Download the chart here: https://toolbox.askalibrarian.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/3582600b-5ef4-467f-9a17-a2c1ba608025.pdf
Creating and Using System Canned Messages
Add Canned Messages specific to your library which can be accessed by all users in your Ask a Librarian local department. These can only be added and edited by site coordinators.
Setting Up SMS Auto-Responders
Springshare will send automated text responses to patrons when an SMS question is sent outside of designated hours.
Change the Success Message on Email Forms
Success Messages can be edited to indicate library closures when a patron submits an email ticket through a form.
Chat, Email, and SMS Statistics
Webinar updated on 03/19/25
Editing Your Email Form Header
Email form headers can be edited to indicated library closures or requests for information.
Monitoring Who’s Online
View who is currently monitoring from your local library without logging in to chat.
What should I do if my library is closing?
Holiday or Hurricane closures coming up and you’re not sure what to do about Ask a Librarian?
Here are two important questions to ask yourself:
Will my library miss a collaborative desk shift (Statewide or Academic) because of the closure?
NO – If the collaborative desk is also closed and no one will be monitoring your local chat desk, no further action is needed. When no chat desks are online and monitored, the chat widget displays an Offline message with the option to submit an email ticket instead.
YES – If the collaborative desk will be open and your closure means missing a shift, please email the listserv (askref@askref.simplelists.com) with the date, time and collaborative desk that needs coverage.
Do I need to notify patrons submitting email or SMS questions that we’re not available?
NO – If you use your own email form outside of Springshare or don’t need to signify your closures through email, there are no further action needed.
YES – There are a few options for site coordinators to indicate a delay in response due to closures: Edit your Question Form Header, change the success message displayed when a question is submitted, AND/OR enable and edit an automated email response once a question is submitted. These options are not available if you use your own email form outside of Springshare. You can also set up an auto-reply for SMS questions.
**If you change these Queue settings, don’t forget to reset them once your library opens again!
Don’t forget, site coordinators can kick library staff accounts linked to your local department off of the chat dashboard. This feature is helpful if someone forgets to log out before a long break.