About PCC Library's Ask a Librarian service
Answer
PCC Library's Ask a Librarian chat service provides free online assistance with questions related to research, information needs, library services and resources. A librarian – a real person, not an AI chatbot – is available to answer questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Who we serve
- Pasadena City College students, faculty and staff
- General public with research and library related questions
How we can help
Our service focuses on questions relating to library services and resources, including:
- Finding books, articles, and other materials
- Using library databases and search tools
- General research assistance
- Informational and directional questions
- General questions about the PCC Shatford Library, its collections, and its policies
We will do our best to answer other questions or to direct you to the best point of contact.
Our focus is on guiding, educating and suggesting research strategies. We do not provide subject tutoring and do not do your research or evaluate and select sources for you. PCC does offer tutoring in various subjects.
What to expect
- We answer chats in the order we receive them. During busy times, there may be someone being assisted ahead of you.
- Some questions may take more time. We appreciate your patience as we work to assist you.
- For complex questions, we may recommend an email follow-up, or that you set up a Zoom or phone consultation appointment with a librarian.
- When a PCC Librarian is unavailable, your chat request will be handled by a global network of librarians. Sometimes a librarian who is not from PCC may determine that it's necessary to refer your question to a PCC Librarian for follow-up, in which case we will reach out to you at your provided email address when we are next available.
Follow-Up
- Entering an accurate email address ensures that you can receive a transcript of the chat and any follow-up messages that we believe will help answer your inquiry.
- PCC students, keep in mind that your email address is your username followed by @go.pasadena.edu.
Courtesy and Respect
- We expect our chat participants and librarians to exhibit mutual courtesy and respect. We will not tolerate abusive, inappropriate, or disrespectful interactions, and we may restrict your access to the chat service if you engage in unacceptable behavior. If you have any concerns about a chat interaction, please contact us.
- The PCC Student Conduct Code applies to students using our chat service.
Privacy and Security
- We keep chat transcripts solely for internal library purposes. Only authorized staff can view those transcripts.
- You are not required to share any information beyond your first name and email address in order to access our service.