LibraryH3lp is a platform that allows you to customize an online help desk at your library and embed it right on your website. This platform was suggested to me by another librarian in a neighboring district, as we moved to remote learning because of the COVID-19 virus. I am currently utilizing their free, three month trial to provide remote, online help to my students from 10-1 each week day. I was able to use their easy tutorial to embed the chat box on my website. When I am offline, a custom message is shown on our school library site and students, parents, or staff can click my bitmoji to email me, as I am not currently available for live chat.
I love that I can be available for live chat, in my pajamas, to support my students with research, ebook access, or even just make a connection with them to support social -emotional health during these trying times. I have advertised my “office hours” on social media and through an email to parents at home. As I work in a high school, teens are likely to reach out this way- similar to text messaging. The platform is Ed 2 D compliant, completely anonymous for all users. All of my transcripts are recorded so that I can have data to show administrators the interactions I’ve had with students or refer to transcripts after the fact to see how I can better help solve student problems, or transfer to the appropriate resource person in district. The platform has the capability to have many users who can sign in and “man” the library at different times. This is a way I could have the assistants in the library working from home as well, without giving away their personal cell phone numbers and making calls from home. I can customize responses and even set up a way to text a response, if I have to be away from my desk. This platform has allowed me to perform my job from home in a professional way, even with three small boys to manage (and two dogs)!
Though this platform has served its purpose specifically for this time of home-learning and quarantine. I am considering it for future use in house at the library. If students could quick chat a tech-help desk housed in the library, we could have students manning these stations and helping troubleshoot, without teachers having to send students out of the classroom to see if there is tech help in the library available. I plan to propose this idea to my administrators this summer. Using LibraryH3LP has turned out to be a positive outcome from COVID-19, as I’ve become familiar with a resource that I would not otherwise have sought out.
Take a moment and check out what https://libraryh3lp.com/ has to offer you and your school district!
A. Charland LIS 568 