Online Services
Questions & Answers About AskNow
www.asknow.org
A service of your California libraries
1. What is AskNow?
AskNow is a service that combines the speed and convenience of the Internet with the information savvy of librarians. California residents were among the first in the nation to enjoy live online reference service. That means you can go to a library website, type your question, "talk" to a librarian and get an answer while you wait--virtually the same as if you were in a library.2. How is AskNow different from search engines?
A search engine is a computer program that "crawls" the Web, looking for the words you typed into the search box. AskNow connects you with an information pro--a reference librarian who is also an Internet expert. Thanks to interactive technology, you can communicate with the librarian online and use all of the online resources available through your own libraries. These resources include full-text articles from magazines and journals, encyclopedias, almanacs, directories and other commercial data services. A transcript of the session, including URLs for Web sites and other resources used, can be sent by e-mail after you've finished.3. How does it work?
Simply log on to AskNow (http://www.asknow.org) from any computer with Internet access. When you type your question, a librarian will respond by typing an answer.4. What kinds of questions can AskNow answer?
AskNow is designed to answer brief, factual questions for school, business or home use. A few examples: "What does the "D" in D-Day stand for?" "How do I get a patent?" "Can I take my dog to the Philippines?" "When does Daylight Savings Time end?" "How do I get information about overseas adoption?" "What is an appropriate gift for a silver anniversary?" If your question requires in-depth research, the librarian may suggest Web sites and other sources of information to get you started. The librarian may also refer you to a subject expert. We also encourage you to call or visit the reference desk of your local library.AskNow is not intended for questions about your personal library account. To protect your privacy and the security of patron records, online librarians do not have access to your personal information. You can also choose to be anonymous. After your session, you can click on a Web link to recall your transcript and then, if you like, forward that transcript to an email address.