IM a Science Librarian

IM a Science Librarian
Buddy name: ScienceRefUNC

The following science libraries at Carolina offer IM a Science Librarian for help with research in the sciences or questions about library services:

Chemistry, Zoology Libraries
Botany Library
Geological Sciences Library
Math/Physics Library

The chat client we support is the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) client. Our buddy name is ScienceRefUNC.

IM questions are taken in a first-come-first-served order. You may also email a librarian, call, or visit a science library for assistance.

Example of an IM response from IM a Librarian

Library	Email address	Phone (919)
Biology Library - Botany Section	Ask A Librarian: Biology	962-3783	Location
Biology Library - Zoology Section	Ask A Librarian: Biology	962-2264	Location
Chemistry Library	Ask A Librarian: Chemistry	962-1188	Location
Geological Sciences Library	kennard@email.unc.edu	962-2386	Location
Math/Physics Library	brauer-library@listserv.unc.edu	962-2323	Location

For help with health sciences questions, please contact the Health Sciences Library. The Health Sciences Library offers IM help using the screen name AskHSLChat. More information

Hours for IM a Science Librarian service
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Weekends closed

For IM help on Sunday, message the Undergraduate Library Reference Desk at undergradref, or the Davis Library Reference Desk at davisrefdesk.

Frequently Asked Questions about IM a Science Librarian

How do I IM a librarian?
Open a new message, enter our buddy name, ScienceRefUNC, in the To: field, and start typing your message. Or, just add ScienceRefUNC to your buddy list, double-click on the buddy name to open an IM window, then type your message.

I don't use Instant Messenger. How do I get started?
Download AIM here. Fill out a quick, easy Web form, choose a screen name, and start using IM in 1-2 minutes.

Restrictions on your computer, or don't want to download AIM?
Use another version of AIM called AIM Express. With AIM Express, you can create a screen name and chat directly from the Web. No downloads and no software installations. If you do not wish to create a screen name, you can still use the Live Online Help service at the Davis Library Reference Desk.

What if I use Yahoo! Messenger or MSN Messenger?
We do not currently support these IM clients. However, you may IM the Davis Library Reference Desk with Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger using the buddy name davisrefdesk. If this is your first IM with davisrefdesk using either Yahoo! or MSN, please note there may be an occasional delay before davisrefdesk confirms you as a buddy.
For Yahoo! Messenger users: Note that librarians will not be able to see Yahoo! emoticons or animations or hear sounds.

Do other libraries at Carolina offer IM a Librarian service?
Yes. You can also IM the Davis Library Reference Desk, the Undergraduate Library, the Health Sciences Library, the Law Library, the Math/Physics Library, the City & Regional Planning Library, and the Stone Center Library.

Their buddy names are:

Undergraduate Library	undergradref hours
Health Sciences Library	AskHSLChat hours
Law Library	lawchat4u hours
Davis Library	davisrefdesk hours
Stone Center Library	stonecenterref hours
City & Regional Planning Library	planref hours
Brauer Math/Physics Library	ScienceRefUNC hours

What about privacy?
The library will save the transcript of your chat session. We are occasionally contacted by researchers interested in reading our chat interactions. We consider these requests on a case-by-case basis, but in all cases, any identifying patron information is stripped away before the data is provided to the researcher. We will make every effort to protect your privacy. Any information you provide will remain confidential.

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