Here’s how some college librarians are offering student services at the touch of a few buttons. 

“Text a Librarian” services are popping up on campuses nationwide. At Oregon State University, for instance, students can text a question to a library number. The librarian signed into the library’s instant-messaging service then sends a text back to the student’s cell phone.

Students can ask about library services like checking out books or laptops, or more complex research queries. The librarian can ask for the student’s e-mail address if the request is too in-depth for a text and requires a more detailed answer.

At Yale University’s Kline Science Library, the librarians are trying to stay current on tech usage. They use a shared iPhone to answer student questions to stay familiar with students’ communication devices.

What methods does your library use to keep up with student needs? Let us know in the comments section.

Tags: iPhones on campus, Oregon State University, text a librarian, Yale University