Guide to using the service - Australia

 

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The aim of this service is to put you in contact with a librarian via live chat online when you need help using information resources after hours. The service makes use of time zone differences between countries, so that a librarian who is at work in another country will be able to answer your query. This service is currently provided between the United Kingdom and Australia, with Canadian and New Zealand librarians trialing the service. The service is a closed service - that is, it's restricted to health professionals working in organisations whose libraries also provide coverage for the Chasing the Sun service.

It is important that you read the following dot points that explain in more detail what you can (and can not) expect from this service.

  • The service is not a 24 hour service, but is operated during business hours of the participating countries. Please be aware that Canada and New Zealand are currently only trialing the service and librarians from those countries may not be logged on.
  • Hours of Service: United Kingdom
    A response from Australia is possible from midnight to 8am. As Australia is ahead of UK on the date line, the days of operation would be Sunday midnight (for Monday morning) to Friday 8am for (Friday evening).
  • Hours of Service: Australia
    A response from the United Kingdom is possible from 6pm to 2am. As UK is behind Australia on the date line, the days of operation would be 6pm Monday evening (for Monday morning) to Saturday 2am for (Friday evening)
  • There will be occasions when the service will not be available due to public holidays/bank holidays. Also there will be periods when the host country changes to and from daylight saving or summer time which will alter the above times by an hour. To check the time, see http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

What can be expected
  • Chasing the Sun librarians will be able to assist you to search for answers to clinical queries using commonly available databases such as Medline and Cochrane.
  • All Chasing the Sun librarians will see your query.
  • More than one response to the query is possible.
  • You will receive a transcript of the chat session in your email - please enter your email details carefully!
  • For evaluation purposes, and to improve this service, you might be contacted by your ‘own’ librarian for feedback.

What NOT to expect
  • The service is not for general problems with IT or computer connectivity, e.g. if databases are not working.
  • Chasing the Sun librarians are not able to assist with password difficulties.
  • The service cannot assist with locating or using material that is specific to your organisation such that might be located on your own Intranet.
  • The service cannot supply full-text documents as this would contravene Copyright legislation. The librarians will be able to clarify this during a chat session, if necessary.

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