This is a non-comprehensive list of questions we are commonly asked on Ask A Librarian by type, and my recommendations for how to answer them. If you're involved in an area listed here and have a better suggestion, please let me know so I can improve this page!
- CJ Ellward (c.gott@ufl.edu)
The Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) is a partnership of libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions from several different countries providing open access to many types of materials pertaining to the Caribbean and Caribbean heritage. The University of Florida is the technical and administrative hub for the partnership, which includes hosting the website. This is why UF's Ask A Librarian service receives inquiries about dLOC, despite it being an international service. dLOC questions make up approximately 20% of Ask A Librarian inquiries.
While it's generally understood that you may not know everything about documents contained in dLOC, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with methods of searching the database to better assist patrons with questions! You aren't expected to perform searches for patrons, but giving them some tips often gives them the tools to find what they need by themselves.
For in-depth inquiries or more general questions about dLOC, please refer patrons to dLOC@uflib.ufl.edu.
Searching dLOC is sometimes unintuitive, especially to patrons who don't have experience on databases in general. You might find it helpful to explain certain search functions to patrons who are having a difficult time locating resources, especially when they are looking for items in a language you don't speak.
Occasionally we receive inquiries from patrons looking for personal identifying documents, like birth, marriage, or death certificates. None of these documents can be found in dLOC. Patrons sometimes get confused because we do have newspapers, which can contain birth & marriage announcements or obituaries.
dLOC houses materials from dozens of institutions, and most records look a little bit different depending on the source institution.
Because dLOC houses information from several different countries, we occassionally receive inquires in languages like Spanish or French. If you speak the same language as the patron, you are more than welcome to help them as usual! If you don't speak their language, we have canned messages to refer patrons to the email dLOC@uflib.ufl.edu.
This email inbox is monitored by dLOC librarians at UF and Florida Internation University (FIU) who both have more specialized knowledge and speak Spanish and/or French.
Many patrons come to us with general research inquiries. As an AAL operator, you aren't expected to have an answer to these inquiries, but you should refer them to the appropriate resources instead.
Example: Patron is looking for scholarly articles on the relationship between aging and cardiac conditions (a real AAL question!). I'd send them the link to the Aging & Geriatrics research guide, and highlight the corresponding librarian's information. You may also find it helpful to point out the Journals/Databases tabs on reserach guides.
Sometimes patrons report they have clicked on a database, and it won't let them view resources without logging in or paying.
A very commonly asked question on AAL!
The VPN is required to access all digital library materials (except UFDC & dLOC items) when you are off campus.
Each library branch has their own policies on study room usage. All reservations are made on LibCal, but please don't adjust reservations unless you've been given permission by that branch's coordinator.
While similar, InterLibrary Loan (ILL) and UBorrow are two different services and function slighly differently. Both systems are overseen by Access & Resource Sharing.
ILL
UBorrow
Patrons who are not members of the UF Community can still have access to our resources on a limited basis
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