LibAnswers Reviews

I love that I can create FAQ Groups for specific user groups, such as subject specialists. It's also useful for conducting online chats via LibChat (with faculty, staff, and students) and also for screensharing. However, my favorite part of this software is the ability to record reference statistics in Reference Analytics! This makes reporting statistics and overviews of library services so convenient and simple! It's SO easy to use.

Unfortunately, our organization does not regularly provide updates on social media. I know that LibAnswers offers the ability to post Tweets and Facebook messages, but due to the current leadership of our organization, our social media activity is lacking. Therefore, I haven't utilized ALL that LibAnswers has to offer, but it sounds like it could be very useful for organizations and companies.

LibAnswers helps our organization stay in touch with users online, and provides a convenient location for our users to find answers to their questions.

What I like best about the LibAnswers, as with every review, is that it is so simple to use. I really also love their theme colors.

This site helps to deliver information to patrons, it's so easy to use so there really is nothing I can say that I would dislike.

I had been using LibAnswers to be able to connect with patrons in a way that would be useful to them so those contacts are beneficial.

I like the intuitiveness of LibAnswers withing the chat feature. You can set it up to insert pre-populated answers, saving both you and the patron time and is very convenient as well.

I don't like that unless you intentionally go to a separate Dashboard area, you're not alerted of when new questions are submitted that you may have missed; i.e. if you share virtual reference responsibilities sometimes questions come in between folks, on missed shifts, etc. There's no notification or alert that shows you there are new ones, so questions can have been waiting through several shifts, if someone is particularly busy, and then they are forgotten until someone remembers or claims one.

It can be used for a lot more than reference and chat questions, so I'd recommend.

We use it daily in our library system to offer an additional reference services to students, faculty, and staff at my university.

I like that this software is manipulable by everyone in an organization but can be accessed both by the workers and the users.

There is no way to link things directly to a LibAnswer so they must be manually updated, however, that also allows for changes in multi-campus settings.

Students can get quick answers to their library questions in a pinch instead of needing to contact a person face to face or via chat.

I like the ability to create different forms for different uses - instruction, desk transactions, etc.

I wish it was more integrative with other Springshare products - like a form could pop up in our calendar bookings for us to compile everything through the same entry point

LibAnswers and Springshare in general are great resources for libraries and I highly recommend them.

We're keeping track of our meetings with people on campus, especially for statistical reporting purposes.

Makes the process of engaging with customers via multiple social media accounts a breeze (well, a breeze compared to NOT using Libanswers) The user interface is clean, simple, and intuitive, and the end result is a huge time save.

It can take a bit to find your bearings if you're not used to the interface style. It's different, to be sure, but like anything, you'll get out of it what you put into it. Worth the time investment to learn.

Search around for some tutorial vids as soon as you know you'll be using, it can make training your staff a much easier process. It's also very much worth looking at your organization's needs to decide whether you'll need something as powerful as LibAnswers or if you'd even be fine without it. Use discernment, for sure.

As a larger library system, LibAnswers makes managing multiple SM accounts and responding to them in timely manners a much simpler, QUICKER task. Saves us time and money.

I love that if you have a question that you can’t find on their site, they have someone available to help you ALL the time!

The website itself Is not super flashy and pretty basic. It does get the job done though! It can be difficult to navigate at times.

As an educator it helps keep me

Up to date with writing styles and any changes that are made. It also is a good quick reference for questions I have as well as a good support tool while I teach my students!

The features on LibAnswers are very intuitive, so all staff members are easily able to view and interpret data. It can be used for both simple and complex functions.

The website interface looks a little outdated in terms of font and color. I believe there is a way to arrange information on the software to create a better flow of data input.

Customize the features to fit your organization, utilize data charts to allocate employee time and resources

Our library was having issues tracking the individual interactions that staff have with patrons, and employee funding is allocated based on how useful staff make themselves. We were unable to determine the areas where patrons need the most help (circulation, information, technology assistance). LibAnswers has allowed us to log patron stats and keep a better track of where our services are most needed.

I like LibAnswers because it gives customers the opportunity to send questions and comments to our organization at any time of the day and gives staff the flexibility to provide comprehensive answers and information when needed. It keeps track of everything that comes and goes so we can refer back to a previous question if follow up is needed.

I really don't have anything negative to say about the service at this time.

We are able to reach customers remotely so they can get what they need while remaining in the comfort of their owe homes. We have found this to be a very useful product and in addition to LibAnswers we also use LibCal and LibGuides with the same vendor.

The many options for audience categories

Sometimes, too many options isnt a good thing. The sorting menu needs more filters and a translaation option

Have a pretty detailed idea of what categories and options you need for your front facing audience before you set it up.

Making events public