Last semester, the Law Library unveiled a new instant messaging service by which our reference librarians can offer you quick research assistance in real time. We encourage all students, faculty and staff to add our buddy name to their IM accounts. We support IM via AIM, Yahoo, MSN, and ICQ. Here is our list of buddy names: * AIM: AskUWLaw * Yahoo: AskUWLaw * MSN: AskUWLaw@law.wisc.edu * ICQ: 204333744 Since not everyone has an IM account, however, we've recently added a chat box to the Law Library home page. Simply type in your legal research question in to the box (your name is optional) and hit return. You'll be connected with a reference librarian who can help get you started with your research. No IM account or special software is required. You can also chat directly from this page. If the light is green, we're online. Even when we aren't online, you can still use the chat box to send us your question by email. We'll do our best to best back to you by the next business day. Like our in person and phone research assistance, the IM/chat service is available Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am- 9:00 pm, Friday: 8:00 am- 5:00 pm, Saturday (fall & spring only) and Sunday: 1:00 pm- 5:00 pm. Hours may vary during holidays, breaks, and inter-session. See the Reference Desk hours. As with all of our reference services, we cannot interpret the law as it applies to specific facts or explain the substantive content of statutes and case law. Our assistance does not constitute legal advice.

Submitted by Bonnie Shucha on January 25, 2007

This article appears in the categories: Law Library