Text a Librarian — text messaging answer service
Text us at 66746, keyword AskSJ
To send us a question via text messaging from your cell phone
Text 66746 and start your first message with the keyword AskSJ followed by a space. Type your question and press "Send."
Example: AskSJ When is the next solar eclipse?
What is Text a Librarian?
Text a Librarian is a service which enables you to use the text message feature of your mobile phone to send questions to and receive answers from San José Public Library and San José State University librarians.
When can I use the service?
Text questions to us Monday through Friday, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM. We will respond as soon as possible during those hours. Questions not answered by 6:00 PM will be answered after 1:00 PM the next service day (M-F). Questions sent outside of service hours receive an automated response and are answered the next service day.
Please be aware that some text messages can be delayed or even fail due to problems with the connections between different telephone carriers.
What kind of questions can I ask via texting?
Use Text A Librarian to ask simple, quick questions (up to 160 characters) that can be answered in brief responses (up to 320 characters). If our responses exceed 160 characters, they appear as 2 messages.
To ask questions requiring lengthy, detailed, or immediate responses, please use one of the other options listed on our Ask a Librarian page.
What do I need to use the service?
To use the service, you need a mobile phone which is enabled to send and receive text messages.
What does the service cost?
The library does not charge for this service, but charges from your cell phone provider may apply. These charges vary among plans and among telephone providers.
The library does not take any responsibility for any charges your mobile phone provider may assess you for sending or receiving messages while using this service.
Do I always need to include AskSJ at the beginning of my questions, and when I reply to a message you’ve sent to me, do I need to include AskSJ?
No. You only need to include AskSJ for the first question you send to us.
What about my privacy?
Text a Librarian is private and secure:
- Our text-to-chat service (Mosio) assigns a random User ID number to each patron.
- Your phone number is never visible to us at any time.
- Your phone number is not accessible by us.
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