Chatstaff Reviews

Kind, interesting colleagues and fun interactions with patrons.

I've worked at libraries who use remote librarian services before, so I knew what I was getting into. Before the interview, I asked basic questions about pay, hours, and benefits so I knew that this was going to be a part time option which is exactly what I need as a stay-at-home parent who has another full time income from my spouse. Here is what you may want to know about this position: 1) The interview is intense! They are trying to see how you handle the pressure of many chats at once, which is a common situation for this job. For a novice in chat reference, they can make you sweat! But it is a good simulation of the actual work. Much like waiting tables, it can get very busy and you have to learn to juggle the work. But if you are motivated and truly enjoy reference and helping people (and have fast fingers), it is actually really fun work. 2) They have trainers assigned to your shifts at first. Extra people who jump in and help when you ask, or who review your chats and offer suggestions, or who just check in to see how things are going. I felt like it was a very supportive training process. 3) They are flexible with hours. Right now, I prefer later in the evenings and on weekends because it works best with my personal schedule. They have been very responsive in making sure the schedule works and they reconfigure when needed. 4) You are rarely alone. They have done a good job anticipating high traffic times and making sure there are enough staff to support the traffic. 5) The staff are professional and friendly. You're working with real librarians, some of whom are working Chatstaff as a second job to supplement their main library positions. Right now, I'm happy just working Chatstaff, but at some point I plan on jumping back into full time and keeping Chatstaff work as well. Great for not having gap years and keeping your mind sharp when you can't afford to pay a mortgage for child care. 6) It does keep your mind sharp. I've learned sooooooooo much about different databases I never touched before with Chatstaff. We have 500 or so libraries, so that's a lot of different databases to explore. 7) You keep your hours, and your colleagues keep theirs. We have a routine, just like any other job. You don't inconvenience people by showing up late, and you stay through your shift. It's more pronounced here than any other job I've had. Since pay is associated with the time you log in and log out, we don't have issues with tardiness or absences. 8) You can put your shifts up for sub requests and take people's open requests. I like this aspect of the job a lot. Some weeks are busier for me than others, and I like that I can add to my hours without much confusion (under the part time max). No need to ask a supervisor. You just take the hour if it's available and you want it. It is a very simple process. 9) They have on-call librarian shifts which are shifts where you are signed on to chat but marked as away so only colleagues can contact you (and you're paid at the on--call rate). The ones who are full will ping you if things get busy, and then you sign on as available to take the overflow chats (and get paid at the full rate). I LOVE those shifts because I can be doing dishes and making some money (I just keep my computer close by in case I'm called in.) 10) They sent my tax info to me before 1/31. That is a BIG deal to me. 11) Have I mentioned I get to thoroughly enjoy my kids and still do reference? That is also a big deal to me. Also, I can work in my pjs. Also, I can be eating pizza and working. Also, I can be writing a novel during quiet lulls and working. Also, I can be watching netflix (during slow shifts) and working. And when I'm done working, I check in with the next shift, then log off and it's on to the next part of my daily routine. No hassle. No fuss. 12) I got into libraries because I love information searches and I love helping people. When people ask me a question, I go a bit crazy wanting to find the answer for myself. I can't even tell you how many times I've started a search for a patron and then long after they have signed out I'm still reading up on the thing they asked about. I also can't count the number of times I've been called a "life saver" an "angel" a "hero." Some people use the service when they are at their wits end, the library is closed, and they have to turn their paper in in two hours. A gentle nudge in the right direction is really all they need, but they are overwhelmingly grateful.