Chat with a Reference Librarian Using the HKS Chat Tool
Now available for the Harvard Kennedy School
community
Monday - Friday 10 AM - 5 PM
If you have used our service before, log on, click the chat button, and select "Reference Librarian" to start chatting.
If you are new to our chat service, you'll need to follow the
instructions below for your initial setup.
1. Log on to the HKS intranet (http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/intranet).
2. Click on the "CHAT" button in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
3. Two windows will open up. One will look blank and the other one will have your name (and possibly others) in green. (Troubleshooting tip: you may need to allow pop-ups from the site if you have a pop up blocker installed.)
4. In the window where you can see your name, go up to the "People" menu and select "Add."
5. Click on the "Directory" button. In the box labeled "Search for person or group" type in "librarian". Hit enter, or click on the "Search" button. An entry for Librarian, Reference will be highlighted. Click on the "Add" button at the bottom of the window.
6. Now in the window where you can see your name you will also see "Reference Librarian." If Reference Librarian is bold and in green, then a librarian is available to answer your research questions.
7. To send a chat message to the Reference Librarian, double click on the green "Reference Librarian" name. A chat box will open up and you can type in your question.
Please be aware that the Reference Librarian may be helping someone else at the time your question is received. Please be patient if it takes a few minutes for you to get a response.
Reference Librarians are available by phone (617-495-1302) and email (ksg_library_questions@harvard.edu) as well as via chat Monday-Friday 10 am - 5 pm.