Saskatchewan Libraries: Ask Us!

"How do I get rid of skunk odour?"
"What is titanium made of?"
"How do I find a Saskatchewan statute?"
"What education do I need for a career in aesthetics?"

These are just a few of the questions that have been answered by Saskatchewan Libraries: Ask Us! -- an Internet-based question and answer service for Saskatchewan residents, available province-wide through Saskatchewan public library web sites.

Ask Us! answers a wide variety of questions including quick facts, homework help, book suggestions, tips on using the library, and guidance on where to start an information search. Ask Us! is ideal for someone who needs a piece of information but does not know where to begin looking.

Each question sent to Ask Us! is personally handled by a librarian who finds an answer and sends a reply. Library staff use the materials in their collections and their knowledge of information sources to find solid and reliable answers.

Questions can be sent to Ask Us! 24 hours a day, for no charge, by logging onto the Ask Us! web page at www.lib.sk.ca/askus/ and filling out a question form. Responses are e-mailed within 48 hours. Patrons who do not have an e-mail address can ask the library to phone, fax or mail the response.

Ask Us! is a cooperative province-wide service of the 10 public library systems in Saskatchewan and the Provincial Library. Questions submitted to the service are answered by the library system serving the area for that resident. The Provincial Library provides the hardware and software, coordination, statistics, and development for the service. Ask Us! was established as a permanent library service in January 2001. Responses to the service have included:

"I have been surfing the net for the better part of the winter to get the information you sent in two days. This information is vital … I can't thank you enough!"

"I love the service. The information that was supplied was easy and accurate. I had searched and searched but could not find it elsewhere."

"I have found your service very prompt and very friendly! Thank you very much!"

Ask Us! is found on the web at http://www.lib.sk.ca/askus and on the web sites of participating public library systems, including:

Chinook Regional Library
www.city.swift-current.sk.ca/city/chinook/chinook.htm

Lakeland Library Region
www.lakeland.lib.sk.ca/

Pahkisimon Nuye?áh Library System
www.pnls.lib.sk.ca/

Palliser Regional Library
www.palliserlibrary.ca/index.htm

Parkland Regional Library
www.parkland.lib.sk.ca/

Regina Public Library
www.reginalibrary.ca

Saskatoon Public Library
www.saskatoonlibrary.ca

Southeast Regional Library
www.southeast.lib.sk.ca/

Wapiti Regional Library
www.panet.pa.sk.ca/

Wheatland Regional Library
www.wheatland.sk.ca/

For more information, contact

Phil Jeffreys
Saskatchewan Provincial Library
Ministry of Education
8th Floor, 1945 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK S4P 2C8
pjeffreys@library.gov.sk.ca
306-787-2959