Unique Library announced the launch of Live Chat for Ventura County Library this week. The service offers an innovative way for patrons to interact with the library without tying up staff with inquiries, while enhancing the patron experience.

Unique Chat is a staffed service from Unique that answers live chat inquiries from patrons via a widget on the library's website. Library Communication Professionals handle interactions with patrons that would tie up staff and take them away from their duties within the library. It also gives patrons a new channel to communicate and interact with their library, how and when works best for them.

Key features of Chat include:

• Extends hours beyond when the library is open, we answer chats before your library is open, and after it's closed.
• Multilingual Messaging: Chats can be in the patron's preferred language.
• Enhances patron experience online and in person – our US-based communication professionals are live, responsive, and well-trained in library-specific interactions.
• Chat handles transactions, ready-reference, as well as any other common library questions.

About Patron Services

Unique is dedicated to making every library the best it can be. That led us to pioneering patron interaction solutions for libraries of every size. Our Patron Services include Chat and Phone services that take the load off frontline library staff, while retaining the level of customer service that libraries expect. Phone services are a great alternative to call centers or staff having to field routine or transactional inquiries from patrons, while Chat offers a channel for patrons who wish to communicate online.

About Unique Management Services

Unique Management is a Jeffersonville, Indiana library service company, that offers a full suite of library communication options for patrons including the Gentle Nudge Material Recovery process, MessageBee patron engagement platform, and Virtual Patron Service. With nearly 30 years of experience in the industry and 1,600 client libraries, Unique strives to build long-lasting relationships with our partners to better serve their patrons.