What is Text a Librarian?

Text a Librarian is a service that enables you to use the text message feature of your mobile phone to send questions to and receive answers from the library. The text message feature is also called SMS (short message service).

How do I Text a Librarian?

Type your message and send it to 901-730-6733 during business hours, 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

When can I use the service?

Text questions to the library during normal business hours. Your questions will be answered as soon as possible — usually within minutes. Questions sent outside of business hours will be 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 and quick questions that can be answered in brief responses. If our responses exceed 160 characters, they appear as two messages.

To ask questions requiring a lengthy or detailed response, please send them to utlibrary@uthsc.edu.

What do I need to use the service?

You need a mobile phone that is enabled to send and receive text messages. You can also use your Gmail account if you enable the SMS feature in the Lab settings of your account.

What does the service cost?

The library does not charge for this service, but charges from your cell phone provider may apply. Charges vary among plans and among telephone providers.