As you may know, you can set up your voice mail options so that callers can press 0 to be forwarded to a different number if you're not there and they don't want to leave a message. I have my voice mail set up so that callers can be forwarded to the Reference Desk if they press 0, in case I'm not at my desk and they want to talk to a real person about a general reference question. Instructions on how to do this are a little further down.
If someone actually chooses that option, the call that comes to the reference desk will be a little weird. It freaked me out the first time it happened, and it freaked Martha out on Friday so I thought it was worth posting about. Basically, when you answer the reference desk phone, you'll hear a computerized voice saying something along the lines of "Forwarded call. Liz Fine is not answering the phone." (you can imagine why this threw me for a loop when I happened to get my own forwarded call when I was down at the desk). After the computer voice stops, you'll probably hear dead air (and be tempted to hang up).
When the computer voice stops and you hear that silence, you're connected to the caller. So, just say "Bio-Medical Library Reference Desk" or whatever, and treat it like a normal incoming call.
So, now that you know about this, I know you want to set up your own forwarding number so that you can avoid the "if you need immediate assistance, please call the reference desk at blah blah blah" portion of your voice mail message. You can just say "press 0 to be connected to " wherever.
Log into your voice mail account at go4msg.umn.edu. On the pale blue menu on the left, click "options." Click "user profile," and click "edit." Scroll down to the bottom, and you'll see the "Personal Assistant" box. Enter the extension you want people to be connected to when they press 0, click update, and voila!
Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!
Liz
Posted by biomedref at July 16, 2007 01:57 PM