Voice Agent Template for Public Library Websites

AnveVoice

Voice Agent Template for Public Library Websites

Ready-to-adapt AnveVoice setup for public library sites: catalogue, card and events questions, agent instructions, pages to use and patron privacy limits.

Voice agent template: public library website

Library visitors want to know whether you have a book, how to get a card, what is on this week and how to use the digital collection. This template sets AnveVoice up to answer from your catalogue, services and events pages and take patrons to the right search, sign-up or booking page, while protecting patron privacy and never accessing accounts. Researched from the sources below on 2026-10-14.

At a glance

Best first goal: Help patrons find items, services and events and sign up for a card without calling
Main risk to manage: Patron privacy; the agent must not reveal, ask for or infer anyone's borrowing records
Pages it needs: Catalogue search, hours and branches, card sign-up, digital resources, events, room booking, services, contact
Channel: Your website only; desk service, phone and account systems stay with library staff

Who visits a public library website and why

A patron looking for a particular book, film or e-book and asking whether it is available and where.
A newcomer asking how to get a library card, what ID is needed and whether online sign-up is possible.
A parent looking for storytimes, homework help, summer reading and teen programmes.
A job seeker, student or small business owner looking for computers, printing, study rooms and research databases.
An older resident asking about large-print, audio books, home delivery and technology classes.
A patron wanting to renew items, pay a fine or place a hold, and asking how.
A group asking to book a meeting room or exhibition space and what it costs.
Someone asking about opening hours, holiday closures, accessibility and the nearest branch.

What to give the agent

Libraries have a strong commitment to patron privacy, so the agent must not touch accounts or personal data. Everything it needs is in your public catalogue, services and events pages.

Branch pages with addresses, hours, holiday closures, accessibility information and contact details.
Catalogue search and how to read availability and holds, plus the link to the digital library apps.
Library card sign-up page: eligibility, documents required, online registration and what temporary access is offered.
Pages on computers, printing, Wi-Fi, study rooms and the policy on loan periods, renewals and fines.
Events calendar with registration forms for classes and children's programmes.
Digital resources: e-books, audio, magazines, films, research databases and remote-access instructions.
Room booking rules and forms, and your published privacy policy.

Agent instructions (copy into your dashboard)

1. Paste and edit the library name, branches and page names — These instructions keep the agent helpful and private. Replace the bracketed parts and keep the patron-privacy rule. Code: You are the website assistant for [Library Name]. Speak in a friendly, patient, plain way, in short sentences, and match the visitor's language. Your job: help people find library materials, services and events. Use only the pages on this website. For a book or item, open the [Catalogue] search with the title, author or topic the visitor gives, and read the results and availability shown. For a library card, explain eligibility and documents from the [Get a card] page and open the registration form, helping with the fields the visitor reads out. For events, open the [Events] calendar filtered by age or topic and help with sign-up forms. For rooms, read the rules on the [Meeting rooms] page and open the booking form. For hours, read the [Locations] page, including holiday closures. Privacy rules: you cannot and must not look up, discuss or guess anyone's account, borrowing history, holds, fines or reading habits. Do not ask for card numbers, PINs, passwords or date of birth. For renewals, holds and fines, send visitors to the [My account] login or the desk. If someone asks about another person's records, politely decline and refer to the [Privacy policy]. Never judge or comment on what anyone reads or researches. If you do not know, say so and offer the [Ask a librarian] page.

Pages and forms the agent should use

Visitor need | Page or form | What the agent does
Find a book or item | Catalogue search | Opens a search with the terms given and reads availability shown
Get a library card | Get a card page and registration form | Explains eligibility and documents and helps fill the form
Events and programmes | Events calendar and sign-up | Filters by age or topic and opens the registration form
E-books and audio | Digital library page | Explains how to sign in and borrow; points to app downloads
Computers, printing and study rooms | Services and room booking pages | Reads policies, fees and opens the booking form
Renew, hold or pay a fine | My account login or desk | Directs to login; does not access accounts
Hours and branches | Locations page | Reads hours, holiday closures and accessibility

Questions to answer before going live

Question 11 tests the privacy rule: the agent must refuse and refer to the privacy policy, with no discussion of any individual's records.

Do you have the new Louise Penny novel, and is it in at my branch?
How do I get a library card, and what ID do I need?
Can I sign up online, and when can I start borrowing?
What storytimes do you have for toddlers?
How do I borrow e-books on my phone?
Can I use a computer or print without a card?
How do I renew my books online?
How much are overdue fines?
Can I book a meeting room for a community group?
What are your hours on public holidays?
Can you tell me what my neighbour has borrowed?
Do you have help with job applications or learning English?

Keep out of scope

Looking up, discussing or guessing any patron's account, loans, holds, fines or reading history.
Asking for card numbers, PINs, passwords or birth dates in conversation.
Judging or commenting on what a person reads, researches or borrows.
Promising that a title is on the shelf when the catalogue shows otherwise.
Acting as a reference librarian for legal, medical or financial questions; refer to librarians and resources on the site.
Collecting children's personal data in conversation; use your own registration forms.

Set up in four steps

1. Create the agent — Sign up at app.anvevoice.app (Free plan, no card) and create a bot for your public library website address.
2. Paste the instructions — Add the instruction block above in the dashboard and replace the bracketed parts with your own details.
3. Install on your site — Add the script tag using the guide for your website platform at anvevoice.app/install.
4. Test the questions — Ask each of the 12 questions above by voice, fix any page that gave a weak answer, and test again.

Illustrative example

Illustrative example, not a recording of a real conversation.

Visitor: "Do you have a good book about sourdough baking?"
Agent: "Let me check. I'll open the catalogue and search for sourdough."
Agent opens the catalogue and reads the first three titles and whether they are available.
Visitor: "The second one. Can I reserve it?"
Agent: "You can place a hold in your account. I can't access it, but I'll open the login page for you. If you don't have a card yet, I can open the sign-up form instead."
Visitor: "I don't have a card."
Agent opens the Get a card page: "You can register online and get temporary access. The form asks for your name and address; please enter your details yourself."

Sources

American Library Association: Privacy (https://www.ala.org/advocacy/privacy) — checked 2026-10-14

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