More IM news

There's a great article in The Post and Courier today, Feb.1st, about our new IM service and there was a news spot earlier this week with Misty Jones (they also called her Misty Rodgers!) and Steven Schwengel. Let's hope the PR pays off. IM is mainstream out there, if not in libraries yet, so it's something we need to all be more aware of than we might be now.

I just finished reading an article by M. Kathleen Kern, Column Editor for RUSQ (Reference User services Quarterly, I believe.) In it she says:

Sprouting--Instant Messaging

Instant messaging (IM) is a growing mode of communication for reference services. It is already huge with our users, particularly for teenagers, who use it more than e-mail. 3 While not for every library, if you've not looked at IM (lately) then look again. There are new services out there such as MeeboMe and CuteChat, which, while new and perhaps cloyingly named, have potential for libraries. I am not yet ready to sound the death knell of traditional chat software, given the alpha state of MeeboMe and newness of CuteChat to the library market, which has heavy consortial demands. However, these should be raising the concern of some library chat vendors and the interest of more than a few librarians.

3 Pew Internet and American Life Project, “Teens and Technology: Youth are Leading the Transition to a Fully Wired and Mobile Nation,” July 27, 2005

So, take a look at our homepage, follow the links and send an IM to Reference. It's an easy way to learn what to do and an easy way to get a quick answer to your questions. We'll be learning more about IM in the TechTracks class next week, so you'll be hearing more about this.