Hola from New Mexico!
Submitted by missyvandusen on Thu, 2007-01-11 16:06.
Hello Everyone.
I am a brand new, temporary Reference Librarian at New Mexico State University. One of my main responsibilities has been to implement a pilot program for an instant message reference service. We have also recently started a departmental wiki. I am looking to gain more knowledge about these and other social software in order to provide the best public service to our patrons.
Melissa (Missy) Van Dusen
Las Cruces, NM
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IM Reference
Have you already started your IM reference service? How's it going? We've been doing it for a year at Norwich and it's been a very successful project. We probably don't get more than a few IMs per week (a lot more during key points in the semester), but I consider it successful so long as it is meeting the needs of some of our patrons who may not have used the service otherwise. I was amazed by how easily our reference staff all took to it; they found it very easy to use. All I did for training is have them open up IM and I pretended to be a student and let them try out the features. I also showed them how to do away messages, how to deal with two or more people IMing you at once, etc. They've all done a really great job with it. :)
Meredith, We haven't started
Meredith,
We haven't started yet. It begins in February. I'm glad to hear that your reference staff easily took to it. I think it might be difficult at times in the beginning, but hopefully everyone will get the hang of it.
I introduced gaim to the staff before I introduced instant messaging in general. And I think that was a mistake. So, I corrected it by having everyone set up an AIM account and practice IMing with one another. Then I downloaded gaim onto the reference desk computers and ask staff to practice using gaim while at the desk. Everyone else would be in their offices, signed onto AIM, and would send a "practice question" to those out at the desk.
What software do you use?
Missy
We have been using IM at
We have been using IM at Elgin Community College for about a year. We started with Gaim but it gave us a bit of difficulty so now we are using Trillian. It works but goes to sleep if you leave the computer untouched for a period of time. There should be a way to reset that but we can't find it. We also can't find a way to increase the volume of the sound it makes when someone sends a message. Also, at our institution IT has to install anything (we're locked down) and that can be a hassle. Perhaps MEEBO is a way around that. I was able to set it up pretty easily on a computer in the back.
Having said all that, students like IM. Just be careful that your security questions aren't too obvious. We once had somebody "hijack" our IM account and we had to set up a new one.
Ellie
Ellie, Thanks for the heads
Ellie,
Thanks for the heads up with gaim and the security questions. I never thought that someone might want to "hijack" a library IM account. :)
So, you can't just turn up the volume on your speakers with Trillian?
Missy
Hi Ellie - we use Trillian
Hi Ellie - we use Trillian at my library too and there is a way to get it to stay "awake" ;) Under "Trillian Preferences", select "Away Mode" and uncheck the box that says "set away based on keyboard and mouse use" (or something like that...don't have the application open in front of me). It's usually selected by default so unless you deselect it, the programme will set you to "Away" if your keyboard/mouse has been inactive for a while.
Hope that helps!
IM Service
Hi,
We are trying to get am IM service started for local reference questions, too. We have yet to implement it because I do not like how the IM software takes over computer resources and some seem just plain buggy, like Yahoo. I think my next step will be to try Meebo or Gaim and see if that moves things along. If any of you have experience with these last two IMs, I would love to hear about it.
Karen Pardue
CSU-Pueblo
karen.pardue@colostate-pueblo.edu
Hi Karen, We are using
Hi Karen,
We are using gaim, lthough we haven't started our pilot yet. It begins in February. So, I'll probably be able to tell you more as the semester moves along. Gaim is good because you can download it onto any computer and it won't go down if the site goes down, like Meebo would. I'll keep in touch with you!
Missy
Hola, yourself!
Hi, fellow New Mexican. Red or Green???
Hola yourself
Meant to sign my comment.
Dell Bayer Technical Library, Sandia National Labs jabayer@sandia.gov
That would be green,
That would be green, definitely. Nice to see other New Mexicans. :) - Missy