http://libraryvoice.com/technology/im-reference-success-stories Libraries, Technology, Games, Learning Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://libraryvoice.com/technology/im-reference-success-stories/comment-page-1#comment-84 Sarah Houghton (Librarian in Black) Thu, 03 Feb 2005 22:21:06 +0000 http://libraryvoice.com/archives/2005/02/02/im-reference-success-stories/#comment-84 Hi! Thanks for the congrats. I would like to point out, and I can only speak for myself--not Michael, that my library offers both a statewide web-based chat reference service _and_ IM reference. The reasons for this are many, and are being worked into some articles & conference presentations at present. The short of it is that IM connects patrons with local librarians, is very teen-friendly, and has low system requirements (though it does require a software install). Our web-based chat service offers 24/7 availability, which we could never do by ourselves, but also has very strict system requirements (which results in frequent crashes for the patrons) and does not connect them with local librarians. In my head, at least, it's not "one or the other," but both. Hi! Thanks for the congrats. I would like to point out, and I can only speak for myself–not Michael, that my library offers both a statewide web-based chat reference service _and_ IM reference.
The reasons for this are many, and are being worked into some articles & conference presentations at present. The short of it is that IM connects patrons with local librarians, is very teen-friendly, and has low system requirements (though it does require a software install). Our web-based chat service offers 24/7 availability, which we could never do by ourselves, but also has very strict system requirements (which results in frequent crashes for the patrons) and does not connect them with local librarians. In my head, at least, it’s not “one or the other,” but both.

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