IM Think Tank: IM Think Tank Beth Farmer TBLC farmerb@tblc.org 813-622-8252 x228


Yahoo IM: Yahoo IM Please write your Yahoo Messenger ID on the whiteboard. Then, Log into your Yahoo Messenger account Add the others in this session to your Messenger List Instructions are on the handout on your desk if you need them.


IM now: IM now IM with the group in the room (or other people) Try sending a message to more than one person Try to IM with everyone Try simultaneous IMing Have fun But, no talking, or peeking


Some ideas for IM’ing now: Some ideas for IM’ing now where were u born? tell me something interesting about that place do u have a pet? what kind? name? DON’T WORRY ABOUT SPELLING, CAPS, ETC. BE FREE! what library do u work at? what do u do there? how long have u worked there? what is the furthest u have travelled from home? why did u go there? would u go again?


Your experience: Your experience Did you feel “in contact” with the others? Did you care about grammar, punctuation, spelling? Did you use acronyms? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nIUcRJX9-o) Was it comfortable? Was it overwhelming? Do you feel like you communicated effectively? Did your “surroundings” affect you? Might the “surroundings” of the others have affected them?


Pew Data—some basics: Pew Data—some basics From the Pew Internet and American Life Project’s How Americans use instant messaging” study September 2004 53 million adults use IM, that’s 43% of Internet users 36% of IMers use it every day, 63% use it several times a week 21% of IMers use it at work 40% of those think it has improved teamwork 50% of those think it helps them save time on tasks


Pew data—some specifics: Pew data—some specifics IMers are: Young 46% of Gen Y (18-27) use IM more than email, only 18% of Gen X (28-39) Multi-tasking 32% of IMers do something else on their computer virtually every time they are IMing Sharing 31% of IMers send links to others about articles and websites 30% share photos or documents


Libraries Are Doing It: Libraries Are Doing It Library Success A Best Practices Wiki Online Reference section http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Online_Reference LIS Wiki Chat Reference Libraries http://liswiki.org/wiki/List_of_libraries_providing_virtual_reference_services They are wikis add to them! University of Florida


Tools: Tools Messengers Yahoo Messenger AOL MSN Google Talk Put them together Trillian Pidgin Meebo


Is it right for your library?: Is it right for your library? Do you use IM @ your library? Staff use? For reference? Do you want to? How do you begin? How do you “sell it”?


What not to wear: What not to wear http://www.walkingpaper.org/360


Implementing IM @ your library: Implementing IM @ your library Schmidt’s Talking Points http://walkingpaper.org/358 IM is just for kids IM is going to destroy our computers We don’t have enough $$ We’re already doing virtual reference We don’t have enough time


Implementing IM @ your library: Implementing IM @ your library Stephens’ advice on best practices Planning for the Technology Make IM part of your technology plan Promote your screen name and service Admin should be messaging as well Train and encourage staff to interface via IM from their desks Add your IM name to your business cards Using the Technology Use a multi-network IM program Use away messages Speed over perfection in typing Use abbreviations Use online sources only if the best answer can be given from them Don’t Panic!


Promoting IM service—websites : Promoting IM service—websites Georgia State University http://www.library.gsu.edu/services/pages.asp?ldID=68&guideID=281&ID=3112 Marin County Free Library (CA) http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/lb/main/im.cfm Homer Township Public Library (IL) http://www.homerlibrary.org/ask.asp University of Nevada, Las Vegas http://www.library.unlv.edu/ask/chat.html UNC Chapel Hill, Law Library http://library.law.unc.edu/im/index.html


Promoting IM service—print : Promoting IM service—print Keene State College, NH Stony Brook University, NY U North Carolina, Law Library


Parting Thought: Parting Thought Instant messaging may be controversial, but remember, we also debated telephone reference From: Aaron Schmidt & Michael Stephens, Library Journal, 4/1/2005 http://libraryjournal.com/article/CA512192.html?display=searchResults&stt=001&text=im+me