A recent listserv discussion asked librarians if and how they’re using IM. Here are some responses:
“we are planning on experimenting with IM this summer and make it available this fall for students and faculty. I have already downloaded GoogleTalk and use it on my office computer. I have used MSN Messenger and AOL Messenger in the past. We plan to train all reference desk personel to use it and it will only be available on the reference desk. This is as per my conversation with the Library Director and also our on-going marketing plans for the Library. Meanwhile, I would like to know if anyone has experience with Trilliam as an agregator for IMs. I believe you can pick up any IM from any provider with this small software.” –Evergreen Valley College Library
In regards to Trillian, I use this exclusively for my IM work. In fact, with the paid version I can also use it for my on-campus Novell IM contacts. You can read how students contact me for IM at http://library.sbcc.edu/247reference.html. –Santa Barbara City College
In the law firm libraries with which I’ve been associated, the fear of IM for reference librarians and researchers is building an expectation of instant answers to patrons’ questions. Some questions can be answered quickly, but most require some time. Some lawyers have a tendency to forget about that.
Comment by lawyerkm — April 28, 2007 @ 7:20 pm