Check out this interesting presentation from the recent Computers In Libraries Conference by Michael Stephens and Aaron Schmidt called "IM: Breaking Down Boundaries". They discuss instant messaging and potential applications for libraries.
The Distance Learning Committee (you know who you are) is setting up an IM reference service for possible use by DL students. Is this something we could (or should) be doing on a larger scale?
Sidenote: CIL 2005 has a presentation page with links to a lot of session materials. Looks interesting!
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I think Michael and Aaron's last few comments perfectly sum up IM at the library: IM is fast, IM is cheap, IM is easy. I'd add that IM isn't high-tech anymore! It's just tech. I hope others will comment.
Well, we did set up accounts on 3 IM services for the DL stuff. So all we would need to do is see who is interested in doing it, work out a schedule and publicize it. I'd be glad to be on a subcom about it. Maybe discuss at next Ref Com meeting.
The accounts are all "gpclibrarians" so they could be easily shared.
I'll be on the subcommittee.
If anyone's not currently an IM user, I encourage you to set up an account and start using it. (You already have an account if you use AOL, Yahoo!, or Hotmail, but you might have to download the software.) You probably have friends and relatives who IM already and with whom you could practice.
"I'm" definitely interested in exploring IM, and I would certainly be willing to be a part of a rotation. Someone also posted something interesting about having a librarian in the student center offering research assistance with a laptop (I'm sorry I don't remember who posted that or where. I haven't had any coffee yet. I don't mean today; I mean ever.) Anyway, that is also an interesting possibility, but now I am going to play the cynic (somebody has to do it). I can't help but wonder sometimes how many different incarnations of ourselves do we need to offer? That is not a popular question, but it deserves some attention. This is not to suggest that we revert to the, "old days," when librarians were sequestered behind an intimidating Reference Desk and the attitude was, "if they need help they can come to me, and if they don't like that, too bad." I realize we need to keep up with technology and offer the best service possible, but are there limits to what we can or should be doing?
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