Revision as of 13:31, 31 March 2006

Software for SMS Reference

• Google SMS
• Altarama's Reference by SMS

Software We Like for IM Reference

If you would like to recommend software, please sign your name to the recommendation so that we know it's not from a vendor. An explanation of why you like this software would be great too!

• Trillian - Multiple network program (Recommended by Meredith)
• Gaim - Open Source, multiple network (Recommended by Meredith)
• Fire - Open Source, Mac, multiple network (Recommended by Aaron)
• Adium - Open Source, Mac, multiple networks (Recommended by Aaron)
• Wavago - Multiple network program including Skype and Google Talk, Windows only. Not a really polished user interface... (Recommended by Paul)

Software We Like for Other Types of Online Reference

If you would like to recommend software, please sign your name to the recommendation so that we know it's not from a vendor. An explanation of why you like this software would be great too!

• JYBE – Free co-browsing software. (Recommended by Meredith)
• Skype - Free VOIP Software (Recommended by Meredith)

Libraries Using Virtual Reference Services

Check out the LISWiki's List of libraries providing virtual reference services for a list of libraries providing Virtual Reference services of all kinds.

Libraries Offering SMS Reference Services

• Biblioteksvar
• Curtin University of Technology
  • Curtin University Library in Australia has an SMS a Query reference service. This paper "TXTing Librarians @ Curtin" was presented at the Information Online conferencein February 2005.
• Southeastern Louisiana University (Altarama’s Reference by SMS)
• Swinburne University of Technology Library

Libraries Using IM Reference

• Adrian College - AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ via Trilian
• Alexandrian Public Library - Trillian
• American University (Washington, D.C.) - AIM
• Arcadia University - Trillian
• Arlington Heights Memorial Library - AIM, Yahoo, MSN
• Barrington Area Library - AIM, Yahoo, MSN
• Binghamton University- Trillian
• Bracken Health Sciences Library at Queen's University- AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian
• Brown University - AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Trillian
• Butler University - AIM and Yahoo! via GAIM
• Carleton University (Ottawa) - MSN
• Carlisle Public Library - AIM, MSN, Yahoo
• Cass District Library - Trillian
• Champaign Public Library - AIM, MSN, and Yahoo! via GAIM
• Claremont Colleges - AIM, MSN, Yahoo
• College of Lake County Library - AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ via Trillian
• College of William and Mary - Trillian
• Concordia College, Moorhead, MN - AIM, Yahoo!, and MSN via Gaim
• DePauw University Libraries - AIM, MSN, Yahoo via Trillian; campus GroupWise
• Duke University - AIM
• Fitchburg State College - AIM, MSN, Yahoo
• Franklin Pierce College (NH) - AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian
• Gallaudet - AIM
• Georgia Perimeter College - AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian
• Georgia State University - AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Gaim
• Gettysburg College - Trillian
• Hackley Public Library - Trillian
• Highland Park Public Library - AIM, Yahoo, MSN, GoogleTalk
• Harris Library at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University - AIM
• Homer Township Public Library - AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian
• Lansing Public Library- AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian
• Marin County Free Library - AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian
• Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries - AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian, Google Talk
• McMaster University - AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian
• Moravian Theological Seminary, Reeves Library - AIM
• Morrisville State College - AIM
• Mount Prospect Public Library - AIM, Yahoo, MSN
• Muskingum College - AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian
• New Castle-Henry County Public Library - AIM, MSN, Yahoo!
• New Jersey Institute of Technology - AIM, Yahoo!
• Northcentral University - ICQ
• Norwich University - AIM, MSN, Yahoo (using GAIM for client)
• Ohio University - Trillian
• Plattsburgh State University - AIM
• Providence College - Trillian
• Rochester Institute of Technology - Trillian
• Rochester(MN) Public Library - Trillian
• Samford University Library - AIM, Yahoo! and MSN through Trillian
• Southern Illinois State University - Morris Messenger - AIM, ICQ
• Springfield College - Trillian
• St. Charles Public Library (IL) - Trillian
• St. Joseph County Public Library - Fire
• State University of New York at Buffalo
• State University of New York at Potsdam
• Temple University - Trillian
• Thomas Ford Memorial Library - Trillian
• University of Florida - Jabber, AIM, Yahoo!, GoogleTalk via GAIM
• University of Illinois at Chicago - AIM, Yahoo!, and MSN via Trillian
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of Iowa, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences AIM, Google Talk, MSN and Yahoo! via Gaim
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County - AIM
• University of Michigan Libraries - AIM (in trial)
• University of Michigan-Dearborn - Trillian
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Trillian
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Davis Library - AIM, Yahoo, MSN, Google Talk, Jabber clients via Gaim
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Undergraduate Library - AIM, Yahoo, MSN
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Brauer Math/Physics Library - AIM
• University of Texas at Austin - AIM, MSN, Yahoo via Trillian
• University of Vermont, Dana Medical Library AIM
• University of Virginia Library AIM
• Westmont Public Library - AIM, MSN, Yahoo, via Trilian
• Wake Forest University - AIM, MSN, Yahoo! via Trillian
• Waubonsee Community College's Todd Library AIM, Yahoo, MSN via Gaim
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute Instant Answers@WPI - AIM

Libraries Using Jybe

• Northern Illinois University

Blogs/Websites to Watch

• ::schwagbag:: by Sherri Vokey
• Walking Paper by Aaron Schmidt
• Librarian in Black by Sarah Houghton
• Digital Reference by Stephen Francoeur
• AskAway @ Winnefox by Joy Schwarz

Specific Blog Posts/Articles to Check Out

• Teens and Technology from the Pew Internet & American Life Project (July 2005)
• AOL Second Annual Instant Messaging Trends Survey
• IM Me by Aaron Schmidt and Michael Stephens. Featured in Library Journal in April, 2005
• Chat Reference at Morrisville State College Library by Bill Drew. Featured in Ronan, Jana, ed. Chat reference : a guide to live virtual reference services
• Virtual Reference Software Comparative Review by Jody Condit Fagan. The Charleston Advisor, April 2005, pp. 16-35.
• How Americans Use Instant Messaging from the Pew Internet & American Life Project (September 2004)
• Web-Based Chat VS. Instant Messaging by Sarah Houghton and Aaron Schmidt. Featured in ONLINE, Jul/Aug 2005.
• web-based chat vs. instant messaging by Caleb at the L-net staff information blog.
• Papa's Got A Brand New (Virtual )Bag by Darren Chase
• War... What is it good for? by Luke Rosenberger from lbr weblog. Post looks at the "war" between web-based virtual reference services and IM.
• Web-based chat and IM: Not "either/or" but "both/and" by Stephen Francoeur from Digital Reference.
• IM Reference: What We've Learned (Homer Township @ Illinois Library Association; October 14, 2005)
• Virtual Reference @ Your Library by Sarah Houghton. Featured in KnowledgeQuest, Jan/Feb 2005.
• Trillian training materials - a great training for using Trillian in providing virtual reference services.
• See You Online: Gender Issues in College Student Use of Instant Messaging by Naomi S. Baron, Department of Language and Foreign Studies, American University. In addition to interesting findings, this paper includes useful terminology for discussing IM.
• Instant Messaging: Quick and Dirty Reference for Teens and Others by Sarah Houghton. Featured in Public Libraries, Jul/Aug 2005.
• IM goes live at UNLV Libraries by Sherri Vokey at ::schwagbag::
• Building and Maintaining Digital Reference Services ERIC Digest by Joann M. Wasik.
• Implementing an instant message (IM) reference service by Alec at Librarians at the Gate