Online Reference

Software for SMS Reference

• Google SMS
• Altarama's Reference by SMS
• AIM Hack: Your users can:
  • Send a message to 265010
  • Enter the text [library's AIM address]:[question] (without the brackets)
    • For example:
    • anytownlibrarychat:what are yr hours?
  • From that point on, send and receive messages as you normally would. (Your patron doesn't need to use the account prefix, etc. for each message during the session)
  • Standard messaging rates will apply

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) (renamed Pidgin as of April 6, 2007)
• Fire - Open Source, Mac, multiple network (Recommended by Aaron)
• Adium - Open Source, Mac, multiple networks (Recommended by Aaron)
• Meebo - Multiple network, web-based interface (Recommended by Jon)
  • Also: Meebo me! is a widget that lets people chat at you directly through your web site.
• Miranda - Has anyone tried the Miranda client? This isn't a recommendation, but a query.
• Web-Based Instant Messengers: A Mini-Guide - listing of 12 web-based IM options

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!

• Skype - Free VOIP Software (Recommended by Meredith)
• Unyte - Free 'screen-showing', works well with Skype (Recommended by Dansich)
• Windows Live Messenger - Free Voice, Video, Sharing features (Recommeded by Colin]

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

• American University, Washington, DC (SMS via AIM 265010 then text "askaulibrary: txt content here")
• 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.
• K-State Libraries (Kansas State University) (SMS via AIM 265010 then text "halehelp: message")
• Queensland University of Technology Library (MessageNet.com.au)
• Southeastern Louisiana University (Altarama’s Reference by SMS)
• Swinburne University of Technology Library
• National Library Board Singapore, Lee Kong Chian Reference Library SMS Enquiry Service
• Orange County Library System (Florida)
• Wake Forest University (SMS via AIM 265010 then text "askzaklive: message")
• Yale Science Libraries (Yale University) Using an iPhone

Libraries Offering Skype Reference Services

• Ohio University Libraries, Athens, OH
• University of Waterloo, Ontario (pilot, with Unyte)

Libraries Using IM Reference

This section now has its own page.

Libraries Using MeeboMe for Embedded Chat

• Albion College, Albion, MI
• American University, Washington, DC
• Baylor University Libraries
• H. Grady Bradshaw Chambers County Public Library
• Beaufort County Public Library, Beaufort South Carolina
• Binghamton University Libraries
• Cheltenham Township Library System, PA
• Cheshire Public Library, Cheshire, CT
• The College of William and Mary's Earl Gregg Swem Library
• Concordia University Texas
• Clinton-Macomb Public Library
• Coastal Bend College Library
• Danbury Public Library
• Darien Public Library
• Duke University Medical Center Library
• Eastern Kentucky University
• Edgewood College, Madison, WI
• Evanston Public Library
• Exeter Public Library
• George Mason University
• Grand Valley State University
• Hartness Library System Serving Community College of Vermont and Vermont Tech
• Hostos Community College Library
• Houston Community Colleges
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
• Johnson County Library Teen Book Group
• K-State Libraries, Kansas State University
• Lister Hill Library, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• McMaster University
• McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids
• McMinnville Public Library, McMinnville, OR
• La Crosse Public Library, La Crosse, WI
• Lebanon Public Library, Lebanon, IN
• Livermore Public Library, Livermore, CA
• Health Sciences Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Ferris Hodgett Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Mercer University - Atlanta
• Metrowest MA Regional Library System, Waltham Massachusetts
• Millsaps College Library
• Montgomery County Community College Libraries, Blue Bell, PA
• North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
• Norwich University, Northfield, VT
• Ohio University Libraries, Athens, OH
• Oregon State University--Cascades Campus
• Osceola Library System
• Park Ridge Public Library--Reference Department
• Park Ridge Public Library--Young Adult Department
• Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA
• Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County The Loft @ ImaginOn
• Purdue University Libraries - Management and Economics Library
• Samford University Library
• South Central (WI) Library System
• South Texas College Libraries
• Spartanburg County Public Libraries
• Stanford University Library Information Center
• State Library of Kansas
• St. Olaf College Libraries
• Stockwell-Mudd Library, Albion College, Albion, MI
• Stoughton Public Library, Stoughton, WI
• The College of Nursing, Katie Zepps Nursing Library
• Thomas Ford Memorial Library
• Thomas Jefferson University, Scott Memorial Library
• University of Calgary
• University of California Berkeley Library
• University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center - Denison Memorial Library
• University College Dublin - James Joyce Library
• University of Waterloo, Ontario
• University of Wyoming, William Robertson Coe Library
• Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, University of Iowa
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst - W.E.B. Du Bois Library
• University of Southern Maine Libraries
• University of Illinois at Urbana
• University of Portland
• Villa Park Public Library, Villa Park, IL
• University of Virginia Libraries
• University of Waterloo, Ontario
• Utah State University
• Waubonsee Community College (Todd Library) - Adam Burke, Librarian
• Purdue University - Management and Economics Library
• Washington State University
• Western Oregon University (Info on our setup)
• Willamette University
• University of Michigan
• Florida State University
• Yale University Science Libraries

Libraries Using Chatango for Embedded Chat

• Southern Connecticut State University - Buley Library
• University of Calgary - Library Connection (embedded within Blackboard CMS)
• Oregon State University Libraries
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Instant Answers

Libraries Using Plugoo for Embedded Chat

• University of Wisconsin Law Library
• Temple University Libraries (Education Guide)
• Charleston County Public Library
• Mt. Wachusett Community College Library

Libraries Using Hab.la for Embedded Chat

• University of Waterloo Library (ELAS Tutorial) (Note: Hab.la widget is set to vanish when I am offline.)

Blogs/Websites to Watch

• Walking Paper by Aaron Schmidt
• Librarian in Black by Sarah Houghton-Jan
• Digital Reference by Stephen Francoeur
• AskAway @ Winnefox by Joy Schwarz
• Dissertation Research Blog by Lissa Lord
• LibrariDan by Dan Sich
• Library H3lp

Specific Blog Posts/Articles to Check Out

• IM Talking Points at Walking Paper by Aaron Schmidt.
• Instant messaging and security: how to talk to IT at Librarian in Black by Sarah Houghton-Jan
• Collaborative reference work in the blogosphere by Jerrey Pomerantz and Frederic Stutzman
• 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. (Behind a subscription wall.)
• How Americans Use Instant Messaging from the Pew Internet & American Life Project (September 2004)
• Web-Based Chat VS. Instant Messaging by Sarah Houghton-Jan and Aaron Schmidt. Featured in ONLINE, Jul/Aug 2005.
• web-based chat vs. instant messaging by Caleb Tucker-Raymond 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-Jan. Featured in KnowledgeQuest, Jan/Feb 2005.
• Trillian training materials - by Beatrice Pulliam, 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-Jan. 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 (1999).
• Implementing an instant message (IM) reference service by Alec at Librarians at the Gate
• Gaim Setup for Library IM Services by Pam Sessoms and Charles Cobine, UNC-Chapel Hill's Davis Library.
• Using Fee-Based Databases in a Virtual Reference Setting September 2006
• Collaboration as the Norm in Reference Work by Jeffrey Pomeranz A review of the article in RUSQ Fall 2006
• Maximiek, Sarah and Brown, Elizabeth and Rushton, Erin (2006) Connecting to Students: Launching Instant Messaging Reference at Binghamton University. College & Undergraduate Libraries. Volume: 13 Issue: 4, 2006