Categories Social Media

Christina writes about the IM Training Module: Good stuff– however, I don’t see where you reinforce good reference interview behaviors. I’ve seen staff who are very good at conducting f2f reference completely forget everything when they start VR, and I would expect the same from IM. Even in the transcripts I’ve seen from libraries doing IM reference I haven’t seen probing and follow up questions as much as I would like. You can still be informal and “cool” and make sure you have the right question. How do you know that you’re above the 55%? Very true! The Reference Interview […]

One of my favorite blogs is Technobiblio. Here’s a great IM-related post from Chris: http://www.technobiblio.com/archives/2005/04/im_security_has_it_impacted_imref_services_yet.php

I had a sit down last week with a librarian working closely on an IM Reference project. I asked what kind of IM interactions they get at their library. She had this list, which may be similar to what other libraries have encountered as they begin projects like this. * Kids seeing if someone is actually “there” * A few questions of the “Are you hot?” variety * A lot of informational questions about the library: hours, etc * Some gosh darn spiffy* reference questions I think it’s important for training to understand we may get a few questions like […]

Via an email from Stephen Abram: (Thanks!) http://blog.uwinnipeg.ca/schwagbag/archives/2005/04/imers_not_digit.html Now it’s still very early, and the survey has only been up for 2 days (20 responses so far), but I’m noticing a peculiar trend in the responses: 90% of respondents currently use IM, and 90% have never used the UNLV Chat Reference service. The next question asks “if the service were offered, would you use Instant Messaging to ask a librarian for research help?” Again, 90% responded ‘yes.’ This is good stuff to ponder. Sherri does mention the VR service has not been promoted too much, which happens a lot. But […]

UPDATE: IMAOLScreenName.ppt: A Handout for getting ScreenNames

Training IM Last week I did some IM Training for some new and seasoned staff who will be working at SJCPL Service areas that use IM (Reference and AV) to answer questions. It was a good exercise and now I see more clearly how to set up this type of training. I wanted them to get screenames first, then chat with each other and then tackle some exercises. I did all the things a good trainer should do: checked my equipment, tested the computers and preppeed the room and handouts. What I didn’t count on was having issue with logging […]

http://www.ncpl.info/departments/reference/im.htm From colleague and workshop participant Stephen Boggs, who is director of New Carlisle Public Library in New Carlisle, IN (at the far west reaches of my county), we get a report of what he’s doing at his library since the “Reinventing Libraries Workshop” This rocks my world. So far I have set-up three additional IM accounts for the library. Information about or screen names is posted on our main web page @ www.ncpl.info The accounts were fairly easy to establish, though I have switched to a program called PSI to handle all three accounts instead of managing three different […]

http://www.kellistaley.com/2005/04/our-multiple-online-personalities.html Kelli Staley writes about the IM experience at Lansing PL, and shares some cool stuff about how it all works: How does our staff like this setup? They like the the separate names. The Teen Dept. librarian said she gets a lot of young adult reader’s advisory inquiries which our Reference desk would be unable to answer. Her IM traffic seems to pick up after she booktalks at the high school. Students will remember parts of what she said, and then inquire about the title. It also helps to get an idea of the age of the patron right […]

Hey – now you can tell if the SJCPL IM Reference service is online or not! We were inspired by Lansing! http://www.libraryforlife.org/asksjcpl/asksjcpl.html Thanks Maire!