Instant messaging (IM) allows users to know when their contacts are online and send real-time messages in the form of a personal chat room. It is more immediate than e-mail and many programs also allow file, picture, and even video sharing. IM services are used by millions of people around the world, and are especially popular among teenagers and college students. IM is increasingly used as a means of communication by businesses, university campuses, and libraries as well.
There are many IM programs available, including AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live (MSN) Messenger, and ICQ. With these programs, users must create a username, download software, and be registered on the same service as their contacts to send messages.
There is an easier way to IM though. Web-based IM services such as Meebo are websites that allow instant messaging from absolutely anywhere. Whether you’re at home, at work, or traveling foreign lands, hop over to Meebo.com on any computer to access all of your buddies (on AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Google Talk, ICQ and Jabber) and chat with them via the Internet, no downloads or installs required, for free! There are downloadable programs such as Trillian that allow you to talk to buddies on different IM services as well.
Here's an introductory video if you would like to see it demonstrated before you try it. Feel free to just jump right in!
Go to Yahoo.com and click on Messenger to sign up for a Yahoo Messenger account. You will not need to download any software, so click the Get Started button. [ETA:5/27 Yahoo! has made some changes to their sign up page. Instead of the Get Started Button, click on "New User? Sign Up" in the upper right corner. It's in very small print.]
Once you have created your username and password at Yahoo, go to Meebo.com and sign up for a Meebo account. Click on Sign Up Now! (NOTE: If you already have a Yahoo, AIM, Google or MSN account, you can use that ID and password for your Yahoo Messenger Account)
After your Meebo account is created, a screen will appear that allows you to log in to your Yahoo Messenger account as well. Enter your username and password to log in. Make sure you have “Add to my Meebo account” checked.
You also have the option of "connecting at startup" or "signing on as invisible". Connecting at start up means that you could enter your AIM, Yahoo and Meebo account information. Then when you sign in with your Meebo username and password, all three accounts will be signed in at once. You can always add or subtract accounts under "accounts" on the upper center portion of the Meebo window.
Signing on as invisible means that you can see all your buddies online, but they can't see that you are online. You can still send them messages and they can respond. This might be helpful if you just want to know if someone in particular is available, but you don't want to be available to everyone else just then.
Send an IM to one of our departments: AskprkRef, AskprkYA, or AskprkCS. Try sending a web address or two.
Add them to your buddy list.
Now tell us on your blog who you IMed and what you asked them or talked about.
Try asking one of those libraries a question and see how they respond.
If you need more help and would like to see screen shots, take a look at: IM instructions.doc
Post about your experience in your blog.
Part 2: Ask A Librarian
Ask A Librarian allows patrons to ask questions of librarians through our website. It is divided up by department. There are email forms for Children’s Services, Reader Services, Young Adult Services and Reference Services that send your question to the department you’ve chosen right from our website. These questions are usually answered within a day or less during the week.
Children’s, Young Adult and Reference also have instant messaging accounts to answer questions through online chat. Each of those departments has an online status indicator so you know if a librarian is available and a Meebo Widget box where you can type a question to us directly from that website without being logged in to an instant messaging program.
The Reference department also takes part in Ask?Away Illinois, which is a statewide virtual reference project. Ask?Away is an online chat reference service with email follow-ups for extended questions.Librarians all over Illinois staff the service at different times. Lori, Amber and Brandee cover 11-1 and 4-5 on Wednesdays as well as 12-1 on Thursdays.
When there are too many questions for Illinois librarians to handle, other librarians around the country answer the questions 24/7 as a cooperative. The same is true for times (middle of the night, holidays, snow days) when the library is closed. Your question might be answered by one of us, a neighboring librarian or a librarian in California! It all depends on the librarians staffing it at that time.
Try asking a question via instant messaging or through email.
How is this different than the usual way you ask questions at the Library? Which way do you like best? Can you think of times when each method could be helpful?
Fill out the brief form on that page with your question, which will open up a Question Point chat window.
Chat with the librarian who answers your question. How is this experience different from your other instant messaging sessions.
Did you find it helpful? Would you use it again? Post about your experience. It’s available 24/7 from our website so keep it in mind when those pesky questions keep you up at night!
Did you know that when the library is closed, you can use our freeNight Owl Reference Service Monday through Friday--9:00pm to 12 midnight or Saturday and Sunday--5:00pm to 12 midnight? Just call the regular library number (847)825-3123.
IM instructions.doc
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