Virtual Reference is a hot topic at ALA this week–maybe because I keep going to meetings about VR, lol… And the big news (which I have been spreading!) is about libraryh3lp–an open source meebo being developed by North Carolina librarians. It’s in beta right now, but UNC Chapel Hill and Baylor (among others) are using it. I met Ellen Hampton, the E-Learning Librarian at Baylor and got a look at the back-end. It’s Java-based and allows queuing sessions, multiple accounts (so you could transfer IM sessions to Circ or ILL if they wanted to have IM) and it’s an aggregator (like Meebo) for all your Instant Messengers. And, like Meebo, it’s got a widget you can put anywhere. Unlike Meebo, it’s ADA Compliant (!) and it has the ability to pop out of the browser so patrons can CHAT while searching without losing the session. You can also send files and patrons can have the transcript emailed to them. They are currently working for a way to integrate it into Facebook, too.

It looks really exciting, but still in early stages. Ellen has requested that they have a way to download IM sessions in batches (currently they are stored online individually), and they are also working on statistics. It’s being developed by Pam Sessoms, a librarian at Chapel Hill, and her husband, who is a programmer. You can host it for free on their servers, too…or download the code.

Again, it’s still in Beta, but it’s worth taking a look at. They’ve got a wiki and a blog that I’ve been following…

The consensus seems to be this is one to watch. They are still in development, but there hasn’t been an IM solution designed for libraries–and we need one.

What do you think? Is anyone beta-testing it? Pros/Cons??

Originally posted June 30, 2008.

I’ve been working on getting IM Reference up and running at the MSU Libraries and one sticking point has been supporting the service and making those people covering the desk feel supported. We have several folks who are not IMing yet who would be expected to provide IM reference during their desk shift (at least that’s how the proposal is currently written).

So I’ve been thinking about Twitter. If Twitter was on the aggregator at the desk then the librarians on the desk could send IMs to twitter if they got into trouble. And if the Desk twitter was my friend, then I could get the posts to go to my cell phone. And they would be recorded on the Twitter “blog” too, sort of as a troubleshooting guide.

I haven’t hashed it all out yet–I’ve been put on ice as far as this proposal goes, with the Facebook Group going up and our Flickr group getting started. I’ll post again as I get it worked out.

Amanda

Reference desk loses to Internet searches – News

First–read the above from the U of Illinois Champagne-Urbana student paper.

Well, yes. Do we close the desk when we are finally on Facebook and IMing with our undergraduates? What is the value of F2F reference anyway? Is it the infamous Reference Interview that makes it essential? Are there people out there that still want to talk to a human being when they have a Ready Reference question? Or is it another point-of-entry to funnel people toward a more appropriate resource?

And, of course, should Reference Librarians be staffing a desk that has so little traffic? Where do we put our eggs?

I’m just saying.

I’m trying to finish my application for 5 weeks. It would be a great opportunity–and just the gentle jumpstart I need to keep things cranked up here. My Dean is on board now–he’s now sending me articles! It looks like consensus is really building around adding IM to our Virtual Reference offerings. Which thrills me beyond measure. It looks like I’m going to do a class on IM for the faculty and staff in January.

More “viral 2.0″ fun at MML today:
Wiki’s are catching on at MML! I just got asked by one of my colleagues to help her with her pbwiki bibliography. Also, I’ve been tasked with finding a speaker for our regional Library 2.0 conference this spring–it looks like it’s really going to happen! Then, another colleague told me she is publishing on the Longtail after hearing my excitement about it from ALA. And finally my supervisor just asked me to discuss an article I sent her on making libraries more accessible (or how UMass has made their library more accessible) in tomorrow’s Reference Dept. meeting (see it at Boston.com).

I feel the urgency of being left behind, but we are moving forward–even if it’s just baby steps. I wish I had more people to talk to about this work–I should really just comment on some of the blogs I read. Maybe that would be a way to get into a discussion, but everyone seems to be light years ahead of me. Reading other blogs, I’m mostly just keeping my head above water to absorb the blogs themselves. Who knows what I’d even say in a comment. Ha! This blog is helping though…it’s good to just lay it all out on paper and think other people might be reading it. People who might speak up if I was hurtling down the wrong path. I’d love to be hurtling right now.

I’ve been working on the research guide wiki for my liaison department, but I’ve gotten stuck on how much information to give them about the resources I’m suggesting (“seeding it”). I’m worried that if I put too much, it will intimidate them and keep them from adding their own stuff. Or keep them from telling me what I’ve put up isn’t worthwhile. I’ve gotten a little stuck. I may just send it to the library rep and see what he thinks.

I’m back in the saddle again after the break–leftover turkey and dressing in Louisville after an adventure taking Gran to the Golden Corral for lunch in Jackson. The classic comment from my hard-of-hearing, Delta-bred, small-town grandmother with (very) discerning tastes: “Amanda (imagine the accent if you can)–I nevah knew there were places like this… These people, they just eat and eat, and they’re already so fat!” I was mortified and tickled at the same time. I guess you can say whatever you want when you are 89.