[OPLINLIST] Instant Messaging

[Mann, James H.]

Zeb, 
GCPL has been offering IM reference for a few months. Basically what we
did was create accounts at Yahoo, AOL and MSN and then loaded an IM
program called Trillian on the Reference computers. Trillian allows
reference staff to answer IM from the 3 major services. You can try it
here:
http://www.greenelibrary.info/view_news.asp?ID=120
Not very unique or novel.
I think that you will find that those patrons who would use this service
already have an IM account and the concept is to take the service i.e.
"ready reference" to the user.


Please note new extension Ext. 1210

 

Jim Mann

Technology Coordinator

Greene County Public Library

Xenia Ohio 45385

(937) 376-2996 x1210

mailto: jmann at gcpl.lib.oh.us


-----Original Message-----
From: oplinlist-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplinlist-bounces at oplin.org]
On Behalf Of Zeb Smith
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 2:19 PM
To: OPLINList
Subject: [OPLINLIST] Instant Messaging

Hello all,

    We're looking for a way for patrons to send instant messages from 
our website directly to library reference staff. Has anybody had any 
experience with this sort of thing? There's an abundance of web based 
messaging software out there, but it caters to the end users. We don't 
want them to have any flexibility, just the option to chat directly with

a librarian. We're trying to avoid subscription services like AIM and 
Gmail because we're afraid that users won't want to go through the 
trouble of creating an account.

Thanks

-- 
Zeb Smith
Systems Manager
Newton Falls Public Library
330.872.1282
http://www.newtonfalls.org/


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