What is Instant Messaging or IMing?  It's a bit like having a face to face or phone conversation only online. It's a typed message that gets instantly sent to the person you're communicating with and allows them to respond instantly. Try it out in the MeeboMe widget below.  If it says "anna is online" then type a message and wait until I respond. Then we'll be IMing! You can see how it works and ask me any questions you want!

<!-- Beginning of meebo me widget code. Want to talk with visitors on your page? Go to http://www.meebome.com/ and get your widget! -->

If I'm not online and you have any questions or are struggling, please feel free to contact me via email: awarns@adalib.org.

You might say to yourself "Hmm okay, this is IM...so what? How is this useful to me at work?" In fact, it can be an extremely useful and flexible
addition to any library's tool belt. For example, IM allows for quick and easy exchanges with co-workers. Whether you want to say something to a co-worker without others knowing, need to talk to some one in a different department or on a different floor, want to communicate with someone at a different location (a branch, another library, or even your patrons!) this can be an ideal way of getting in touch with people. It allows for quick communication but is also unobtrusive, allowing the person on the other end to respond when they're able.

Another possible use for IM is as a virtual reference tool. Simply by advertising a screen name or embedding a 'meebo me!' (like the one above) widget in the library's website you've provided the public with another access point for reference help. It's free, simple, and a technology that many of your patrons are already familiar with and using.

Class Resources

Below are links to the web-based versions of four of the most widely-used IM services. From these links you can set up your own Screen Name (SN) and even use your chosen IM service online without downloading any software to your computer.

• Yahoo
• MSN
• Google Talk
• AIM

Meebo is an online IM platform that allows you to log into one or more IM services.  It does not require any downloads.  After creating a log in with each service (which you can do from the meebo website) you can use one meebo login to sign into them all simultaneously. It will aggregate all your contacts and make managing them easy.

• Meebo

Also, take a look at some of these libraries using embedded chat, like the meebo me! widget, for virtual reference.

• Yale University Science Libraries
• Chambers County Library
• Clinton-Macomb Public Library
• WPI George C. Gordon Library
• Charleston County Public Library

Please watch this video to get an idea about the ins and outs of Meebo the service you'll be signing up with for your class assignment:

Class Assignment

Your assignment is as follows:

• Use Meebo to set up an account with Meebo or the service most people you know use. When doing so, choose your screen name wisely. It will come to be your identity in the IM'ing world, and you will be at the mercy of your peers — I can do nothing to save you from them.
• Try it out! Post your screen name and which service you chose right here in the comments section. My screen names are listed in the upper left corner of the page, and I hope to hear from all of you at least once by the end of the week! Please note, that you will need to add me as a friend and I will have to accept the request before we're able to communicate. 
• Comment about your experience.

One important thing to note: at present you can only chat with people who use the same IM service as you do. That is, if you are using AOL Instant Messenger you can only chat with someone who is also using AOL Instant Messenger.

If you get stuck with Meebo, give this help page a try.

Extra Credit

Like Meebo? Use Firefox? Use this addon to ramp up your experience: http://www.meebo.com/firefox/

• Online Reference - Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki
• Wikipedia on Instant Messaging
• IM=FASTER virtual reference on the cheap!