TechTracks: Instant Messaging (IM) Amanda Stone South Carolina State Library IM: AStonescsl

IM definition a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text Reasons to use Easy collaboration Less intrusive Saved conversation (Wikipedia, Instant Messaging, 12/6)

IM and teens 75% of online teens use IM Half of instant-messaging teens or roughly 32% of all teens use IM every single day. is something you use to talk to old people, institutions, or to send complex instructions to large groups. (2005 Pew Internet & American Life survey)

Statistics/Use of Instant Messaging Its not just those darn kids anymore More than 4 in 10 online American adults IM 24% of this population swap IMs more frequently than Increasingly used both at home and at work (2004 Pew Internet & American Life survey)

Reasons to have IM Easy for librarian –and- user Constant presence with user Speed of transaction Document, image, URL, voice sharing More reliable than traditional co-browsing software Reaches hard-to-reach population- twenties, teens, online and independent users (the Google generation)

IM Clients AIM (AOLs IM) Yahoo! Messenger Windows Live Messenger (MSN) Google Talk ICQ QQ (China) Gadu-Gadu (Poland) Meebo Trillian Gaim Multi-Platform ClientsSingle-Platform Clients

AIM Most popular client in US with 53 million active users Many different options Downloaded client Web-based client Mobile client (cell phones, PDAs) IM Pro available: integration with Outlook, encrypted security

Sign up for AIM account Choosing name Personal name, library name Established AOL account username Register for account Check , verify account

meebo Multi-platform client Can be logged into more than one type of account at the same time (AIM, Yahoo, MSN, etc) Web-based Do not have to download any software Easy to accidentally log out of Very basic IM features

MeeboMe Can have patrons chat right from your webpage. Patrons dont need an IM client, just Internet MeeboMe on your MySpace page

THX = TX = THKS=Thanks! Internet slang, acronyms, emoticons IM users commonly use some shortcuts No need to panic! FWIW TTYL *g*, [_]> L8R BRB THX :-) ;-) :-P

IM your Library IM community assessment Informal survey of IM practice Staff training Time to play Good support documents IT involvement Technology needs Concerns over security (Tips & Strategies for Launching an IM Reference Service/ Amanda Etches-Johnson)

IM your Library Staffing the IM desk Reference desk/personal desk/other Hours Let your community know Blog, handouts, signs, , contact local schools, website, newspaper, local morning news, interpretive dance outside city hall (maybe not) Evaluate program Transcript analysis, staff input, statistics

IM Tips & Tricks IM reference is still a reference interview Explain what you are doing Send short messages Send attachments or later Use away message Dont worry about perfect spelling, grammar Scripts for certain events: inappropriate questions, out-of-scope questions

SMS (text messaging) reference * Two trainings for the price of one* Close to half of teens (45%) own a cell phone, and 33% have used a cell phone to send a text message. (Pew, 2005) Southeastern Louisiana University: Text a Librarian Curtin University of Technology (Australia)

Security/Safety Same security fears as Teach patrons not to talk to strangers Dont click on URLs or accept documents you dont trust Be careful with screen names: ASmith29201 or CayceGrrl21 SPIM=spam for IM Unsolicited commercial messages sent via an IM system Learn to block or warn users

Concerns? What are your Concerns? Questions? Comments?

Resources