I love instant messaging! I think instant messaging holds an extra special place in my heart since my husband and I met online and used instant messaging tools as a way to communicate and "stay connected" when we were far apart. We got really creative and used webcams and microphones. It was a great way to bond and feel connected and made the miles between us seem short. I have found IM a great way to communicate and am amazed at how personal it really can be.
I think incorporating a MeeboMe widget on library's homepages is a great idea! With the younger generation being so internet savvy, this is a great way to reach out to that demographic. IM, email, talking on the phone, and face to face interaction are all forms of communication and some people have a stronger preference than others. I know of some people who would prefer the IM method over face to face interaction or phone communication when it comes to seeking help and information.
As with anything new, there are pros and cons. Some pros would be, as mentioned above, appealing to the younger generation and get them excited about using libraries... libraries aren't just some old fashioned thing of the past - we are moving forward as times change and are keeping up with the latest trends. One con does come to mind though and that would be education... educating the public that this service is available and educating the reference librarians on how this technology works.
The biggest issue I can think of in order to make IM reference workable is making sure it is staffed during hours that appeal to everybody. (ie: late afternoon/early evening hours for school age children doing homework).
Although it took me awhile to figure out, I had a lot of fun learning how to add the Meebo widget.
It was very satisfying to able to get it to work. It makes me realize that I am learning new skills through this program! Whoohoo!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment