[Web4lib] "Chat Aggregators" for virtual reference

[Jason Griffey]

I'm still befuddled why so many libraries are choosing to use Trillian
for this service...it's always struck me as far too overblown for
usefulness.

We're going to be using GAIM for our service, primarily because it's
fast, easy, and open source (the big one). I'm not going to trust
closed-source products unless I'm forced to. :-)

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Jon Goodell
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 10:21 AM
To: Joy Weese Moll; Carole Pilkinton
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] "Chat Aggregators" for virtual reference

You might try something simple like requiring employees to log off or
shut down their computers when ending a shift.  This would automatically
close out Trillion and have the added benefit of securing computers from
malicious use.

Jon Goodell
Technology Services & Reference Librarian
Ottenheimer Library - Pulaski Technical College
North Little Rock, AR
501-812-2718
jgoodell at pulaskitech.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Joy Weese Moll
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 10:40 AM
To: Carole Pilkinton
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] "Chat Aggregators" for virtual reference

We are rolling out IM reference this fall. We've installed Trillian on
the
computers that we use at the Reference Desk. Our main reason for
choosing
Trillian over Meebo was that it seemed like the notification of an
incoming
chat was a bit more obvious.

It's too soon to know the problems, but I can predict since we use three
computers that it will be the shift transitions. If I'm running Trillian
at
one computer and we forget to make the transition to the computer that
the
next librarian uses, patrons will be IMing to a screen name that looks
active but isn't actually being monitored.

--Joy
Joy Weese Moll
Reference / Web Services Librarian
Washington University in St. Louis

On 7/27/06, Carole Pilkinton <Pilkinton.10 at nd.edu> wrote:
>
> I would be interested in seeing these responses also, and hope you
will
> post to the list. Hopefully the subject line will make it easy to
filter
> out messages for those who aren't interested. The Reference and User
> Services division of ALA is sponsoring a preconference for Annual 2007
> in DC, and we are looking for someone who can speak knowledgeably (and
> of course enthusiastically) about this very topic--examples,
tradeoffs,
> benefits, challenges, etc.
> Thank you for brining up the topic...
>
>
> On 7/27/2006 7:54 AM Turner,Kathleen wrote the following:
>
> >We are looking into implementing virtual (chat) reference, using one
of
> >the instant messaging "aggregators" such as Trillian or Meebo.  We
are
> >not interested at this time in any of the dedicated virtual reference
> >products.
> >
> >Would any libraries (preferably academic) who are using such
aggregators
> >for online reference contact me?  We're interested in learning why
you
> >selected the application you're using, what problems you may have
> >encountered, etc.
> >
> >Please reply to my offlist; I will summarize answers for the list.
> >
> >Thank you,
> >
> >
> >Kathleen H. Turner
> >Web/Education Librarian
> >W.W. Hagerty Library
> >33rd and Market Streets
> >Philadelphia, PA 19104-2875
> >
> >Tel: 215.895.6783
> >Fax: 215.895.2070
> >Khturner at drexel.edu
<mailto:Khturner at drexel.eduwww.library.drexel.edu>
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Web4lib mailing list
> >Web4lib at webjunction.org
> >http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> >
> >
>
> --
> Carole Pilkinton
> Electronic Resources Librarian
> pilkinton.10 at nd.edu
> 574-631-8405
> 205 Hesburgh Library
> University of Notre Dame
> Notre Dame IN 46556
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>
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