[Web4lib] Text Reference service provider?

Mon Jul 28 18:01:03 EDT 2008

Jennifer -

I've been working on a similar project at MPOW and have learned quite
a bit about how text messaging systems operate. The short 5- or
6-digit numbers that people use at public events and on shows like
American Idol are called "short codes." These are overseen by the
Common Short Code Association, who distributes them to vendors and
service providers.

These are quite expensive, at least from the standpoint of most
libraries. A "general" short - a number assigned to you at random
costs $500 per month. If you want to choose your short code number,
it's $1000 per month.

http://www.usshortcodes.com/csc_obtain_a_csc.html

Certain vendors (Velti - www.velti.com - is one of the most well-known
service providers in this field) can bundle this service for you,
offsetting some of the price by sharing the code with other partners.
They can do this through software, by tying specific phone numbers
(this is all opt-in, of course) to specific organizations. Most of
these services start at about $10000/year.

The good news is that this can also be done for far less money. Most
cell phones can text to an IM interface, and more mobile devices are
becoming email-friendly.

Other methods are slightly more unwieldy, but it work rather well.
Arlington Heights has set up a text-to-IM service using AOL's gateway
(more on that: http://mymobile.aol.com/portal/im/sms.html). You can
see their instructions on their website:
http://www.ahml.info/find_information/ (scroll down to where it says
"Get the 411 on your cell!")

Other possibilities include Teleflip (www.teleflip.com), which is a
service that acts as a gateway between email and SMS. Again, it
requires some instruction, but it will also suffice.

Another library that is doing something interesting is the Peninsula
Library System in California:

http://www.plsinfo.org/access/sms.htm

They've contracted with another provider called Shoutbomb which is
offering much of the same functionality that Velti offers (albeit
without a short code), but at a much lower price.

I've got a number of links on my del.icio.us account if you're
interested in more information. These are the things that appear to be
most useful, but if you'd like to do further research, feel free to
look at what I've assembled:

http://del.icio.us/tgreenwalt/sms
http://del.icio.us/tgreenwalt/mobile
http://del.icio.us/tgreenwalt/lsta

If you have any other questions, please let me know.

Toby Greenwalt
Virtual Services Coordinator
Skokie (IL) Public Library

On Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 4:03 PM, Greb, Jennifer <jgreb at tulsalibrary.org> wrote:
> Hello,
> Our public library is exploring implementing "txt reference" service for
> our library customers.
>
> Here is what we envision: Customers text us to ask regular library
> questions (Do you have this book? What time does the library open? etc.)
> That SMS message is then received by us via MS Outlook, and we can
> respond to it using the familiar email interface. We would like for
> customers to simply be able to text a memorable number, rather than
> having to try to text to an email address.
>
> We know things like this exist.  Can anyone recommend a good service
> provider?  Other suggestions? Does anyone know about cost?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jennifer Greb,
> Foundation Center Coordinator
> Tulsa City-County Library
> 918.596.7940
> jgreb at tulsalibrary.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of
> web4lib-request at webjunction.org
> Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 11:01 AM
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Web4lib Digest, Vol 40, Issue 26
>
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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Wikipedia - How to Create an On-Line Encyclopeida
>      (Robert L. Balliot)
>   2. Re: Programming Languages? (carlos lopez)
>   3. Re: OpenSource Portal Software Similar to iGoogle/Netvibes?
>      (Nabonita Guha)
>   4. Re: OpenSource Portal Software Similar to iGoogle/Netvibes?
>      (Francis Kayiwa)
>   5. RE: Programming Languages? (Walker, David)
>   6. Re: OpenSource Portal Software Similar to iGoogle/Netvibes?
>      (Naomi Malone)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:18:31 -0400
> From: "Robert L. Balliot" <rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com>
> Subject: [Web4lib] Wikipedia - How to Create an On-Line Encyclopeida
> To: <publib at webjunction.org>, <web4lib at webjunction.org>
> Message-ID: <7F1566ED7F1947B585FC0E8E96B7AE92 at junior>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"
>
> Watch Jimmy Wales <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimbo_Wales>  - founder
> of
> Wikipedia <http://www.wikipedia.org/>  discuss -
>
>
>
> How a ragtag band created Wikipedia <http://www.wikipedia.org/>
>
>
>
> here:  http://oceanstatelibrarian.com <http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/>
>
>
>
> I think this is a great retrospective on development of
>
> Wikipedia <http://www.wikipedia.org/>   and the state of the web in
> 2006.
> More
>
> librarians should be signing up
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents>
> as editors.
>
>
>
> *************************************************
>
> Robert L. Balliot
>
> Skype: RBalliot
>
> Bristol, Rhode Island
>
> http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
>
> *************************************************
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:33:10 +1000
> From: carlos lopez <carlos at dml.vic.edu.au>
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Programming Languages?
> To: "Darr, Jonelle" <jdarr at ccpa.net>
> Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Message-ID: <488D4C06.9060708 at dml.vic.edu.au>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>
> Darr, Jonelle wrote:
>  > Can anyone recommend which programming languages would be most useful
>  > for staff to learn if they are managing our Horizon library catalog
> and
>  > our website?  php?  XML? what else?
>  >
>
> Hi Jolene
>
> If you want someone to work with HIP (Horizon Information Portal)
> they'll definitely need a good
> grasp of cascading style sheets, Javascript, XML and PHP. I wouldn't
> bother about Java etc unless
> you want to develop new applications onsite (if you just want to run the
> server, you already pay a
> maintenance fee in case of repairs etc). If you want to try various
> other mashups and mini
> applications and the like (for example, are you familiar with Davey
> Pattern's work, at the
> University of Huddersfield?), you may find other languages useful (Davey
> uses Perl extensively).
> Basically, it depends just what you want to do.
>
> c.
>
>
> --
> ___________________
>
> Carlos Lopez
> Assistant Cataloguer
> The Dalton McCaughey Library
> 1 Morrison Close
> Parkville, Vic. 3052
> Australia
> Ph:   +61 3 93408885
> Fax: +61 3 93408889
> www.dml.vic.edu.au
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:17:59 +0530
> From: "Nabonita Guha" <nabonitaguha at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] OpenSource Portal Software Similar to
>        iGoogle/Netvibes?
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Message-ID:
>        <60fe5c400807272147o519fcbb1re0b6843d9fef3e74 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Hi ilana,
>
> There are few open source software for developing portals such as
> Joomla,
> Plone, and Drupal. But drag n drop feature like iGoogle and Netvibes is
> not
> there in them. Joomla (www.joomla.org) is quite popular, easy to
> install,
> and lots of extensions are available to customize the portal according
> to
> your requirement.
>
> Best,
>
> Nabonita
>
>
>>
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:06:50 -0800 (AKDT)
>> From: "ilana Kingsley" <ffimk at uaf.edu>
>> Subject: [Web4lib] OpenSource Portal Software Similar to
>>        iGoogle/Netvibes?
>> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
>> Message-ID:
>>        <4240.216.115.116.21.1217002010.squirrel at ffimk.email.uaf.edu>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> Does anyone know of some good OpenSource Portal Software Similar to
>> iGoogle or Netvibes?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Ilana
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:09:27 -0500
> From: Francis Kayiwa <kayiwa at uic.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] OpenSource Portal Software Similar to
>        iGoogle/Netvibes?
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Message-ID: <488DD317.6060302 at uic.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> ilana Kingsley wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> Does anyone know of some good OpenSource Portal Software Similar to
>> iGoogle or Netvibes?
>
> While I've never used it, Portaneo claims to be just that.
>
> http://www.portaneo.com
>
> regards,
> ./fxk
>
>
> =====
> Francis Kayiwa
> Library Systems
> http://www.uic.edu/~kayiwa
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:15:23 -0700
> From: "Walker, David" <dwalker at calstate.edu>
> Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Programming Languages?
> To: "carlos at dml.vic.edu.au" <carlos at dml.vic.edu.au>,    "Darr, Jonelle"
>        <jdarr at ccpa.net>
> Cc: "web4lib at webjunction.org" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
> Message-ID:
>        <6E8B5FF82A76874DAF6BDD684C9F76D609DE7460 at COWEWEXMB01.csuco>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> More than just a knowledge of XML, what you really need for Horizon is a
> working knowledge of XSLT.  That is the templating language Horizon uses
> for it's display, so knowing how that works would allow you to affect
> the design of your catalog.
>
> But, considering Horizon is approaching end-of-life here -- to be
> replaced by Symphony, or whatever the new SirsiDynix ILS is called -- I
> wonder if it's even worth the time to learn thing specific to it.
>
> --Dave
>
> ==================
> David Walker
> Library Web Services Manager
> California State University
> http://xerxes.calstate.edu
> ________________________________________
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org]
> On Behalf Of carlos lopez [carlos at dml.vic.edu.au]
> Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2008 9:33 PM
> To: Darr, Jonelle
> Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Programming Languages?
>
> Darr, Jonelle wrote:
>  > Can anyone recommend which programming languages would be most useful
>  > for staff to learn if they are managing our Horizon library catalog
> and
>  > our website?  php?  XML? what else?
>  >
>
> Hi Jolene
>
> If you want someone to work with HIP (Horizon Information Portal)
> they'll definitely need a good
> grasp of cascading style sheets, Javascript, XML and PHP. I wouldn't
> bother about Java etc unless
> you want to develop new applications onsite (if you just want to run the
> server, you already pay a
> maintenance fee in case of repairs etc). If you want to try various
> other mashups and mini
> applications and the like (for example, are you familiar with Davey
> Pattern's work, at the
> University of Huddersfield?), you may find other languages useful (Davey
> uses Perl extensively).
> Basically, it depends just what you want to do.
>
> c.
>
>
> --
> ___________________
>
> Carlos Lopez
> Assistant Cataloguer
> The Dalton McCaughey Library
> 1 Morrison Close
> Parkville, Vic. 3052
> Australia
> Ph:   +61 3 93408885
> Fax: +61 3 93408889
> www.dml.vic.edu.au
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:26:00 -0400
> From: "Naomi Malone" <grokkar at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] OpenSource Portal Software Similar to
>        iGoogle/Netvibes?
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Message-ID:
>        <e74520260807280826h6a5974b3i8ab1bc6927355891 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> There is an open source project called Dropthings
>
>  http://www.dropthings.com/
>
> The project description is: *
> *Ajax Web Portal built on Linq, Workflow Foundation and ASP.NET AJAX.
> Code
> is in Visual Studio 2008 using .NET 3.0 and .NET 3.5.  and there is a
> book
> you can purchase that will show you how to set it up.  I presume you
> will
> have to have a lot of .asp knowledge beforehand.  :-)
>
> *http://www.codeplex.com/dropthings/*
>
> Naomi Malone
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 10:09 AM, Francis Kayiwa <kayiwa at uic.edu> wrote:
>
>> ilana Kingsley wrote:
>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> Does anyone know of some good OpenSource Portal Software Similar to
>>> iGoogle or Netvibes?
>>>
>>
>> While I've never used it, Portaneo claims to be just that.
>>
>> http://www.portaneo.com
>>
>> regards,
>> ./fxk
>>
>>
>> =====
>> Francis Kayiwa
>> Library Systems
>> http://www.uic.edu/~kayiwa
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Web4lib mailing list
>> Web4lib at webjunction.org
>> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Naomi Malone
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
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>
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