telephone

Aaron Schmidt’s 10 points about IM in libraries include:

1. Instant Messaging is free (minus staff time)
2. Millions of our patrons use IM every day.
3. For some, not being available via IM is like not having a telephone number.
4. There are three major IM networks (AIM, Y!M, MSN)
5. Y!M and MSN will be interoperable at some point.
6. Trillian is a multi-network IM client, meebo is a web-based multi-network client. Use them.
7. Having practice sessions in-house is a good way to get staff excited about IM in libraries.
8. Staff can communicate in-house using IM.
9. Libraries can choose to have one IM point of contact, or they can choose to divide it departmentally.
10. IM is user-centered and builds relationships with library users.

edit: URL fixed as per Aaron’s comment below.