Meebo

I signed up for a Meebo account, so now I can IM with my daughters who have urged me for years to do so. It was a very simple process and absolutely no hassle. I am looking forward to using while away on vacation. To imbed it in the blog was not as self-explanatory as I thought. It took a little digging to figure that out but I eventually managed.

Since it is such a simple "installation" I can see a great benefit if the library were to offer IM for our patrons. They don't have to download any software but can access it from anywhere and can get in touch with librarians instantly and get their questions answered right away without having to wait. I am convinced that in order for patrons to use this valuable tool, we must have a big, noticable link right on the front page. People don't want to go digging for stuff.

I also see an advantage to use IM among staff. It is a great tool for instant communication. No more leaving phone messages or waiting for e-mail replies!