Texting, Texting, Texting or Can you Hear Me from Here?

1) Compare and contrast these three technologies for offering reference services. 2) What do you think about the Text A Librarian product? Was it easy to use? Do you have any suggestions for improving the product?

Texting was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. The interface is very user friendly and easy to master. However, I have yet to get the hang of how to reply to an answer without creating a new question!

The log in information available while I was configuring the settings and profile was really handy, so I could do live what I was reading about. I learned it quickly this way----it was sort of like following a recipe.

Answering questions was a snap, and I like the commenting feature. One thing I noticed is that the texting idea makes for short questions and even shorter answers. This very much appealed to me. Ready reference mostly.

It took time for people to reply, but that was only because it was a class working area. Several answers did not cite a source, and I wondered why . . . could it be that once a librarian texts that they think they just shoot out the right answer? I had to ask my fellow classmates for sources several times. Plus, one answer was incorrect.

I liked using this a lot, and loved working on my iPhone throughout. It was a familiar work space and allowed me to answer or ask questions at any time of the day or night. It sort of reminded me of beepers!

Of the three reference tools we have used thus far, Text a Librarian was the least stressful to engage in from both a user and librarian point of view. However, as I mentioned, I would think its use is strictly for ready reference and easy to answer questions.

The most detailed use of any online reference service we have studied is, by far, the Internet Public Library using e-mail. This is profoundly more service oriented, with standards and best practices in place to help insure the patron is receiving professional help. The interface is easy to use, resources are at your fingertips, and it is less like an experiment and more like a job. I wish it paid a salary, as I would love to do the IPL for a living. The templates for answering questions, the training mechanism, the watchdog/librarian filter, and the resources available, make the IPL an amazing free resource. I think the user can be sure of receiving the very best help with the IPL because the IPL makes sure you know what you are doing before you are allowed to proceed to the real thing.

The chat protocol that I used was Skype and it was also easy to use and fun. The live experience, however, of any chat reference, is too stressful to me! I keep hearing a clock ticking in my head as I race for an answer because the patron is online live and may disappear before I respond, due to impatience or technical difficulties.

I think there needs to be a best practices area for Text a Librarian, as the service varied from student to student. But then, this is a learning experience and I know we have all done that here. More specific instructions on how to reply or thank the librarian would be helpful as well.

I feel competent with all three online reference tools from these assignments. What a great way to learn!