LibraryTrax

Instant Messaging Online Tutorials

• Optimum Online has basic instructions to IM using AOL, MSN and Yahoo Messenger. http://www.optonline.net/IM/Tutorial

• 10 Tips for Safer Instant Messenging http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/online/imsafety.mspx

• Instant Messaging and Kids will assist parents who want to understand more about IM and the impact on young people. http://familyinternet.about.com/od/onlinedangers/a/instantmessenge.htm

• Yahoo Messenger’s New to IM site provides basic information on how to IM using the Yahoo services. Yahoo is one of many IM services available. http://messenger.yahoo.com/newtoim.php#q4

• AIM (America Online IM) frequently asked questions provide the basics of IM using their services. http://www.aim.com/help_faq/starting_out/getstarted.adp

• Instant Messaging Dictionary of Acronyms http://www.aim.com/acronyms.adp

Reources from TechTracks Instant Messaging Classes 2007

Here you’ll find information from our TechTracks Instant Messaging class, including presentation slides, links, and FAQ’s.

Instant Messaging Power Point

Links of Interest:

• Blogwithoutalibrary-Tips & Strategies for Launching an IM Reference Service (PDF)
• Pew Internet-How Americans Use Instant Messaging
• Pew Internet-Teens and Technology
• Web-Based Instant Messengers: A Mini-Guide

For more great links on IM and SMS library reference:
TechTracks Delicious account: http://del.icio.us/techtracks
To find the links specifically for the Instant Messaging class in Del.icio.us, click on the IM tag, located on the side of the page.

IM Clients
AIM
Meebo
Trillian

South Carolina Libraries who IM
South Carolina State Library-Ask A Librarian
Beaufort County Library-Ask a Reference Librarian
Charleston County Library-IM a Question
Darlington County Library- Instant Messenger
Greenville County Library-Ask our Librarians
Richland County Public Library-Ask A Librarian

Q&A
Some questions that were asked at the Instant Messaging classes. Let me know if you have other questions after you go back to the office/home and play!

***How can I save away messages?

Everyone except the Greenville session was told in class that they cannot save away messages. However in the last two weeks, meebo has added the “Edit Status Menu” option under the Away message menu. (See, it is a product getting better every day!) You can now add away messages to the drop-down menu. It is often useful to save away messages such as “I am busy helping another patron” or “We will be back at 2:00.”

How can I turn off the feature to save conversations (chat logs)?

If you do not have a meebo account, and are just signing-in using your AIM, Yahoo, or other account, then your conversations are automatically deleted once you sign out. If you have a meebo account, you can go into your accounts settings from the left-hand side of the screen. From there, you go to the preferences tab where there is an option to “save my IM history to view later.” You can choose to save conversations or have them deleted after you sign out.

Can we see missed messages?

When you sign into meebo, you will not receive missed messages that may have been sent while you were off-line.

Will my buddy list from AIM, Yahoo, etc come over to meebo?

Yes, your buddy list from your AIM, Yahoo, or other account will be transferred to meebo.

Will my customized away messages from other clients come over into meebo?

No, your away messages will not transfer to meebo.

How do I add meebo me to a website or MySpace?

Once you have a meebo account, you can go to the meebo me webpage from the meebo me option on the top menu or just go to www.meebome.com. From there you can name your widget (this will be what people see written above the chat window on your website). Also you enter a display name such as your username or “reference librarian” or your own name. You can pick the size of your chat window and the color scheme you would like displayed. On the next page, you will be asked to log in using your meebo account information. The final page will give you the HTML code you need to add to your website or MySpace. Now when you log into meebo, you will be able to chat with people through your website.

How can I make suggestions to meebo for future enhancements?

Meebo has a forum that you can use to discuss meebo with other users and the Meebo team available here: http://forum.meebo.com/ . The forum is also accessible from the community menu option at the top of the main page. The topics include meebo news, general discussion, requesting a feature/reporting a bug, MeeboMe feature requests, and MeeboMe bugs.