Comments on: San Jose Library launches Text a Librarian service

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:36:00 +0000

Ada Community Library in Boise, Idaho, has also just begun text reference through Text a Librarian: http://www.adalib.org. Starting slow but we haven’t really promoted much as of yet. We love being able to provide reference in a variety of different formats – in person, phone, email, IM, and now text!

By: Fiona

Fiona — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:50:54 +0000

I have an award for you at http://readersrandomramblings.blogspot.com/2009/08/attack-of-zombie-chickens.html

By: Sarah Houghton-Jan

Sarah Houghton-Jan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:56:56 +0000

If your library is offering text messaging reference services (or any other interesting service such as IM reference, podcasting, online classes for the public, etc.) make sure you add yourself to the lists on the Library Success Wiki. That is where most people in our field go to find out who is participating in what types of services, and also a good place to go to find other libraries' examples of these services (so you can model yourself after what others have done well!).

By: Sarah Houghton-Jan

Sarah Houghton-Jan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:52:51 +0000

Re: our marketing, I came up with a lengthy marketing plan with about 15 different discrete items, including press releases to our media partners, announcements to partner organizations via email, & web marketing via different parts of our website proper as well as our mobile catalog. There’s also a lot more that we have yet to implement including business cards with our “e-reference” info all in one place; in-library ads in print & on our “events” screens; blast marketing via our social networking sites; etc. It’s quite long, and a list I built up slowly over time and now use as a template for other new projects.

By: Sarah Houghton-Jan

Sarah Houghton-Jan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:49:33 +0000

To answer Jeff’s question, we are getting the typical range of questions – the same stuff you’d get via phone, email, chat, or in-person. We’ve had questions about local businesses, restaurant recommendations, health resources, money resources, and even the ubiquitous “what is the meaning of life?” I think I expected a more concise range of questions – but we’re truly getting everything you could think of.

By: Leanne

Leanne — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:31:26 +0000

I am the reference librarian at Kiama Library, Australia. We have had a texting service for a few years-but it isn’t used widely. we just have a mobile phone and number and I check it regularly throughout the day. I need to go out and promote again to get it being used-thanks for the inspiration

By: jacqui grallo

jacqui grallo — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:41:30 +0000

20 questions on your first day? Right on! How are you marketing the service?

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:24:28 +0000

Awesome! Sac Public is doing it too! Check us out:
http://www.saclibrary.org/?pageId=1004

By: Susan Kantor-Horning

Susan Kantor-Horning — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:44:10 +0000

Contra Costa County, Sacramento, and Santa Monica are California public libraries currently participating in the nationwide pilot project, My Info Quest text a librarian service. The project is sponsored by the Alliance Library System. Altarama is providing the texting software and PeopleWhere is providing the scheduling software. There was a soft launch for the service in late July. http://www.myinfoquest.info/

By: Jeff Scott

Jeff Scott — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:32:19 +0000

I think the hours choice was a good choice. It hits the post school/after work hours where you probably get most of your virtual questions.
Just curious, what kinds of questions are you receiving?