1. Instant Openness: IM & Access to Information
Nicholas Wyant
Reference & Instruction Librarian
The University of Iowa Libraries
ILA/ACRL April 23, 2010

2. What is IM? Instant Messaging & Text Messaging
A technology that students have incorporated into their everyday lives
Part of the future of the reference desk
Says Who?
The Pew

3. How Young People View Their Lives, Futures & Politics: A Portrait of “GENERATION NEXT” PEW Research Center (2007)
2007 Study
Generation Next is defined as those born between for the purposes of this study
51% sent or received a text message in the past 24 hours
29% sent or received an instant message

4. Teens & Mobile Phones April 20, 2010 PEW Internet & American Life University of Michigan Communication Studies
75% of year-olds own phones
88% of teen cell phone users send text messages
“Among all teens, the frequency of use of texting has now overtaken the frequency of every other common form of interaction with their friends”
Texting is only going to grow

5. Why IM is needed now Increased number of distance students
Students are busy and need quick access
Reaching users who wouldn’t normally come to the library
Desk Anxiety
People feel more at ease to ask, “stupid questions”

6. What is a library to do? Meebo to the rescue! Free Reliable
Multiple librarians from multiple locations can log on at the same time

8. Libraries & IM In Iowa University of Northern Iowa Iowa State
The University of Iowa
Meebo is widely used by universities throughout the United States
Meebo also has a text feature

9. University of Iowa First Implemented IM in 2007
Moved Meebo to the front page in August of 2008
Since August 24, 2009
3,856 (reported)
17.84/day
Busiest month: October, 786
On the rare Iowa snow day…

10. Limitations of Meebo It’s Free: i.e. very little support available
Cannot track statistics

11. In theory… The Three Regents The 30 Independents
The 19 Community Colleges
Could collaborate to provide service
Larger universities could provide after hours services to smaller institutions that do not have the staff numbers to provide services.

12. Limitations to Collaboration
Money
Dedicated personal monitoring Meebo
Scheduling Issues

13. Benefits to Collaboration
Smaller institutions can provide service
Larger universities can help
Reach new users
Meebo is Free
Demonstrate the viability of the library in difficult economic times

14. Libraries Need IM service
Texting and Instant Messaging are not going away
Data supports the idea that the use of this technology will only increase (Pew 2007, 2010)
Meeting the user where they are
The Library 1.0 model is not sustainable
Users like this service

15. Springshare Libanswers
Allows for much greater control for institutions to track usage statistics
Price depends on the size of the institution

16. Questions & Discussion
Nicholas Wyant
Reference & Instruction Library
The University of Iowa Libraries