Let your patrons IM you

Providing an IM address at your library is another way to enhance communication with your patrons. I love what Lansing Public Library did on its Contact Us page. They don't just provide an IM name, but also let patrons know if that particular desk is logged into the IM software at that moment. St. Joseph County Library is doing the same on its Ask SJCPL page.

TechSoup Stock

Tech Soup is giving away free SPAM software to public libraries on Wednesday, April 20 as part of its "Read Books, Not Spam!" Promotion. Find out more information at TechSoup Stock. I highly recommend the Tech Soup web site if you haven't checked it out yet. It connects registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations with donated software. If you are a public library that is not a registered 501(c)(3), you can still use this web site to receive donated Microsoft software for your public access computers. There is a small administrative fee for each license you purchase.

Library Journal - IM me

Found via Tame the Web, this article talk about using IM at the reference desk. Are there any libraries in the region using IM? If so, I would love to hear about your experiences. Library Journal - IM me