Thing 21: Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging (abbreviated as IM) is one of the staples of online social networking. It is a real-time "chat" service that lets people send text-based messages to one another in near synchronicity and has grown in popularity with many people and organizations as a tool to quickly correspond with others online. This rise of this speedy Internet correspondence has even generated a new type of slang that entails short acronyms and abbreviations in order to get a message across in a more expedited manner. One example, and possibly the most used, Internet slang abbreviation is LOL (laughing out loud). If you are interested in checking out some others take a look this Internet Slang Dictionary.

In an interesting 2004 report, the Pew Internet & American Life Project reported that 54 million adults were regularly using instant messaging and that 24% of them were "IM'ing" more often than using traditional email.

This technology is greatly used by the student population as a means for conversing with friends, but in recent years it has become more popular in the workplace as an additional mode of communication both internally and with those who an organization serves. For example, many businesses have started adding an IM dialog box or "widget" to their websites so that their customers can engage with a company representative in a real-time conversation.

Many educational institutions have also started to consider the potential uses of instant messaging in their environments as well. Take a look at the article published in the Journal of Educational Technology and Society as it explores the "Instructional Uses of Instant Message (IM) During Classroom Lectures."

Did you know that you can currently reach a Marymount College reference librarian through an instant message? Our IM address is mcpvlibrary and we can be reached through AOL, Yahoo or MSN instant messaging services.

Here are a few articles so that you can learn more about IM:

• Wikipedia - Instant Messaging
• Instant Messaging Tools and Technology - A Mini Guide
• Web-Based Instant Messengers
  

And here are some different Instant Message software providers:

• Yahoo Messenger
• AIM (a product of AOL)
• MSN
  
• Pidgin
• Chatango

Meebo is a website for instant messaging from absolutely anywhere. Whether you’re at home, at work, or traveling foreign lands, you can hop over to meebo.com on any computer to access all of your buddies (on AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Google Talk, ICQ and Jabber) and chat with them, no downloads or installs required, for free! Users can sign into their IM service directly from Meebo.

In fact, the Marymount library is planning to add a MeeboMe widget to their website so that students and others doing research can instantly contact a librarian right from their computer screen. An example of what this service looks like can be found on the Palos Verdes Public Library website. Look at the box on the right-hand side that says "Ask a Librarian."


Discovery Activities:

• Write a blog post on instant messaging. Topics could include: What if my department had a MeeboMe Widget on their website for asking questions? Would IM be a viable method for students to contact faculty or staff from off-campus? What would be the pros and cons?
  

Optional: Create your own Instant Messaging account and send a message or reference question to the Marymount librarians by using their IM address: mcpvlibrary. (AIM, Yahoo or MSN compatible).