Starting a Text Reference Service

Starting a Text Reference ServiceCasey Long, Agnes Scott College

Sarah Steiner, Georgia State UniversityJeff Gallant, Valdosta State University

James Stephens, Savannah State UniversityCliff Landis, Georgia State University

COMO 2010Friday, October 15, 2010

Forget what we thought we knew…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianjo/210020582/

Technology Options

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21947880@N00/124418044

How it works: LibraryH3lp

Twilio, Android Phone, or

Google Voice Users LibraryH3lp Library Staff

http://icons.mysitemyway.com/category/magic-marker-icons/

How it works: Text A Librarian

Users Text A Librarian Library Staff

http://icons.mysitemyway.com/category/magic-marker-icons/

Other Services

• Google SMS• Altarama’s Reference by SMS• AIM Hack• Upside Wireless• Twilio• LibAnswers

http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Online_Reference

Staffing and Training

…if Mittens can do it…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetoad01/3379773554/

Implementation Tips

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamshots/523413820/

Assessing Your Program

http://www.flickr.com/photos/openpad/3718789722/

Marketing Your Program

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moriza/175599244/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Citations• Choney, S. (2010, September 1). 72 percent of adults are text-messaging

now, study says. http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/01/5023529-72-percent-of-adults-are-text-messaging-now-study-says

• Smith, S. D., Salaway, G., & Caruso, J. B. (2009, October 22). The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2009—Key Findings. http://www.educause.edu/Resources/ TheECARStudyofUndergraduateStu/187226

• Lenhart, A. (2010, April 20). Teens, Cell Phones, and Texting. Pew Research Center Publications. http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1572/teens-cell-phones-text-messages

• Miele, D., & Molden, D. (2010). Naive theories of intelligence and the role of processing fluency in perceived comprehension. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 139(3), 535-557.