If you’ve been to the Library home page recently, you can’t have missed the instant-message widget on the right side of the page. Patrons of the Library can now get reference help online in real time. If the message at the top of the box states in orange letters that “lfc_librarian is online,” then you can get an immediate typed response to any question you type into the box. If the message says the “lfc_librarian is offline,” your message will be received the next time one of the reference librarians logs into Meebo (the software provider of the IM widget). If you leave contact information, the librarian can assist you later. At the bottom of the widget, the Library’s reference desk phone number and link to email for reference questions are provided as well.

Meebo is a free Internet chat program that requires no downloading of software. A June 4th article in Business Week gives background information about the small company. A list of libraries that use Meebo for instant online reference can be found at the Library Success wiki. Recently a Lake Forest student at home in Minnesota used the Meebo widget to get help accessing articles. The student's typed comment says it all: "This chat box is a great tool!"