im reference at health sciences libraries
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TRANSCRIPT
THE DML WEB TEAMFRIDAY OCTOBER 3, 2008
IM Reference Services at Health Sciences Libraries
A Review
The Review
A review of 71 library web sites that are members of Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries
Questions:1.Do they offer Digital Reference? (Email or IM)2.If they offer IM Reference:
1. What software are they utilizing for the user2. Name of the service3. Where on the home page is the link to the service4. Who is answering the IM reference5. What hours is the service available
IM in Health Sciences Libraries: Numbers
Number of library web sites reviewed 71
Libraries offering digital reference (Email, IM, and Chat) 64 (90%)
Libraries offering only email reference 23 (32%)
Libraries offering IM reference 40/41 (58%)
Number of Web Widgets 24 (59%)
Number of Meebo Me Web Widgets20/21
(51%/88%)
Reference Services Review: Numbers
IM Reference: Trends
Most common name (of 64 DR libraries) “Ask a Librarian”: 34 (53%) “Ask Us”: 10 (16%)
Type of link: Mostly text links There were a couple buttons/images
Most common link location Library's home page, top-right corner Library's home page, top-left corner
Typical Hours of IM Reference
Hours not Stated: 8 LibrariesHours were Stated: 32 Libraries*The Typical IM Schedule:
31 Libraries with at least Monday-Friday hours IM reference usually corresponded with their in-person
reference service Average start time: 8:38am Average end time: 6:09pm
Evening and Weekend Hours
Evening Hours (after 6pm): 11 LibrariesSaturday Hours: 6 Libraries
9am-5:45pm 9am-5pm 10am-7pm 10am-5pm 10am-4pm 11am-5pm
Sunday Hours: 4 Libraries 10am-1pm 1-10pm 1-9:45pm 12-10pm
IM Reference in Other Medical Libraries: Who
What breed of librarian on the other end?1. Medical / Health Sciences Librarians: 322. Not Explicitly Stated: 53. General Librarians: 34. Science Librarians: 1
IM PAGES I LIKED
Meebo Widget
University of
AlabamaBirmingham
Health sciences librarians
Feedback Survey
Clickable buttons
Meebo Widget
University of
VirginiaHealth Sciences
Librarians
Hours
University of California – San
DiegoHealth Sciences
Librarians
Meebo Widget
LibraryH3lpwidget
University of
FloridaGeneral Librarians
Other IM
options