Instant Messaging Reference : A Practical Guide

Virtual reference is a vital component in twenty-first century reference service and the time for debate over its virtues and necessity has passed. This book focuses, then, on practical implementation of instant messaging (IM) as one tool for delivering virtual reference service. Targeting busy practitioners who are looking for comprehensive answers about instant messaging in particular, rather than virtual reference in general, this book addresses questions from the basics of what IM is and how it operates to the more complicated issues such as privacy and security to its future potential as a strong candidate in the virtual reference arena.

Meryl B. Cole worked as a reference librarian at Washington State University in Vancouver.