Real-Time Chat Reference and the Importance of Text-Chat

Summary

One of real-time chat reference's strengths is the options it gives the librarian in terms of answering questions. Librarians can use text chat, send over a Web page (push pages), or let a patron watch them work over their computers. Options come with a price, though-transaction speed. While most librarians work from a speedy connection, patrons chatting with them are probably using slower dial-up connections. Chat software features are expanding quicker than most patrons can handle, so now it's time to focus on how to best serve the most patrons, instead of inadvertently catering to a select group of technologically savvy patrons with fast computers. Text chat is an excellent way to make sure the most patrons get the best results from real-time reference chats.

Key Words:

• Real-time chat
• reference service trends
• public librari-anship
• virtual reference