Looking for archives using chat
I’d like to hear from archives, special collections, or historical societies who have implemented and used a “chat” function on their websites. So far, I’ve seen this done on the sites for Hobart and William Smith Colleges and the Charles Babbage Institute . If you have implemented chat or know of a repository that has, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!
Web 2.0 & Archives | Kate T. | 
May 9, 2009 5:28 am
7 Comments
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Week Two: Web 2.0, Slideshare and Online chat (Meebo) « 23 Things for Archivists — February 1, 2010 @ 6:06 am
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By Rebecca, May 9, 2009 @ 10:38 am
The Drexel University Archives site has a chat widget. We share a LibraryH3lp setup with the university library. Reference librarians can transfer questions over IM to the archives, and vice versa.
By Christian, May 9, 2009 @ 12:46 pm
At the BHIC in the Netherlands we frequently use chat between colleagues at the various reference desks and locations of our archives. We yet have to develop a chat function for clients visiting our website, but will soon start doing so, in collaboration with at least two other archives.
By Kate T., May 11, 2009 @ 10:51 am
Thanks, Rebecca and Christian. I posted this on the listserv too, and got a couple of responses. If anyone is looking for more examples, let me know and I’ll share.
Looks like almost everyone is using Meebo.
By Christian, May 11, 2009 @ 11:41 am
@Kate: I’m interested in more examples, but do not have access to the listserv — either because I am Dutch, or have never signed up for it… So, yes, please share the examples with us here. Thanks!
By Kate T., May 11, 2009 @ 11:50 am
I don’t think it’s because you’re Dutch! Besides some people sent me private messages. But here are a few more:
Earlham College:
http://www.earlham.edu/library/content/friends/index.html
The Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives at IUPUI University Library: http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/special
Albion College Special Collections:
http://www.albion.edu/library/specialcollections/Policies/refreq.asp
Ball State has chat for the whole library:
http://www.bsu.edu/library/askalibrarian/
Purdue University also has chat for the whole library:
http://www.lib.purdue.edu/askalib/
All seem to be colleges & universities so far. And all (is it all?) part of a larger library system that is using chat.
By Christian, May 11, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
Nope, it’s not because I’m Dutch — I just like to joke about my heritage!
Anyway, thanks for the examples! And yes, all part of larger library systems. I am really looking for examples of individual archives that have chat and/or instant messaging options on their website. But as I am finding out, in the United States most archives or special collections sections are part of library systems (very much unlike as the situation is in the Netherlands). I do know many Dutch libraries and collaborative library services that use chat/IM.
Byt the way, I am looking for such examples for including them into our special “23 Things for Archives” course, based on the succesful Web 2.0 course for librarians. Pilots are about to start at our National Archives.