Virtual Reference, Virtual Marketing, Virtually Free:
Expanding Library Services & Marketing on a Shoestring
Lesley Jackson
Reference/Electronic Resources Librarian
Centre College
lesley.jackson@centre.edu
Meebo
Meebo integrates all social network and instant messaging providers so that users can connect, share and communicate with each other using a single web-based interface.
http://www.meebo.com
Virtual Reference
http://www.centre.edu/web/library/homepage.html
Screensavers
Screensaver Wonder:
http://www.blumentals.net/scrwonder/
Screen Capture
Jing is free software that allows users to add still or animated screen captures to online communications.
Create a continuously-looping screensaver slideshow on library computers advertising events and services before users log in. ($19.99-$29.99)
Jing
http://www.jingproject.com/
(No-cost)
Screen Capture
(Low-cost)
http://www.jingproject.com/pro/
For $14.95/yr: Eliminate Jing branding; smaller, high-quality MPEG-4 video files; direct YouTube upload, etc.
Social Media:
Microblogging
http://twitter.com/ReferenceCentre
Widgets
On the Horizon:
Quick, 140-character "info-snacks" for your users: New titles, useful links, real-time updates, etc.
Link Shorteners
http://bit.ly/
http://hootsuite.com
Use these free services to create shortened, user-friendly URLs for your links.
Widgetbox
http://www.widgetbox.com

Embed basic widgets on your website for RSS, TOC, video or social media feeds.
(No-cost)
Mobile-Friendly Website
Text Messaging for Reference
Free service
Currently available by invitation only
Use with LibraryH3lp to support text messaging (via chat)
http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html
Expanded Chat Reference Services
Widgets
(Low-cost)
Widgetbox Pro
For $29.99/yr, eliminate ads & "Get Widget" button, get Pro credits for creating your own widgets, premium stats, etc.
LibraryH3lp
LibraryH3lp is an integrated web chat/IM platform written specifically for libraries.
Multiple librarians, multiple queues, multiple access points
https://libraryh3lp.com/docs/h3lp

Programmer vs. mobile site creation software?
http://libsuccess.org/index.php?title=M-Libraries
http://bit.ly/WidgetPage

http://bit.ly/CCLSlideWidget
(Low-cost)