New York Public Library – AskNYPL – Text a Librarian Service

New York Public Library

The New York Public Library has had a lot of success with their text messaging reference service, implemented to augment their long standing ASK NYPL services.

They also tweet select questions and answers they find interesting and were inspiration for adding “Post to Facebook and Twitter” features in Mosio’s Text a Librarian system, explained here.

Details from their website below. They also promoted it in their email newsletter and got a blog write up on the Resource Center Blog (News from Lincoln Center Institute’s RC).

Text a Librarian

Have a question? Text us!

We now offer free text message reference services (standard message rates apply).

Text us at 66746 and start your question with AskNYPL.
Example: AskNYPL What are the library hours on Saturdays?
We will respond as soon as possible.

Follow New York Public Library on Twitter

Illinois Valley Community College Library (Using Text for Instructions)

Illinois Valley Community College Library

Illinois Valley Communtiy College Library recently became Text a Librarian customers, launching their service earlier this month. One thing that’s best about the simple way they promote the service is that they’re using a great feature we call “Text for Instructions.”

With so many library software companies offering text messaging reference stating that keywords are confusing for patrons, the exact opposite is true: Americans who use text messaging are comfortable texting keywords to short codes because it’s the only permitted and certified way mobile carriers allow businesses and organizations to let customers text them (American Idol is the perfect example of this).

There’s a simple explanation and a video of how Text for Instructions works and why Mosio created it for it’s customers.

Congrats to Illinois Valley Community College for getting up and running! Here’s a link to their page promoting the service with some information below taken from that section of their site. Note how simply they explain how to use the service, inviting patrons to text their keyword to 66746 for instructions on how to use the service. It encourages the patrons to begin interacting with their Text a Librarian service before they have a question, the best way to get it used for the long term.

Text a Librarian

Try our Text a Librarian Service!

Text IVCC to 66746 to get started.

The Text a Librarian service is available on days the college is open.
Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday  8 a.m. – 4 p.m.