Make a Librarian Your Buddy With Instant Messaging
Tutt Library is happy to offer assistance to students, faculty, and staff of Colorado College via instant messaging (IM).
You can add us to your buddy list, or just use the "widget" on the right side of this page to chat with us right here, right now.
- tuttlibrarian (AIM and Yahoo! Messenger)
- tuttlibrarian@hotmail.com (MSN Messenger)
We expect to be available via IM whenever there is someone at the reference desk. To see if we are online, put us on your buddy list or take a look at the status message of the widget on the right side of this screen.
Frequently Asked Questions about IM a Librarian
How do I IM a librarian?
Since you are already on this web page, the easiest way is to use the widget above (assuming we are online right now).
To use your AIM, Yahoo!, or MSN IM program, open a new message, enter our buddy name, tuttlibrarian, in the To: field, and start typing your message. Or, just add tuttlibrarian to your buddy list, double-click on the buddy name to open an IM window, then type your message.
I don't use Instant Messenger. How do I get started?
You don't need to have an IM client to use the chat widget above. Just start typing in the in the space where it says "type here."
If you would prefer to use a program on your own computer, you can download AIM from their site. Fill out a quick, easy Web form, choose a screen name, and start using IM in 1-2 minutes.
What if I am in a computer lab, or don't want to download AIM?
Use another version of AIM called AIM Express. With AIM Express, you can create a screen name and chat directly from the Web with no downloads and no software installations.
What if I use Yahoo! Messenger or MSN Messenger?
No problem. IM the librarian with Yahoo! Messenger or MSN Messenger programs--including Yahoo Web Messenger and MSN Web Messenger--using the same buddy name, tuttlibrarian (for MSN use tuttlibrarian@hotmail.com). We are using Trillian (for Windows) and Adium (for Macintosh) as our chat clients, which allow us to chat using multiple IM services.
Will I need to wait to chat with the librarian?
IM questions are taken in a first-come-first-served order. You may need to wait if the reference librarian is already helping someone in person, on the phone, or in another IM chat session. Of course, you can always call us at 389-6662, email us at tuttref@coloradocollege.edu
I'm not affiliated with CC. Will you answer my questions via IM?
Due to the nature of IM service, we regret that we must restrict usage to Colorado College students, faculty, and staff. Community users are welcome to call the reference desk at 719-389-6662, or visit the library in person (map and directions). We also have more information about our services to community users.
How do I know who I'll talk to? Can I talk to a specific librarian?
The tuttlibrarian account is operated by different librarians at different times; you'll likely get the librarian currently working the reference desk. If you would like to chat with a specific librarian, many of us have created our own screen names. Feel free to try contacting any of us using the following screen names:
| Librarian name | Screen name(s) |
|---|---|
| Gwen Gregory, Head of Bibliographic Services | tuttgwen (AIM) |
| Steve Lawson, Humanities Librarian | tuttlawson (AIM and Yahoo!) stevelawson@coloradocollege.edu (MSN) |
| Lisa Lister, Reference Librarian | tuttlisa (AIM) |
| Jessy Randall, Special Collections Librarian | tuttjessy (AIM and Yahoo!) |
| Robin Satterwhite, Social Sciences Librarian | tuttsatterwhite (AIM and Yahoo!) |
| McKinley Sielaff, Government Documents Librarian | tuttmckinley (AIM) |
What about privacy?
The library will save the transcript of your chat session. We may review these transcripts or use these transcripts in reports or research on the service, but any of your identifying information would be stripped out before sharing the transcripts. We will make every effort to protect your privacy. Any information you provide will remain confidential.
Please feel free to call, e-mail, or IM us with any other questions you may have about this service.
