About Ask a Librarian IM

The George A. Smathers Libraries is now offering a brand new service to offer online assistance in real time to University of Florida students, faculty and staff. Ask a Librarian IM uses instant messaging technology to enable people to communicate with librarians and library staff without leaving their computers at home, in their offices or even in the libraries. Users can connect to a librarian using the Jabber UF (the university instant messaging system), AIM, AIM Express, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, or Meebo and the Meebo web based IM client.

About Jabber at UF

Jabber is an open, XML-based protocol for instant messaging and presence. Jabber-based software is very popular and has been deployed on thousands of servers across the Internet, as well as at other universities. Google Talk and Meebo are two instant messaging services that use the Jabber protocol. At UF, the Jabber software is hosted on a server at Computing and Networking Services (CNS). Like other instant messaging services such as AOL or Yahoo!, you must install a software client to use Jabber. At UF, Jabbering is limited to students, faculty, staff and affiliates with a Gatorlink email account. All students, faculty, staff and affiliates with Gatorlink email addresses and passwords can use the Jabber service and Ask a Librarian IM. Technical support is provided by the UF Computing Help Desk, (352) 392-HELP.

About AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, GoogleTalk and Meebo at UF

It is not necessary to use Jabber UF to instant message a librarian. Librarians use an instant messaging client (Gaim) that enables them to message AIM, Yahoo! Messenger and GoogleTalk users. If you do not have an IM account, you can use the Meebo web based instant messaging client featured at: http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/ask/, and on many other library web pages.

Getting a IM client for Jabber UF

Librarians should use Gaim, a free open source client that lets a librarian instant message across various services such as AOL and Yahoo! For users, there are a wide variety of free clients that one can install to use with Jabber. CNS supports the following:

• Windows - Exodus v 9.1.0, Psi 9.3
• Macintosh - Psi or iChat 9.3
• Other platforms

Once you download a client the next step is to set up your profile. Your Jabber ID is your Gatorlink email address (for example - albert@ufl.edu). Use your Gatorlink password. The Host setting is ufl.edu, and the port is 5222.  If you are installing the Exodus client, there are detailed step-by-step instructions with screen shots. Or you can consult the Flash video.

Problem report

If you experience any problems using Ask a Librarian IM, we want to know!

More information:
Installing Gaim (recommended client for librarians)
Secure Instant Messaging at UF: Jabber and Exodus
Instant Messaging at UF with Jabber & Exodus
About Google Talk
AIM Express - web based instant messaging