The purpose of this paper is to review the usefulness of short message service (SMS) or text‐messaging for library reference service.
The different technological approaches to SMS reference service are described and compared.
The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are provided.
Because these technologies are still evolving, this report is merely a first effort at describing the different service methods in a single review.
This paper is intended to be helpful to any library considering providing a text message reference service. It should help the library identify which approach will best suit the culture of that library.
This is an overall look at different available technologies, which will be helpful to any library contemplating adding an SMS reference service.
