Introducing Qwidget, the QuestionPoint widget

Qwidget combines the power of QuestionPoint's reference management system with the simplicity of a widget. On the librarian side, the interface is the same as it is today, with all the tools you need to collaboratively handle chat patrons, review and refer session transcripts, and obtain reports and statistics on chat activity. On the patron side, you will be able to provide access to your chat service via a widget, which will connect to your QuestionPoint account.

Here's how it works: 

When you deploy Qwidget on your library web site, your users will enter your service through the widget interface.  On the librarian side, they will appear in the chat monitor inside QuestionPoint.  This allows multiple librarians to use your existing QuestionPoint account to handle users that come in via the widget, along with all other patrons arriving via the web-based chat and email forms in use today.  The same collaborative and administrative tools would be available as well.

What is a widget?

A widget is a small application that adds utility or other information from external sources, via html code that you add to your webpage.  For additional information, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_widget.  A common widget used by several libraries is the MeeboMe widget (Meebo is a web-based IM service).  Widgets are popular among users:  according to Jupiter Research (Oct. 2007), awareness and use of Widgets among online users, which was less than 5% in early 2007, has now increased: 39% of online users are aware of widgets, and 26% have used them.

Qwidget availability:

Qwidget will be available as part of QuestionPoint.  A preview version of Qwidget will be available after our next software install (currently scheduled for March 2008).   We will be showing a pre-release view of Qwidget at the OCLC booth (booth #1543) at ALA Midwinter, as well as at our QP User Group meeting [January 14, 10:30 to noon, see http://questionpoint.blogs.com/questionpoint_247_referen/2007/12/questionpoint-e.html ] In addition, we plan to hold a virtual user group meeting prior to the release - details will be sent via the listserv and posted on this Blog.

Comments

[Kate]

So is there a beta of Qwidget currently available or do we need to wait till March 2008 to see and use the Qwidget?
Thanks.

[Charlotte]

What publicity, if any, is OCLC planning for the launch of Qwidget?