"Yet another ideal part of the home assistant. The queries that let it look up information need not be limited to a specific area, as a search algorithm is a search algorithm. The key is having access to information....

Now, if Higgins [a bot] cannot access say, LexisNexis (which is YOW! $250.00 a week!) or some other existing system, that may well hamper the search. Imagine the money to be made by a company that provides this functionality. While yes, I have seen Desk Set, and I do not believe that a computer can replace a team of dedicated researchers, I think that it can leverage the work so that the researcher is more efficient." [Ryan Greene's Radio Weblog]

I agree with Ryan about Desk Set (and what librarian doesn't love that movie!), but database access is an interesting topic. There's no way individuals could afford to subscribe to multiple databases on their own, but pooling resources through tax-supported libraries is an ideal solution. Granted, most libraries aren't going to subscribe to LexisNexis, but most subscribe to at least one database, if not more.

So the key is indeed having the access to the information. My home library is relatively small, but they offer residents free access to four databases. Illinois residents are lucky enough to have a State Library with some foresight and vision, and the folks there provide free access to several FirstSearch databases for every Illinois resident. So if your bot can hook into your local library and it has stored your library barcode number, Higgins would be able to complete his assigned tasks rather easily.  :-)

"This doesn't have any direct applicability to handheld computers, but
it piqued my curiousity so much, I wanted to post it here. Have any
of you considered using a bot for live reference or for any other types of library
services? Steve Coffman, a true technology pioneer is at it again. Go here
http://www.virtualreference.net/virtual/bots.html to get a fascinating description
of bots doing reference and about an exciting program being presented
on the web on Monday! It would be interesting to see what everyone here thinks
of this idea. Try Deborah too, the experimental bot they have set up at NCSU." [The Handheld Librarian]

I wish I could say yes to this question, but I'm still trying to make headway with IM in my own organization, let alone with the public at my member libraries. I think bots as a library version of the "Wal-Mart greeter" can have their place, so I'll be interested to see if anyone pipes up on this one.

I'm going to try to join the online meeting noted at Steve's site. It's on Monday, May 20, at 10:00 a.m.