Las Vegas, NV, June 20, 2012 – ChiliFresh, the leading provider of social interactive content for libraries worldwide, announced today a free alternative for libraries that have been using Meebo for their virtual reference desk services and libraries that want to start providing online reference desk services.
Meebo, a social networking company, has recently been acquired by Google. The company has announced it is shutting down services, including its web-based chat and instant messaging product, effective July 11, 2012. With many libraries use Meebo for online reference desk chat, this announcement leaves libraries struggling to find a free replacement for online reference services.
In response, ChiliFresh has enhanced its Reference Desk Chat platform to offer libraries a free and functionally-rich alternative to Meebo. The ChiliFresh Reference Desk Chat platform compliments the ChiliFresh suite of products aimed at empowering library patrons with the ability to connect and collaborate globally from within the library's online catalog. Currently thousands of libraries worldwide use ChiliFresh User Book Reviews, Book Jacket Cover Art, the ChiliFresh Facebook App, and Connections, a full-blown social networking platform.
"In these challenging economic times, we want libraries to know there's a free alternative to Meebo," said ChiliFresh President & CEO, Scott Johnson. "Reference Desk Chat provides the same chat functionality as Meebo, but is designed specifically for library reference queries and is available immediately from our website."
Reference Desk Chat is easy to install by placing a small bit of code on the library's website or within the library's public access catalog (PAC). To learn more or to install Reference Desk Chat on library's web site or catalog, libraries should visit and sign up at the ChiliFresh website (chilifresh.com) or stop by the ChiliFresh booth #1877 at ALA Annual.
About ChiliFresh
ChiliFresh launched its initial social networking product, ChiliFresh Review Engine, in early 2008. The ChiliFresh Review Engine was the first real Web 2.0 platform developed for a library's online catalog. ChiliFresh now supports libraries around the globe with book cover art, patron book reviews, and social networking products. For more information about ChiliFresh, visit http://www.chilifresh.com.
