This document is a brief version of our guide to using AOL Instant Messenger.
When to use AIM
Please use AIM to say hello to the librarian you are taking over for so that they know it is okay to log off.
Other librarians may also have questions they would like to transfer to you, or perhaps they would just like to tell you about the great questions they have had.
Choose your screen name and download AIM
After you have chosen your screen name, you can Download AIM. Let me know what it is so that I can add it to the master buddy list.
Sending messages
To send a message with AIM, open your buddy list (it will appear when you log on and show you who else is available) and double click on the name of the person you want to send your message to. Type your message and click send.
Preferences
Press the icon labeled Prefs on your buddy list to edit your preferences.
In Privacy. Tell AIM to only accept messages from people on your buddy list.
Under IM/Chat, also tell AIM to prompt ask you what to do if someone not on your Buddy List tries to contact you.
In Sign On/Sign Off, uncheck the box that says "Show AIM.com window at sign on."
In Buddy List, click Sounds and set it to "Do not play any sounds".
Security tip. Think of AIM as a kind of e-mail. Advanced users can send you attachments, music and pictures. Just like with e-mail, don't open anything that looks suspicious, comes unsolicited or is from someone you don’t know.
Load our buddy list
You can download (what's the password?) the current version of our L-net buddy list, and you can also ask the service coordinator to send it.
Once you have the list, choose Load buddy list from the My AIM menu, find the file you downloaded, and update.
You can also add buddies by hand by clicking the Setup icon on your buddy list and then Add Buddy. You may wish to keep your personal contacts separate from your L-net contacts.
Chat abbreviations
