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This paper aims to analyze data from a pilot study at one academic library using Google Voice for text message (SMS) reference. It also aims to analyze SMS reference question typology, compare question typology to other reference services, and analyze communication in the context of SMS reference.

Analysis of all reference service models was conducted, including question typology. SMS transcripts were analyzed in the following areas: presence of a reference interview, evidence of a referral, number of librarian and patron texts, response time, and transaction duration.

The number of SMS queries was lower than expected. Questions were primarily non‐research‐based or ready reference. The average number of texts per transaction was 7.5. With outliers removed, average response time was 9.5 minutes, and average transaction time was 53.2 minutes. Users appear to be regulating question difficulty.

Data collection occurred during a state furlough period, which likely impacted the number of reference transactions. Conversation analysis and user feedback were not incorporated into this study, but could aid in understanding communication patterns in SMS reference.

Google Voice offers a viable option for implementing SMS reference, and this paper offers direction to interested parties. Challenges in answering complex questions via SMS should not be a concern, since patrons generally are not asking difficult questions.

This pilot study expands the growing body of literature on SMS reference in academic libraries, comparing it to other reference service models at the same institution. It also highlights Google Voice as a free alternative to subscription or fee‐based models of SMS reference service.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the successful implementation of an embedded instant messaging (IM) reference service using Meebo. The article provides data to legitimize the development of such services and demonstrates a successful model.

A pilot study to assess the usefulness and functionality of Meebo's embedded IM as a reference service tool was conducted. Detailed data on all reference transactions were collected and analyzed for comparative purposes. Also included in the study is a survey of librarians and staff involved in providing the service.

Adding the embedded Meebo chat widget increased the use of synchronous virtual reference services by 49 percent. Embedded IM reference transactions take significantly less time to answer than QuestionPoint transactions. Higher level reference questions (research questions) take nearly the same amount of time to answer over IM as they do in person.

Further research to determine why IM reference transactions are significantly shorter than those conducted with QuestionPoint is needed. A limitation of the current study is that there was no patron feedback collected.

The data collected suggest that embedded IM is a viable alternative and perhaps a better alternative to other vendor‐based synchronous chat reference systems. With very low capital and personnel investment, a successful synchronous and local IM reference service can be launched. Institutions that have not begun to offer synchronous virtual reference services have a free and viable option to do so.

Embedded IM is a relatively new technology. Although several libraries are using embedded IM, there are no published articles analyzing its use and comparing it to other virtual reference services.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the unsteady aerodynamic characteristics in the deflection process of a morphing wing with flexible trailing edge, which is based on time-accurate solutions. The dynamic effect of deflection process on the aerodynamics of morphing wing was studied.

The computational fluid dynamic method and dynamic mesh combined with user-defined functions were used to simulate the continuous morphing of the flexible trailing edge. The steady aerodynamic characteristics of the morphing deflection and the conventional deflection were studied first. Then, the unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of the morphing wing were investigated as the trailing edge deflects at different rates.

The numerical results show that the transient lift coefficient in the deflection process is higher than that of the static case one in large angle of attack. The larger the deflection frequency is, the higher the transient lift coefficient will become. However, the situations are contrary in a small angle of attack. The periodic morphing of the trailing edge with small amplitude and high frequency can increase the lift coefficient after the stall angle.

The investigation can afford accurate aerodynamic information for the design of aircraft with the morphing wing technology, which has significant advantages in aerodynamic efficiency and control performance.

The dynamic effects of the deflection process of the morphing trailing edge on aerodynamics were studied. Furthermore, time-accurate solutions can fully explore the unsteady aerodynamics and pressure distribution of the morphing wing.