Update 2013-02-27

Notes 2013-02-27

I haven’t heard of any more incidents; please let me know if one happens to you.
I’ve been monitoring chat logs and have yet to see anything like the original complaint
LibraryH3lp sent a couple of suggestions. Drops could be caused by:

Being logged in, chatting AND having a patron chat box open in the same browser (this could happen if you checked that all was working then left the patron window open; I recommend that you use different browsers when you perform such checks).
I do still like the idea of checking that all is well when your shift starts, just use a different browser then navigate away from the session.
LibraryH3lp suggested that there could be a problem with proxy servers (not EZProxy-type proxy servers but ones in networks to make things go faster) I have not yet had a reply to my question about whether we do have such critters at UW.

Remember that 2 or more librarians can be on LibraryH3lp at one time (as opposed to one-at-a-time with Meebo) so the next person can be on and pick up any new questions. Eg:
Sally is on noon-14:00 and gets a big question at 13:55
Doug logs in at 14:00 and picks up any new sessions that come in. He does not see Sally’s session unless she passes it to him.
Sally can continue her session as long as needed but does _not_ pick up any new chat sessions even though she will see the initial conversation box and hear the squawk! Once Doug picks up the session (and should to do so quickly), Sally will no longer see the new sessions and will only be subjected to squawks from her session.

Two observations courtesy of Martha

If you are handling a Skype phone call, it seems to block you from doing anything else at the same time!
To totally shut down Skype after a session (you’ve already done Skype>Sign Out and notice it hangs around on the bottom tray. . . ).
Right click on the Skype button in the tray and select “Quit Skype”.

February 27, 2013