Thing Eight

I was very excited about IMing for the first time, so I pretty much accosted two co-workers and made them practice with me. They were good sports, and quite helpful. I used Google Talk, and found it pretty simple to use although I did have to get some help on how to actually start chatting with someone. Once that was figured out, I was good! It was very fun, and I can see myself really getting into it. I'm hearing library staff say they could possibly use the tool at the reference desks to communicate with each other or simply to IM back to the office asking for reinforcements at the public service desk.

I'm already familiar with texting because I use it with my kids. Although I'm not very fast at it -- but who cares; it's not like we're racing -- it's very easy and fun. I use it when I know my kids are otherwise occupied, but I need them to call me, answer a question at their convenience, etc. It lets them know I need them, but let's them respond on their schedule. In the library setting, this is yet another tool for us to use to contact and respond to patrons.

Last year I attended a web conferencing workshop at NEFLIN, so I'm very familiar with OPAL and all web conferencing has to offer. It really helped to try it out hands on, and think how we could utilize at the library. And can I just say, I looked pretty darn cute with the Brittany Spears headset on! Several other staff members have been trained, so I'm hoping we'll give it a try in the future. It has so many applications -- staff and patron training, programming. Won't be a simple proposition to implement, but worth trying for sure.

One of the blog prompts asked about the use of email in the workplace. All of us are innundated with it, but that doesn't make it bad. I do try sometimes to pick up the phone or go talk with someone instead of always emailing because email isn't always the most efficient communication tool between staff members.

I think libraries should try to incorporate technologies like IM, text or whatever whenever possible because those are ways people are communicating these days. They're just different than what we've used in the past, but that doesn't make them wrong or stupid or scary. We should give our patrons what they want, not tell them what they need. And if our patrons like it, I love it!