Our library system uses email to communicate between individuals and groups in our 32 branch system. It is quite effective for those who check it daily. Our library system is largely rural, and internet service is not available to all, and fast internet service is hard to come by. Cell phone service is not reliable either. (I frequently drive 100 miles through the country to visit my folks. I got a cell phone for the illusion of safety it gives while on isolated highways. The most isolated areas have no cell phone service)
Therefore, using IM or test messaging is not a useful concept for many of our patron. At this point, the most use for IM would be sending files of documents or photos from one computer station to another, rather than emailing as I do at this point. (After beginning to compose a document on a circ computer during a slow time, I often have to email it to the work room computer or home to finish.)
Using webinars, as suggested in some of the information, for information sharing, sounds good. With 32 branches spread throughout 5 counties, sharing information is difficult, and though the supervisory staff try to visit the branches regularly, they don't alway disseminate all the data, sometimes being distracted by more immediate news i.e. growth and progress of the newest grandchild.
I've downloaded Yahoo Messenger and now have to find a 'friend' with whom to IM. Could be harder than you think...
2 comments:
Thank you for the comments about my grandchildren. I think they are special! Your granddaughter is adorable too. It is hard to stick to library things isn't it? The other things like grandchildren are much more fun! You know what they say about all work and no play!
We embedded a Meebo widget right on our homepage: http://www.csbsju.edu/library/. No one has to have any sort of IM downloaded to talk to us, they just talk to us right on our homepage. That might be something useful for your library...you might be surprised at its usage.
LeAnn Suchy
CMLE 23 Things Coach
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