Thing 7 - web 2.0 communication

I do not currently use email to communicate with my students. However, I think that it can eventually be a great way to reach individuals who may not want to physically visit the media center. Staff definitely take advantage of email. So much information is now readily available in electronic formats (booklists, database resources, etc.) that I can easily fulfill requests from staff in very little time and without them having to leave their classrooms. This process saves paper too.

With regard to other online tools, I think that as the articles suggest, it is important for libraries to keep up to date and communicate with patrons in their preferred format in order to stay relevant. I had the opportunity to observe IM reference services at a local library. The requests were nonstop. On an interesting note, answering the many different questions appeared to require definite skills in being able to respond quickly to the highly varied requests.

I am not currently a power user of text messaging or IM. But I have introduced blogging and web conferencing tools to my school. The students have liked both. The web conferencing was especially popular - the students participated in a hip hop dance class for the phy ed class. I think this tool is a great way to bring new experiences to students without the expense of busing, missing other classes, etc.

I have had the opportunity to participate in many webinars ranging from using video conferencing equipment to Skype. It is quite amazing to see the progression in this type of communication. As Tom Peters mentions, video conferencing used to be something that only businesses could afford due to the expensive equipment required. Now, resources like Skype have made this communication tool available to anyone with an Internet connection, a microphone and a webcam. I hope to use this type of tool more in my own media center. What a great way to bring the world to students that may not normally have these opportunities.