Thing 7

I read the info about communication tools--don't think I'm ready for some of it yet. We've used email for over 10 yr at my library. In many ways it's convenient. I especially like that I can send out an email to someone when I'm thinking about it--not when that person is available. It has saved me lots of time that way. We've had email reference service but we don't receive many questions that way. We do have some patrons who want articles delivered through email because it's faster & they don't have to come to the library to pick up the info.

I've participated in webinars several times. How successful they are depends greatly on the presenter. If that person presents an organize, well-paced program it can be valuable. However, if the presenter skips from point to point, rambles, or doesn't speak distinctly I tend to get frustrated & lose interest. It is not like presenting the information in person because the visual feedback isn't there. And of course bad & dropped connections frustrate everyone.

IM--I don't use it & I'm not ready to use it yet. After viewing & reading about it today, I can see where it has uses. Maybe some time in the future I'll use it but right now I don't want to be in instant contact with people. As more of my friends & co-workers use it I may decide to use it at that time.