I used to love email. When I first got it I had so much fun reading all of the cute things that people sent me. Then I got to wondering, did these people have jobs? I was bombarded with junk. Now I am bombarded with spam.
I only work in the office one day a week. I usually have 30 - 40 emails to go through at that time. For me it is a huge waste of time. So much of what I am sent does not pertain to me. Over 50% of it is spam. I don't get any of that junk mail at home. I don't know why they can't control it at work.
I tell my boss that if she really needs to get a message to me, that she should put a note on my desk. I work on a bookmobile and am on the road 10 to 14 hours a day. I have so little time in the office. I might have a half hour before I go on the road in the morning and less than an hour after I get back at night. I hate to waste time reading email.
For me, it is not very productive. Sending an email is faster than walking to the desk of a coworker, but personally I like to get up and get exercise once and a while. I prefer to communicate face to face. At work I guess I would rather email a coworker than call them. At home I enjoy it to keep in touch with family and friends.
2. Instant Messaging
I have tried instant messaging. I talked to my sister in Florida a few times. Personally I would prefer to talk on the phone. When I am in the office, I am usually on the computer all day. I really don't want to spend my evenings on the computer.
I think that IMing is fun for teens. I have 3 girls 16-23. They hardly ever make a phone call. They either text someone from their phone or the "talk" to them through instant messaging. My girls thought it was fun to show me how to do this. They had to rub it in that I didn't have any friends to add, but them, when I signed up. I was much slower at typing than they were.
I can see that in a university library that the instant referencing would be a great tool for students. They are usually short on time and on a deadline and a trip to the library to ask questions could be time consuming. The students would have to factor in that the librarian would still have to take time to look up their request, but it would save a trip across campus to the library.
In my job, at my office, I do not see a use for instant messaging. As with email, you could end up wasting a lot of time visiting with coworkers.
3. Text Messaging
I have received texts before, but never tried to send one. As I said before, I have 3 daughters ranging in age from 16-23. The two older ones have never had a land line phone since they left home. Cell phones are definitely more convenient and you don't have to pay for 2 phone lines. My girls text a lot! You should see my 140 page phone bill! They had a good laugh out of teaching me how to use this too. I had a hard time with it not working just like adding a name to your phone list. It kept assuming that I was typing another word. Boy did that throw me!
Most people have their cell phone with them at all times. If a library wanted to get a message to you, texting would be a great way to do it .
4. Web Conferencing
I participated in a webinar about downloadable audio books. We were able to interact with the presenter. We could ask questions verbally, I think over a phone line. We were shown how to choose a title that we would like to download and then instructed in how to download a book onto our computer and then onto an MP3 player.
I looked at the OPAL schedule for webinars, but there were none for about 10 days. I watched a MINITEX Webinar titled "ELM - What's That". I really didn't know a whole lot about what ELM had to offer. Now I do. I guess I would have preferred to watch an actual person though.
I think that this is a great tool. For a business or library with branch offices or employees that are many miles apart, it makes sense to use this type of information sharing. Many people in many different places can participate in learning at the same time with one presenter. It saves on travel time for participants and presenters.
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