Thing 7, Part 4

I have done web conferencing over the last few years and have experienced some good ones but most have been mediocre at best. The web conference I participated in (although I had to cut it short due to back-to-back meetings) was done via MINITEX for the new EBSCOHost 2.0 interface. Have to admit it wasn't too bad. The software used was MS Office Live Meeting (Web Access). It has a number of features in it, including a chat function. You can chat with either the entire group in attendance (public) or individual attendees (private.) I did use the function at the very beginning just to say hello but didn't do private chat as I didn't know anyone on the list personally. There was a separate but similar function to send in a question to the person running the program. Again, didn't use this but could see this being less of distraction than asking the question on the phone. My only disappointment with these systems is the need to call a phone number to hear audio. I think that there are programs out there that don't require using the phone but most web conferencing seems to still hold onto that piece.

I have to say that the software evolution has been for the better. Certainly I've found less need to go through and test the software before I join the conference online. Most systems seem to handle this just fine. I do like offering this as an option to people to cut down on the need for travel to meetings. We've even tried it here at SELCO with some of our committee meetings with some success. We used GoToMeeting.

2008 MN Library Legislative Forum

I'm attending the 2008 MN Library Legislative Forum where the discussion is on developing the legislative platform planks that MLA & MEMO should support. I am very interested in is what the invited legislators have to say. They have been very supportive of libraries and right now a discussion is happening on how libraries really are an important part of some many things in a community. Libraries can assist schools in helping prepare students to be not only literate but also information literate. This is also a benefit to the workforce too as employers are looking for employees who have good information skills as our economy and the world's places more value on this type of skill. Another point that was brought up is about how public libraries in particular are many times in competition with the jails and law enforcement in their communities. It was refreshing to hear that maybe if we put more emphasis on education and literacy, maybe we could have an effect on how much more jail space or law enforcement we need. I'm no Pollyanna about this as we do need law enforcement and they could always use more money. But I do think that we have to try and devote more to education and literacy because in the long run we will be and our children will be better off.

The challenge of Twitter

As can be seen, I have added my Twitter updates to this blog. In the 23 Things on a Stick program that I'm participating in, Twitter is an optional challenge for Thing 7. I know several folks who are using Twitter here in the SELCO office so they've encouraged me to give it a try. I have and I actually kind of like it. It is easy to setup and use and doesn't require any special software except, of course, an Internet connection.

At first I thought, who the helk cares what I'm doing. I quickly moved passed that phase and really look at it as a great tool for figuring out what I do in a day. If nothing else, it is a small way of motivating me to focus on the work on I do. When I actually put it down in a Tweet (a posting to Twitter) and with the addition of sharing them with friends or colleagues, I feel like I need to keep moving forward so as not to look like a slacker. Of course, nobody may care but it certainly has that power of motivation on me. If you'd like to follow me, I'm at http://twitter.com/mscottmn. Please feel free to invite me to follow you as well!