More Acronyms

Librarians do love our acronyms! Besides having a dozen new passwords by the time we're done with the 23 Things, we'll have a whole new vocabulary: IM, SMS, OPAL, and text messaging shortcuts like 411 (information), ? (I have a question), and if you didn't already know it from pop culture, BFF (best friends forever). Online dictionaries have popped up all over the web to help you translate the texting lingo; even the venerable CliffsNotes has an article on "Understanding Text Messaging Shortcuts."

It's interesting that Thing 7 (Communication Tools) includes IM, SMS, and webinars together because MINITEX webinars is where I've learned a lot about Web/Library 2.0 things. I love MINITEX webinars; I've learned so much taking them. Over a year ago I took one on general Library 2.0 things (which it looks like they've now split into separate sessions on the various tools) and then I followed up with one specifically on IM ("R U Ready? Setting Up and Running an Instant Message Reference Service" archived session). Loads of great information, some of which is already slightly out-of-date a mere year later!

Pre-dating IMing was the Virtual Reference craze. "We" (Tracey, really) did a significant amount of research into Virtual Reference software and while it had some positive aspects, overall it did not seem that useful to a specialized library such as ours. But Instant Messaging seems to have greater potential, without the costs of buying the special software. Alison is now doing the "significant amount of research" into doing IM.

Something we often run into when trying to do Library 2.0 things is resistance from our IT department -- not because they don't think social networking things are a good idea, but because they are super-sensitive to viruses. So I have already gotten around that issue by buying a new laptop with the idea that we would use our older laptop strictly for IMing, along with our Library's wireless network. No need to use the Society's network and expose it to problems. One hurdle down, but now we need to get ourselves signed up to receive and send messages.

Something else I learned about in the MINITEX webinar on IMing is Meebo. Although the person giving the webinar -- and also Michael Stephens in September 2007 at the Minnesota Library 2.0 Summit (that's us in the front row) -- swears you can't get viruses from using Meebo, our IT department doesn't believe it. It's going to take some more convincing on our part because Meebo looks like a really great little "thing".

But it takes more than just the technological ability to IM, it also takes training and new procedures. Enter another MINITEX webinar, this one on "Best Practices in Online Reference Services" (three upcoming sessions in March). It has loads of great information (haven't I said that before?!) on training, training, training, and developing new procedures.

What more can I say on web conferencing than "I want to do that." When MINITEX started using LiveMeeting I asked our IT department if that was something we could get and use, since our community of users is not limited to the Metro area but is statewide. We have a number of genealogy and other library classes that could be given to anyone, anywhere using this technology. What I got back was a non-response. So I was glad to see the information on OPAL and Talking Communities. Something new to investigate!

Finally, a few words on Google Groups. I'm actually part of a Google Group set up by our neighborhood association. It's a great way for neighbors up and down the block to keep in touch, even though we might not see each other frequently, especially in the winter. Google really supports a lot of nifty things that can have all sorts of applications!