Thing 6 --more proof that I'm super-wordy

Okay, where to start. I guess I'll answer the prompt question about email in libraries. I wasn't here when there was no email (in fact, I can only barely remember a time when there was no email), so I can't make a before/after comparison. I have to say it's nice to have an email provided to me that's just for work, and it's pretty useful so people can get information out to several people at a time. I rarely use it for one-on-one communication because the need rarely arises and I'm usually in the next room over from the person I need to talk to. I think we could make way better use of it if we did more group back-and-forth stuff, which we do occasionally but not nearly enough. I think to find a balance of consistent service to our patrons, clerks would benefit from communicating about weird situations, decisions they've made, etc. A Wiki or Google Group would be awesome...

I just wish we could use Gmail. I've been using Gmail for some time now --even IU's email now offers a Gmail-hosted service-- and I'm spoiled on those features. I try my best to put emails in marked folders as soon as I get them at work, but that's kind of tedious. I'd much rather let the emails pile up and search for the one I need. And saving everything as a conversation is just genius, since there's no more hunting around for who-said-what.

As for productivity, I think since I rarely write emails at work it doesn't affect me much. Checking my email takes about 30 seconds to one minute of my time, honestly.

I think all email clients are inferior to Gmail. End of story.

I use different types of communication for different things. Texting is preferable to leaving a voicemail when I just want to ask a question or make a quick statement. Unfortunately for my fingers, I can't bring myself to use chat slang, so I spell almost everything out. I also think texting is pretty impersonal so I use it for times when I don't care for the pleasantries of conversation, like when a group of mine is setting up a meeting time or I need to tell someone I'm going to be late.

IM-ing is great for keeping long-distance friendships alive, as you can put up an away message when you're gone and people can leave you messages. It works really well if you're in different time zones and you're not sure when they other person would be free for a phone call. I still arrange bi-annual phone calls to the people that matter, but it's mostly IM-ing for us since our lives are so different. Plus, I find it's way easier to multi-task when I'm IM-ing than when I'm on the phone.

A quick word (I promise) on IM as a distraction: I could be in a blank room with nothing on the walls, nothing to do, and no Internet connection, and if I don't want to write that paper, I will find something to distract me. People have been procrastinating since the dawn of time.

I can't even tell you how many hours I've spent 3D-modelling while I have a little IM window open to ask my brother when I get stuck. (My brother is a *really* good 3D modeller and a huge help, and he lives way off in the Pacific Northwest.) We make great use of AIM for stuff like that, exchanging screenshots and files and catching up with each other at the same time.

Strangely enough, that brings me to the idea of IM reference. I don't think it's such an inherently bad idea, but I'm cautious about investing time in something if we're not sure anyone would use it. Obviously, it can be done and it can work. If my brother can give me detailed instructions on something as complicated as 3D modelling, surely people can give out phone numbers or URL's or titles to curious patrons.

However, I feel like if I needed to know something quickly, and I'm already sitting in front of a computer, I'm probably going to just use Google or Wikipedia (don't worry, I know how much to trust open-source data collections). The likelihood that I'd IM is a librarian is small, since it'd probably be only if it wasn't something I could find out for myself. Sorry librarians.

I didn't get to webinars (who came up with this jargon?? I hate the word "web" for the Internet), and I have a few words on them, but I'll save them for the next installment.

As for now, my time on phones is up and I have to go do the desk thing.