Lesson 8 Challenge

On-line Skype and Google Hang Out meetings have been around for a long time. My granddaughter and I Skype all the time--sometimes she forgets I'm there and sets me on the counter and engages in long conversations with her mother--it's quite funny.

Meeting on-line saves travel time. It also allows both people to be near their resources. I think there's a tendency to get down to work where in person there's more time spent getting to know the person or discussing things other than the work at hand. Just a personal observation.

All the advantages can be disadvantages--not meeting someone and not going to their branch is a disservice. It's a good thing to see other places and make human connections. Sometimes brainstorming needs to be more organic than an on-line meeting allows.

If people collaborated on-line initially then met to discuss the practical nuts and bolts of a project--a follow up meeting is a great way to check on how things are working. The children's librarians collaborated via Pinterest and email--then met to present our work. I think a combination is always a good idea.

Who would I meet on-line? I would love a three way collaboration between me and my two sons. We can't get together very often and that would be the next best thing---I think I'll arrange that!

I'm old--traditional meetings are always better in my opinion--but using our on-line capabilities to touch bases--work out kinks and further understanding between two people instead of making a group listen to you hash things out is great. I did all my upper grad work on-line. It was a great thing.

Lesson 7 Challenge

It may be Google that has the one where the page crashes and a little frowning face says, "I think she's dead, captain." Not really a 404--but funny enough.

Lesson Five Challenge

I have explored this database a number of times because of a patron who insisted we had the Real Estate practice test--and lo and behold--we do! Since then I've sent patrons there for several different reasons--and I don't understand why there isn't more professional development offered showing librarians what's available through these valuable resources.