Communications 2 Point O: Email/Reference

How did we survive before the days of email? I wonder how many other forms of technology will this question be asked of in the near future?

So, how do I use email? Of course, personal use with family members and friends. But at work? Well, other librarians, via direct and list servs; responses regarding on-line book and supply orders; sending news articles to the local newspaper; communicate with teachers about their class visits; some patron requests or info about previous face-to-face conversations; and solicitations from authors, jobbers, etc. So, yes, there is a lot to discard without opening, others to reply to and then delete, and more to file for later reference. All this takes time--I check it first thing and then frequently throughout the day The library uses email for genealogy requests and historical questions, ILL requests, and needed dialogue with the State Library staff. We do notify a few patrons regarding their item holds. Between staff? Occasional messages but intercom or face-to-face is generally more reliable. Has it improved productivity? Yes and no. Takes time, but saved messages can be helpful when a problem occurs with a book order, for example. Being able to track the history can be great. Web 2.0 communication tools for reference can be useful in the right context. At the college level, where the communication volume is high and students use texting and instant messaging a lot, these tools can be useful. In our small library, not so much. We do not have the personnel to be able to dedicate someone to constant online availability for the random contact. Email is great for delayed reference but phone is still the most helpful for immediate needs. I recognize that texting and IM may become more in demand in the future, but at this point? No.

Post Script

I guess I am not very good at reading. Having two different blogs on my dashboard is confusing. I originally posted this on the Lifetime Learners Blog unintentionally and then wondered why there was no new posting to What's Happening. I figured it out, copied and pasted here and deleted the original posting. In the process, I tried saving the post as a draft but then could not find the draft. Where does that go?