Tagging

I like the idea of tagging. I think it's interesting to see what different people come up with to describe things, and I think it's very useful in the library setting. It is an excellent supplement to the library's catalog because it gives more variety to the descriptions and links things together. I probably will never be one to actually tag anything, but I do like to see what other people put out there.

Instant Messages

Ok, I have to admit that I have never been a fan. IMming usually annoys me, and I often ignore people who pop in on me while I'm busy doing something else, but this makes me feel bad, guilty, etc., so then I'll start conversing and not know how to end it without seeming rude, so I find myself engaged in this conversation that I never wanted to be in because I have no boundaries!!
Sorry for that little rant.

Actually, here at the library, I've used the Communicator system a few times with great success, and when I look down and see that my little button is yellow, it's quite exciting. Lauren shared her screen with me yesterday, which was very neat. So if she's working on a poster or something and wants my opinion, she can just pop up and show it to me rather than having to attach it to an email. I have to say that my favorite thing is all the smiley icons that are available, and I now cannot send a message without one! Amy and I had a whole conversation using them, which was challenging, yet fun and enlightening.

I can see the benefit to using IM here at the library to communicate between staffers, but I would be hesitatant to use it with patrons. The problem is that people always pop up at the most inconvenient times, and you either have to ignore them or get interrupted constantly, so I'm not sure how that would work.