K-20 librarians interactive video conferencing

["Graves, Judy" <>]

Hi Everyone,
I'm Judy Graves from the Library of Congress.  I coordinate a distance 
learning initiative focused on outreach to K20 educators, librarians, 
researchers, and life-long learners.  We use video conferencing and web 
conferencing to provide training and programs to groups across the United 
States and beyond.  My background includes teaching and formal training in 
instructional technology.

And now for James's questions:
   1) Please describe your past experience or interest in using 
videoconferencing within your organization.

We dabbled with CU See Me since it was beginning to be used in K12 
classrooms, but found it insufficient for our purposes.  In 1998, we received 
our first video conference unit (Polycom) through a grant from the First 
Ladies Library.  With this unit, we learned more about the medium and what it 
could and could not do in terms of programming.  As you might expect, 
connections were limited to a small but growing number of groups that also 
had video conferencing capability, primarily in universities and the nation's 
larger school districts.  (Michigan and New York were early users of our 
service).

2001 was a watershed year in terms of how we viewed and used video 
conferencing.  The events of September 11th and following forced everyone to 
rethink travel.  Training budgets shrank.  We formed a new group called the 
Digital Reference Section, with the responsibility of investigating and using 
new media to provide expanded reference services to the Library's varied 
audiences.  Video conferencing, and later web conferencing in 2004, became 
established means for developing, offering, and presenting workshops and 
programs.

Currently we offer the standardized programs (free) below.  We are also open 
to special requests.   See:
videoconferencing:  http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/videoconf/ 
web conferencing: http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/orientation.html 

We are also involved in helping other divisions of the Library use video 
conferencing to further their outreach and business activities.  We've 
participated in special programs created by other Internet2 groups and I2 
groups have helped us present special programs, such as our poet laureate 
video conference with four community colleges two years ago.

My interest in videoconferencing is both professional and personal.  Having 
lived in a variety of places with limited information resources and means of 
communication throughout my husband's military career, I know the value of 
enrichment programming and the difference it can make in a person's personal 
and professional life and local community.  Professionally, these 
technologies have enabled the Library to provide a service to groups who are 
not in a position to travel to Washington, DC.  This library is the largest 
in the world and contains treasures unique to American history and culture.  
Through video conferencing we introduce audiences to this portion of their 
heritage. 

   2) What's the most important thing you hope to get out of participating in 
this group?

I hope to learn what the concerns of others are:  the problems they face, the 
needs they have, their program dreamsheet.  I hear some concerns from people 
who contact me for programs to introduce their participants to the medium, 
but that's a very small subset of what is (I think) a large movement 
throughout the country.  Whatever I learn will inform the programs, 
resources,  and services we offer.

   3) Are there specific questions, topics, collaborative activities you'd 
like the group to explore together?

Yes, definitely.  More will come, but here are a few to start:
- Where would you look for a list of content providers?

- What kinds of programs would support your mission to your community?  to 
your staff?

- What resources can we provide to help you get started?
ISTE has a SIG for video conferencing, but I'm not aware of anything similar 
for ALA.  ARCL has a distance learning SIG, but that's focused on their 
needs, not those of libraries in general.  Am I missing something?

I hope this list will provide everyone a place where they can ask basic 
questions, ask for help or advice, or provide assistance when needed.  Some 
very good video conferencing lists and web portals have closed because of the 
loss of grant funding.  I'm not aware of anything that focuses on the needs 
of libraries and non-K12 organizations in this area.

Judy Graves
Judith K. Graves
Digital Projects Coordinator
Digital Reference Section
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20540-4604
(v)202.707.2562

Virtual Programs & Services
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/
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*Opinions expressed are my own.*




-----Original Message-----
From: 

 
[mailto:]
 On Behalf Of James Werle
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 8:40 PM
To: 

Subject: Update on the "Videoconferencing Librarians Interest Group" Dec 8th 
meeting

All,

To date, we've had 40 individuals from school, public, academic, state, and 
national libraries respond to the invitation to join the inaugural meeting of 
the "Videoconferencing Librarians Interest Group"
on December 8th at 11am PST/Noon MST/1pm CST/2pm EST.  

Many of you planning to connect to the Kan-Ren MCU have already completed 
testing.

Those of you connecting to the MAGPI MCU will test in the next week.
For those planning to join via phone conference, additional details will be 
forthcoming.  Additionally, I've subscribed each of you to a new 
""
 listserv to help facilitate group communication leading up to the meeting 
and beyond.


In an effort to help us get acquainted, I'd like to ask each of you to 
reflect upon the following questions and post your responses to the listserv 
by Friday, 12/2.

   1) Please describe your past experience or interest in using 
videoconferencing within your organization.

   2) What's the most important thing you hope to get out of participating in 
this group?

   3) Are there specific questions, topics, collaborative activities you'd 
like the group to explore together?

Your insights will help us make our initial meeting as relevant and
productive as possible.   I'll look forward to your thoughts.

I hope each of you enjoy a restful Thanksgiving holiday!  In the meantime, 
please don't hesitate to get in touch with questions.

Best Regards,
James

James Werle
Director, Internet2 K20 Initiative

360-499-2069
http://k20.internet2.edu