K-20 librarians interactive video conferencing

["Graves, Judy" <>]

Hi Everyone,

After our recent meeting, I did some research across the Web to see what I could find.  The results are discouraging.

 

As for resources to help libraries get started with video conferencing, there are none.  I've checked the main library sites:  WebJunction, Programming Librarian, ALA web sites.  There's nothing other than web conferencing with video.  There was a Texas Library and Archive training program via video conference with helpful links, but Texas dismantled their network a couple of years ago and the pages are outdated and links no longer work.

 

Currently maintained content provider sites for K12 education have dwindled to 2:  TWICE and CILC.  These do not have categories for libraries or adult programs.  Janine Lim's blog is no longer being updated since she moved from K12 to college in June of last year.  The distance learning site hosted by U. Wisconsin lost its funding last year (perhaps 2 years ago now).  Links to the U.Georgia video conferencing cookbook on various pages no longer work because the cookbook was moved and those pages are not being maintained.  The cookbook is at http://www.vide.net/cookbook/cookbook.en/ but hasn't been updated since 2005.  It doesn't mention libraries, only K12 applications.

 

I found a few non-K12 sites with helpful information, but those were on university IT web sites and were geared to helping faculty with tips and techniques for using their video conference systems.  Commercial sites have some white papers, but they are mostly promotional or too technical for neophytes or non-technical users of the equipment.

 

Do a search on "video conferencing libraries".  Do another search on "video conferencing K12" and compare.  There is clearly a need for current information on the topic.

 

Those are needs I see, but I wanted to get a better idea of needs that librarians see that they have, so I asked.  We've been getting requests for programs from libraries that are coming online.  They write about receiving the grants and being new to video conferencing.  Serendipitously, one of the people I talked to recently agreed to send me her thoughts in writing.  Excerpts are below.  [comments in brackets are mine]

 

Concerns:

-having enough bandwidth to accomplish videoconferencing without any interruptions or lag in the service.

 

- firewall issue. I wanted to videoconference our QuickBooks class to two sites but was unable to do so because of a firewall issue with one of the sites. 

 

- inexperience with setting up videoconferences. it would be nice to have a short orientation to videoconferencing that covers some of the problems that one can expect to face [and the answers to those problems] [Her video conference equipment provider did not feel that such a training program was necessary].

 

-finding programming that is inexpensive or better yet, free.  [budgets are shrinking]

 

- difficulty in "figuring out the best use of the equipment."  [This relates to understanding what kind of content translates best into a video conference environment, and techniques for using the equipment creatively.]

 

-  How do you determine what your policies should be?  [A corollary to this is best practices.  What are they and how do we adapt/adopt them to our situation.]

 

- how does a library go about determining cost recovery?  [if that's possible or should even be done]

Many of these concerns could be met with information on web pages, for example:

- a glossary of terms

- troubleshooting tips

- designing content that works in the environment,

- links to content providers.  With links, they also need to think beyond the typical cultural organization.  They need to know whether their local/state health facility or network has programs via video conferencing or whether their land grant institution's extension service does programs for farmers, etc.  They have to prove that they are offering training programs that help people get jobs.

- links to other sources that would provide guidance, listservs, etc.

- best practices

 

I have great respect for the knowledge and experience of I2, its members, and members of this list.  Surely there's a way to gather that expertise and share it with others.

Judy Graves

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of James Werle
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 7:39 PM
To:
Subject: volunteers to develop IVC "best practice" resources?

 

Hi All,

 

We've heard interest expressed from the group on both of our recent calls around developing resources to help librarians get up to speed on the effective use of videoconferencing.  Please let me know if you're interested in contributing to such an effort and we can get a working group started.

 

thanks!

James