SITUATION 1: Librarian Lil and Librarian Lydia want to use the Mondopad to offer Lil's extraordinary book discussion group to patrons at Lydia's library on the opposite side of the city.
Depending on which two branches are collaborating, the first, most obvious benefit of meeting online is saving time and gas. Parman at Stone Oak and Cortez branches are 25-plus miles apart. If you factor in possible traffic snarls you have saved a lot of time and effort. It's always nice to sit down at a meeting when you are calm and relaxed and not stressed out because an accident closed the highway and the trip took you 45 minutes longer than usual.
Depending on which two branches are collaborating, the first, most obvious benefit of meeting online is saving time and gas. Parman at Stone Oak and Cortez branches are 25-plus miles apart. If you factor in possible traffic snarls you have saved a lot of time and effort. It's always nice to sit down at a meeting when you are calm and relaxed and not stressed out because an accident closed the highway and the trip took you 45 minutes longer than usual.
The main challenge I can see is if the two people meeting need to discuss something like room arrangement or space configuration. With a smartphone, tablet or iPad one can wander and focus the video feed on the surroundings. Sadly, the Mondopad is too big to do this.
I can't think of any real inconveniences, other than the inability to view physical plant layout, if I am working with a fellow SAPL staffer. In this scenario, I think the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences, particularly for the initial couple of meetings.
This one is a no-brainer since the project utilizes the Mondopad to offer programming. By meeting via the Mondopad Lil and Lydia are essentially testing the functionality of their idea.
SITUATION 2: Patron videochats a reference question and Librarian Lil needs to conduct a reference interview. The patron wants to know if the library has any books on cattle.
Using a platform that incorporates the ability to communicate in real-time with a patron adds a layer to the virtual reference world. Yes, of course, the library has many books on cattle, but as Lil talks with the patron, she learns he is interested in Longhorn cattle. A few more questions and eventually the patron reveals that he needs a copy of the University of Texas at Austin logo, which is a silhouette of a Longhorn. Lil now can assist the patron in finding what is really needed.
This one is a no-brainer since the project utilizes the Mondopad to offer programming. By meeting via the Mondopad Lil and Lydia are essentially testing the functionality of their idea.
SITUATION 2: Patron videochats a reference question and Librarian Lil needs to conduct a reference interview. The patron wants to know if the library has any books on cattle.
Using a platform that incorporates the ability to communicate in real-time with a patron adds a layer to the virtual reference world. Yes, of course, the library has many books on cattle, but as Lil talks with the patron, she learns he is interested in Longhorn cattle. A few more questions and eventually the patron reveals that he needs a copy of the University of Texas at Austin logo, which is a silhouette of a Longhorn. Lil now can assist the patron in finding what is really needed.
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