Dear SPLAT,

What are SPLAT’s recommendations for responding to strangers
who want to be my “Friend”?

After signing up for the Library 2.0 group on WetPaint, I
started getting messages from people I don’t know. They’re definitely an improvement over the
folks who contacted me through myspace.com, but I’m still concerned. Some of these wannabe “Friends” have very
little information in their profiles.
On the other hand, how problematic could they be, if they’re in the
Library 2.0 group?

What are the SPLAT guidelines responding to potential “Friends”?

I sure hope this link works ... because it made me laugh until I cried!  Actually, it hit kinda close to home.  What happens when parents invade Facebook? Click here.

The April 15 issue of Library Journal describes online training for the entire staff of Missouri River Regional Library in Jefferson City. Staff members who completed the program within 16 weeks got an MP3 player as a reward.

Would this work somewhere in Idaho? Could we use LSTA funds for a pilot project? Any volunteers?

Makes me renew my vow to have an "IM" day here at the Law Library. And, "cheesy," as my daughter would say, but maybe we could create a Facebook site for my labradoodle. How does "Jolie Vandal" sound to you? Might give a whole new meaning to the law school's "dog book" photo directory!

How confident do you feel about your ability to locate Idaho legal resources?

Jean Mattimoe and I are thinking about a new way to help Idaho librarians boost their experience and confidence with Idaho legal materials. Using software called JYBE (Join Your Browser with Everyone), we could be online “stand-by” partners while you learn with some web-based instructional materials.

With JYBE, we think we can provide continuing education when you ask for it, instead of having to wait to schedule organized workshops around the state. And, with the JYBE feature, you can ask questions during the learning process and get immediate, personalized answers.

Jean is working on the instructional materials, and I am learning about JYBE server requirements. Please stay tuned for further developments…

IM, BLOG, text messaging, SKYPE, JYBE…  For many of us, these words are almost a foreign language!  Yet, they represent the tools and skills of our digital native library users.  How can we keep up?  Where can we start?  We can begin by doing something that librarians excel at—learning.

What’s the best way to learn something new?  Well, for many of us, the most comfortable way to try new technology or software is to learn from a friend.  With a little bit of show and tell, a few notes, and some one-on-one training, it’s easy to master the basics of IM or BLOG-ing.  At ILA, SPLAT can get you started.

Please let us share with you!  At ILA in Moscow, your “friend-ly” SPLAT team members will be available throughout the conference near the registration desk.  Please stop by to learn some new skills.   (We might even give you something “splatty” to take home.) 

See you in Moscow!