netmeeting for remote reference

[Karin Smith]

A week ago I put a message on Web4Lib calling for interest in this 
topic to organise a discussion group/working group. I got quite a 
bit of interest but I didn't think of the fact that I don't actually 
have a listserv at my disposal(!) so I am throwing the discussion 
back to this list. I would be happy to receive personal emails on 
this topic though. 

A few people asked what netmeeting is so I will explain it as I have 
used it. It is free to download from microsoft and doesn't especially 
require a camera but if you have one you can have the ability to see 
the person at the other end. The thing I find good about  it is that 
it allows you and the person at the other end to take control of each 
other's computers. I see it being useful for showing someone how to 
do a database search, for example. It also has a whiteboard facility 
to write comments and explanations. Also has chat.
The next question for me is what to do now regarding this whole 
issue..
 I will explain what we are planning to do. We have a campus 
about 3 hours away and it is well resourced with computers but not so 
much with people. It is used as a place for local distance education 
students to come in and study online. The library online is part of 
this. We are hoping to set up something with a learning skills 
advisor for training and other communication. I am hoping this also 
allows for communication with students who come in to use library 
resources.
Of course we have come up against our first problem. Bandwidth - not 
current availability but what if everyone uses it?????
That is a discrete project that we are going to apply for funding for 
and go through the project type channels. I will keep web4lib posted 
about how that is going.
I don't want to lose my visionwhich is to have something that our 
students can click on to get real time library help. (I say that 
because projects can get lost in their own definitions!) 
I also should say that in my library management 
structure I am about half way up. I have almost no clout to make big 
things happen - I just make a lot of noise!!!
Thanks
Karin


..........................................
Karin Smith
Information Services Librarian
Division of Library Services
Charles Sturt University
Panorama Ave 
Bathurst NSW 2795
Australia
ph 02 6338 4486
fax 02 6338 4163