Communication Options for Libraries: Email, Listservs, Forums, Chat
Here is a table outlining the pros and cons, and appropriate use in libraries for each of the following online communication methods: email, listservs, discussion forums (bulletin boards), chat/IM.
| Method | Pros | Cons | Use |
| - one-to-one and one-to-many communication possible - private communication and consultation can be accomplished easily - patrons can get direct contact with information professionals |
- listing private email addresses on websites invites spam - using email to communicate with a large number of people can cause privacy issues if BCC is not used - archives not searchable by anyone other than the people who are directly involved - if all library email goes to one address, recipient can become overwhelmed |
- good for private communication between a single patron and library staff - good for communication between library staff members |
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| Listservs | - one-to-many communication possible, and easier to maintain than with only email - relevant information can be put in the hands of interested parties as soon as it is available - if the listserv is for communication purposes rather than just for announcements, the members can learn from each other - archives can be made searchable so even members who joined later can benefit from information that has come up in the past |
- one-to-one communication is possible, but can be difficult for individual users to implement depending on how the listserv is set up - sometimes devolve into misunderstanding and fighting so moderators need to actively monitor communication - members cannot always subscribe/unsubscribe themselves, so moderators need to do basic maintenance work on a regular basis |
- good for announcements from library staff to patrons and other interested parties |
| Forums | - one-to-many and (usually, but not always) one-to-one communication possible - members are free to check the forum when they need/want to and do not get bombarded with unwanted emails on topics that they are not interested in |
- members don’t always check the forum for updates - public forums often attract impolite users, spammers, and trolls, so the moderators have to spend time patrolling the forum for abuse and misuse - need a critical number of members to join before the forum format can work |
- good for suggestion boards - perhaps good for users to share information about local events - perhaps best for librarians to use amongst themselves rather than as a resource for patrons |
| Chat | - one-to-one and (usually, but not always) one-to-many communication possible, however there is usually a fairly low limit to the “many” - private communication and consultation can be accomplished easily - patrons can get immediate answers |
- not all chat clients save conversations, so it can be difficult to store and retrieve the information obtained through chat - if a library offers reference services via chat, a librarian must be available at all times to respond, otherwise people will not feel that the service is reliable |
- good for private communication between a single patron and library staff - good for questions requiring immediate and non-complex answers |
Categorised as: Library Science