An interesting article in the Wall Street Journal today discusses how email is being replaced by other forms of communication tools such as facebook, twitter, and the new beta version of Google Wave, a tool that combines photo sharing, email and commenting all in real time. The article points out that while these tools are fun and more intuitive, they are also more impersonal. For instance, if your friends on facebook are posting regular updates on what they are doing throughout the day, why bother to call them up to see how they are doing? Another problem, I would like to point out is how easy it is to get inundated with information to the point to where you start tuning out. We can miss important information by tuning out or through conscious filtering using filtering tools these services incorporate. A final point is just how meaningful is this communication. Just as phone conversations chop out a great deal of non verbal communication that we get in face to face communication, textual communication cuts off communication we get from talking. And so I’ll throw text messaging into this mix. Text messaging through cell phones is a great way to send quick information to someone. For instance, you can say “Hey, I’m heading out the door” to someone you are going to pick up. It’s simpler and more efficient than calling them to tell them that. You can also carry on a short conversation at a time when talking is not appropriate. I use text messaging all the time but it does have its limitations. You reach a point where a text conversation is taking place that could be best done through a vocal phone conversation. And forget about having any kind of meaningful relationship with someone through text messaging only. This leads us to the question, does fancier communication tools hinder communication.
I will answer that question by simply saying that it can, but not necessarily. I would like to address how we at Logan Library at Rose-Hulman are experimenting with one such technology to augment our reference communication with our students. We have recently implemented LibGuides with profiles and chat widgets to each of our reference librarians on each subject guide. Although we encourage our students to come to see us for research help any time they need it, there are times when a trip to the library is not necessary. We know for a fact that most student research is done outside of the library, specifically in the residence halls and Greek houses. Often times a student may have a simple question about which database would be their best option to search for a specific topic or how to find if we have a specific journal. The chat option is a means of making ourselves available to them wherever they are. Needless to say, there are times when the level of research assistance they need would be best carried out face to face. In which case, we would ask them to come to the library at a convenient time for both parties.
Any kind of communication technology must used just like other tool. If you go into a workshop (wood, machine, etc) each tool has a specific purpose. Likewise, communication tools should be used for the right purposes. So depending on the situation, choose your tool properly.
Posted by Richard Bernier 
