Your Name and Title:
Melissa Fortson Green
Research & Instructional Services Librarian

Library, School, or Organization Name:
The University of Alabama

Co-Presenter Name(s):

Area of the World from Which You Will Present:
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

Language in Which You Will Present:
English

Target Audience(s):
Reference and instruction librarians and others interested in working with users beyond the physical library.

Short Session Description (one line):
This session will share no- and low-cost online conferencing tools for outreach and instruction- such as Google Hangouts, Skype, and join.me- and best practices for using them.

Full Session Description (as long as you would like):
A liaison to The University of Alabama's Early College program, I utilized Blackboard IM, an "instant collaboration system" designed for academic use, to offer library instruction to high school students earning college credit by taking online classes. In spring 2012, I worked with the University's College of Continuing Studies to hold Blackboard IM "office hours" for distance learning students enrolled in English 102 courses.

Blackboard IM offers such features as audio/video conferencing, instant messaging, application and whiteboard sharing, and queued chat. It is an excellent resource for librarians to whom it is available; however, not every institution offers (or can afford to offer) access to the tool.

This session will share no- and low-cost alternatives, such as Google+ Hangouts, Skype, and join.me. Best practices and lessons learned regarding library use of online conferencing tools will also be shared, and attendees will leave the session with tools to help them provide budget-savvy outreach and instruction.

Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session: