It was a sunny Florida day in a room of 30 very chilled library people when this blog silently came into being during a workshop offered by the Northeast Florida Library information Network. No one knew that the Shusher had been born. Amigos Library Services trainer Christine Peterson was aptly presenting information about Social Software in Libraries. With fingers trembling from the cold, the shivering Shusher began to emerge. Keys were pressed. Bytes were saved. The Shusher began to listen......

Social Software is computer programs that allow people to form communities or groups online. Members of the community interact through the Internet. Some examples of this technology are IM (instant messaging), blogs (web-logs), social bookmarking, RSS (relatively* simple syndication), and Wikis (not just Hawaian bus stops). *Thanks to Chris Peterson for making the 'really' more 'relative'!)

Uses of this software for organizations is tremendous - especially for libraries. We form groups endlessly. We have committees and subcommittees and teams and task forces and departments and interest groups and on and on. We specialize in the efficient, productive flow of information not only to the public but also to these internal groups. Let's focus on how each of these tools can be used for the library.

IM (Instant messaging) is more than email or the telephone. Members of a group can find out if another member is available to communicate. This software makes it possible to
- see if a person is online and available.
- control who sees if someone is available.
- send graphics and files for immediate attention.
- have privacy since no one can hear what is conveyed.
- contact staff who often travel from one computer station to another.
- immediately take care of simple questions.

Windows live messenger, Yahoo.
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