ALA Online Communities (AOC)
The following is an introduction to the ALA Online Communities portal of the ALA Web site. For an understanding of the "vision" behind creating the portal, the Vision statement that accompanied the request for proposals can be browsed.
The Main Components of ALA Online Communities
Think of your committee's page (see below) as your virtual office. You can store documents such as meeting minutes, committee charges, reports, and agendas, as well as links to Web sites if pertinent to the business of the group, whether it be a committee, board, discussion group, task force, or other organizational entity. Most groups like this have documents that are passed from one "generation" to the next and this office space allows for the sharing of essential information throughout the life of the group.
Screenshot of the landing page for a RUSA community group.
If you click on the "Discussion Forum" link in the blue ribbon menu under the red banner along the top of the page, you can move from your office to a "meeting" room that works asynchronously, that is, you can leave messages and others can comment in their own time. Unlike an electronic discussion list, topics can be created and grouped by whatever category the group feels is necessary; allowing members to address concerns more directly and in their own considered time. One can "subscribe" to a topic and be notified via e-mail designated in one's profile if a reply has been made. A member's institutional or home e-mail account receives messages that are more focused. You have the ability to respond and edit or delete a response, something you cannot do with a listserv response. You can quote and edit the quote ... how often do you receive a listserv message that carries multiple pages of "quoted" material that is no longer relevant to the current discussion? The threaded discussion list is superior in so many ways to the listserv, you will find this alone makes the online communities tool a great member benefit for handling work.
Screenshot of the discussion forum page for a RUSA community group.
If you click on the "Chat" link in the blue ribbon menu under the red banner along the top of the page, you can move to a different "meeting" room that allows synchronous discussions with other members of your group. Cheaper than a phone conference and every word is recorded for posterity--all the frivolous things you've read about Internet chat rooms will fade away when you see the potential for getting real work done.
Screenshot of the chat room page for a RUSA community group.
This overview has touched on the main tools that are provided by the software being tested. In addition, polling surveys and event calendars can be created, batch mails within the AOC's e-mail system can be performed (depending on level of rights), and a number of other features. The environment can be customized in a number of ways that each group can determine. Use this link to see the list of features being developed for AOC.
Work in Progress
RUSA staff is excited by the prospect of what the AOC can provide members. The AOC is an incredibly powerful and flexible suite of Internet applications and will undergo a lot of tweaking during this "soft launch," so we ask that those who insist on getting onboard early realize they are expected to be constructive in criticism and instructive to those who are waiting their turn to join in. The ALA supports more than 2,500 "groups," a daunting number that had not been met by any of the vendors who applied for our contract. It may not be necessary to empower all those groups but we hope to support as many as are willing to accept the limitations of software and hardware and the vagaries of the Internet.
Donavan Vicha, Web Program Officer
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