Week 9: Instant Messaging

I confess. I didn't spend a lot of time this week working on instant messaging. Not enough time, and frankly not a lot of interest. It isn't that I'm opposed to IM in general. In fact, I enjoy the ability to have a sidebar conversation on Facebook chat with friends and family that is not posted on a wall for everyone to see. I also see some applications for people working across networks or distances.  In the same library, building, etc. -- not so much.  There are so many other ways for us to be communicating. Is there enough added value to encourage all of our staff to use IM too? I'm not convinced.