Using Slack to communicate with medical students

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2018.482

Keywords:

Slack, Social Networks, Academic Library, Medical Students, Communication

Abstract

Academic libraries often make use of social networks like Facebook and Twitter to connect with their student users. While the Spokane Academic Library at Washington State University also employs this outreach strategy, the health sciences librarian was able to use a new type of social network called Slack to communicate more directly with the inaugural class of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. As a digital workspace for communication and collaboration, Slack provided the medical librarian with an effective medium through which to post library announcements and updates, as well as have individual conversations with students about library-related questions and concerns.

Author Biography

Kathryn Vela, Health Sciences Outreach Librarian, Spokane Academic Library. Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA

Kathryn Vela is the health sciences outreach librarian at Washington State University in Spokane, WA

References

Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. About the college [Internet]. Spokane, WA: The College [cited 26 Mar 2018]. <https://medicine.wsu.edu/about/about-the-college/>.

Pozdol JR. Ten steps to increase library impact on an academic health sciences campus. Med Ref Serv Q. 2010 Jul;29(3):229–39. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2010.494480.

Gardois P, Colombi N, Grillo G, Villanacci MC. Implementation of Web 2.0 services in academic, medical and research libraries: a scoping review. Health Inf Libr J. 2012 Jun;29(2):90–109. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2012.00984.x.

Anderson KE. Getting acquainted with social networks and apps: picking up the Slack in communication and collaboration. Libr Hi Tech News. 2016;33(9):6–9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-10-2016-0049.

King DL. Why use social media. Libr Technol Rep. 2015 Jan;51(1):6–9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5860/ltr.51n1.

Rod-Welch LJ. Incorporation and visibility of reference and social networking tools on ARL member libraries’ websites. Ref Serv Rev. 2012;40(1):138–71.

Chu SK, Du HS. Social networking tools for academic libraries. J Libr Inf Sci. 2012;45(1):64–75. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0961000611434361.

Kwahk K, Park D. The effects of network sharing on knowledge-sharing activities and job performance in enterprise social media environments. Comput Human Behav. 2016 Feb;55(pt B):826–39. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.09.044.

Johnson HA. Slack [review]. J Med Libr Assoc. 2018 Jan;106(1):148–51. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2018.315.

Slack. What is Slack? [Internet] Slack; 2018 [cited 26 Mar 2018]. <https://get.slack.help/hc/en-us/articles/115004071768-What-is-Slack->.

Downloads

Published

2018-10-04

Issue

Section

Commentary