Communication Channels

Added by Karen Huffman, last edited by Karen Huffman on Jul 24, 2009  (view change)

Table of Contents

Overview

Multiple ways to collaborate with fellow SLA KM members

To encourage an active and rich resource for our members, the SLA Knowledge Management Division offers multiple platforms to communicate and connect with members, share ideas, and collaborate. Listed below are a variety of platforms including links to selected resources.

Website

The SLA KM's website is built using SLA's Confluence wiki application and includes pages available for anyone to view as well as members-only areas. As the wiki is our main website for the division, we have standard content such as a list of our officers and committees, the division manual, upcoming programs and events, and FAQs on how to join the KM division or our discussion list as well as our details about our communication channels. We are also using the wiki's built-in discussion forums on various sections to encourage conversations and run an RSS feed on our home page to our recent news posting, a blog-life feature that we call eBulletin (see below for more information). As an add-value for our members, we have developed a members-only that includes best practices in KM, KM news and perspectives, and a companion expertise database.

Listserv & Discussion Forum

  • Listserv: We manage a listserv for SLA KM members that is actually open to non-members as well.
  • Discussion forums: Forums have been added to selected members and non-member areas to engage communication and collaboration.

Blog & Micro-blogging

  • eBulletin newsletter: SLA's Confluence wiki application has a news area, or blog-like functionality, incorporated within each space. We run an RSS-like feed on our home page to the latest postings. We run "From the Chair" columns, highlight new resources available, feature our programs and events, post summaries and ideas we've learned from conferences, and plan to start a few new features this fall/spring (2008/2009) called "conversations" where we are planning to podcasts topically-focused conversations with various members.
  • Micro-blogging: We set up a group Twitter account. To post a KM-centric message to our Twitter, make sure you are following our group: twitter.com/slakmhttp://twitter.com/slakm. You have TWO options for posting a message.
  1. ReTweet Option 1: Add a hash tag and the name of the group (example: #slakm your message...). For more information, see Twitter's hashtag or the ReTweeter application by John Eckman.
  2. GroupTweet Option 2: Send a direct message to the group (example: d slakm your message...).  For more information about how to post to our group, see steps 3 and 4 on GroupTweet.com.

Additional note: The Twitter API processing takes a few minutes before it appears on our group's Tweet.

Social Networks

  • Del.ici.ous: We encourage KM members to share sites of interest with our KM division by tagging items SLAKM when bookmarking via Del.icio.us. An RSS feed displays the latest tagged sites on our SLA KM home page.
  • Facebook: We created a social network group on Facebook to encourage members to post photos, videos, and engage cross-generational conversations. We have a handful of photos and videos from the 2008 SLA annual conference.
  • LinkedIn: We also created a professional network group on LinkedIn to help individuals connect to KM professionals and learn more about the field of KM. Individuals are also welcome to advertise/post jobs through the message board available on the group.

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