[Evergreen-web-team] Regional User Groups

[Steve Wills]

Interesting Questions, Jim.

First of all, to restate my excitement from a previous email, the fact that we have reached an on-boarding size that can support local groups is awesome! One of the appeals of my local Drupal groups is the value that is added by interactively discussing a technique, nuance, or Best Practice over a cup of coffee. The human interaction at a physical level is one of the reasons we have a convention each year and local groups can keep that energy going the rest of the year.

Another value that comes to mind is that, here in Maine, there is a outlook that tends to be somewhat different than the philosophy in Decatur, for instance. In Maine and New Hampshire there is a strong desire to allow each library to operate in as decentralized a mannar as possible while still joining together to share ideas. This in contrast to the centralized Pines system. Even in Massachusetts, the deployment is somewhat decentralized, spreading the load across multiple installations, as I understand it. I could be wrong about this. The point is, there are some regional differences that would allow smaller groups to provide support within these contexts that can't be adaquately serviced by a "one size fits all" organization.

That said, I am not sure we are ready start centralizing support of local groups. It may be a bit early. Perhaps we can point at self-announced groups and allow them to percolate and finish self-defining? I suspect your questions will get answered as this activity bakes a little longer.

Just Musing,
Steve Wills
The Maine Balsam Libraries

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Craner [mailto:jim at galecia.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 07:15 PM
To: evergreen-web-team at list.evergreen-ils.org
Subject: Re: [Evergreen-web-team] Regional User Groups

Hi everyone,Glad to see this list is still alive :-) And I want to echo what Steve said about how cool it is that you're adding this sort of resource onto the website!I just checked and local user groups aren't on the list of groups and roles we identified during our strategic planning talks last year. So I was wondering if anyone had any big picture thoughts on...* What are the goals of a regional user group? Benefits for members to participate?* How can regional user groups assist other EG libraries in their own group or somewhere else in the world? How can regional user groups help the Evergreen community as a whole?* What resources can the Comms/Web Team provide to help regional user groups? Their own dedicated wiki sections/namespaces? A "So You Want To Start A Regional EG User Group" brochure in PDF format? A voice in Governance discussions? Something entirely different?Hope you're all well!Thanks,JimOn 03/27/2012 03:25 PM, Amy Terlaga wrote:> I like the suggestions, too.>> A New England Evergreen Users Group will probably be forming in the> not-so-distant future, what with CT, MA, NH, and soon-to-be VT in the mix!>> +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+> Amy Terlaga> Assistant Director, User Services> Bibliomation, Inc.> 32 Crest Road> Middlebury, CT 06762> 203-577-4070 x101> www.biblio.org>>> -----Original Message-----> From: evergreen-web-team-bounces at list.evergreen-ils.org> [mailto:evergreen-web-team-bounces at list.evergreen-ils.org] On Behalf Of> Anoop Atre> Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 2:53 PM> To: Evergreen Community Web Team Email List> Subject: Re: [Evergreen-web-team] Regional User Groups>> I can get on board with these suggestions!>> On 03/27/2012 10:07 AM, Lori Bowen Ayre wrote:>> Gordana Vitez recently added w iki page called Regional User Groups on>> the Evergreen wiki. She wants to post info about the activities of>> the Southern Ontario Evergreen Users Groups.>>>> I'm thinking there should be something off the home page linking to>> these kinds of groups. Could we change "Communicate" to "Participate">> and then add another dropdown of that menu that says "User Groups" and>> put links to Gordana's new page? I'd also like to treat "RSCEL" as a>> user group and take the link from the left column home page off. It>> should be so prominent but I do think it should continue as a kind of user> group.>> Thoughts?>>>> Lori>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________>> Evergreen-web-team mailing list>> Evergreen-web-team at list.evergreen-ils.org>> http://list.evergreen-ils.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/evergreen-web-t>> eam>_______________________________________________Evergreen-web-team mailing listEvergreen-web-team at list.evergreen-ils.orghttp://list.evergreen-ils.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/evergreen-web-team
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