Here are some responses to hybrid programming. We are doing some practice sessions this coming week, I will post what we have figured out. Thanks everyone! *I have held four hybrid book discussions with about 20 people in attendance each time, half on Zoom and half in person. * *The Senior Center where the meeting takes place has an excellent speaker and also provides a projector and a screen. I bring my own laptop and connect to both of those. So those of us in the room can see and hear the Zoom people perfectly.* *The problem is the other way around. The people on Zoom can only see one or two of us, and they cannot hear us very well, if at all. The senior center offered us their cordless microphone to pass around, but people are uncomfortable using it because it has to be held very close to the mouth when you speak. We then tried a directional microphone from the library and it only picked up me, since I was sitting right in front of it, but no one else could be heard. The library then purchased a conference room microphone which was supposed to pick up from every direction. I think it cost $125. It was marginally better. * *Each time we have moved our tables and chairs closer to the microphone and remind everyone to speak up. But it's still not enough.* *My church uses a system called OWL which works fairly well. The microphone/camera sits in the middle of the room and turns toward whoever is speaking so they are both heard and seen by the people on Zoom. I've been on both sides of this and it's a little hard to hear when I'm online, but very clear for the people in person. Overall, it's not bad. OWL costs about $1,000.* *Basically, we still haven't gotten this figured out. Audio equipment is very expensive and I don't think there is a cheap way out of this. At least not for larger groups. Most systems seem to be made for a small conference room with 4-5 people sitting around a table. Not what libraries typically need.* *I am doing a hybrid program Thursday night. I've never done one before and I'm going to give it a trial run later today. This is how my director has been conducting our library board meetings. I can let you know how it goes or you could register for the event via our website. I actually sent out an email through Michlib-l yesterday to pass the word along. I've had several people register for the Zoom portion of the presentation. * *____________________________________________________________________________* *I don’t know what public libraries are doing, but Delta College purchased OWLs. They plug into a computer and sit at the front of a room. “Eyes” are on whoever is speaking (so a question from the audience would mean that the zoomers see the person asking the question). I don’t know what this means for privacy, though.—* *We had a staff meeting yesterday and one person was remote. The powerpoint showed up both on her computer AND on the big screen in our classroom so all other attendees could see it. The OWL is pretty good at picking up voices from a room, at least from a classroom.—Michele at Delta College (in response to presentations, powerpoint, etc question)…when I asked if the computer that was connected to Zoom was also connected to the big screen, Michele said: Yes, our classrooms are set up so that each instructor computer (at the front of the room) is connected to the projector on the ceiling. I know that public libraries are going to have a different setup, but you just want to connect the computer/laptop to the projector.* * YS did a version of this during the summer. We set up a small (Go Pro like) camera on a tripod and put it front of the podium. I (as the host) stood behind the podium and spoke the audience both here and on Zoom. Our performer was also on Zoom and took the program from there. We projected the video onto the big screen so those sitting live in the room, could watch and interact as well.* On Tue, Sep 21, 2021 at 10:47 PM Betsy Myers <mmyers@tadl.org> wrote:
Hello! Has anyone held any hydrid programming consisting of in person and Zoom programming simultaneously through your library? For example, an author talk in person with an audience but also patrons who are not able to come into the library can participate via Zoom? If so, could you share your processes with me? I'm trying to wrap my head around it and I feel I am over thinking it. Thank you!
-- *Betsy Myers* Reference Department Interlibrary Loan/Programming *Traverse Area District Library* 610 Woodmere Ave Traverse City, MI 49686 231 932-8502 *Currently listening to Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica and Presidents Daughter by Bill Clinton and James Patterson*