Other Favorite Resources
The library schedules a lot of meetings, face-to-face and virtual events, manages a variety of workflows and more. Here are some of our favorite tools we use on a regular basis to stay on time with deadlines and in the loop on daily and long-term projects:
Scheduling
- Doodle - Create polls to offer meeting or event attendees options for availability. Good for smaller groups, but tons of ads.
- Calendly - A more modern hub for scheduling meetings efficiently. Cleaner than Doodle, and can sync with other calendars!
Polls & Discussion
- Poll Everywhere - A response system that can be used in classroom or meeting settings to include real-time polls users reply to using their own devices. Responses can be visualized and shared with the entire group live.
- Padlet - This free platform is great for more open-ended responses. Like Poll Everywhere, updates in real-time, but can also be used as an ongoing space like a forum or discussion board. Settings can be customized to make up-votes/down-votes, star options on the board, provide longer discussion of topics and more anonymously.
Project & Task Management
- Kanban Flow - A free visual cloud-based project management tool that enables team sharing of "boards" with task cards that move across columns from "To-Do" to "Done". Boards can be customized, tasks can include checklists and be assigned to individuals, and recurring auto-email reminders can be set up for things that happen often or are far off in the future. Drag and drop tasks to adjust priority levels, and color code task cards to help organize the types of work. A pomodoro timer is built in for encouraging full focus!
- Trello - Extremely similar to Kanban Flow, but many feel it is more user-friendly. The free version of this tool includes more app integrations including ease of adding attachment documents, files and links to relevant documentation in Google Drive. It also includes as a part of using "checklists" on task cards a visual % for how soon something will be completed. Task cards can also double as procedures and virtually archives or printed to PDF. Just like Kanban Flow, cards are moved across the board from left to right until completion, and when others are invited to your board users can collaborate, assign and track small and large project progress.
