In today’s academic library landscape, many of us spend just as much time pinging, emailing, Slacking, and Zooming as we do curating collections, teaching research skills, or building partnerships with faculty. Yet so often, our messages are misunderstood—or worse, ignored. You might send a clear, concise message about a collaboration or event and receive silence. Or perhaps a carefully worded update yields only a single emoji response.
Andrew Brodsky’s Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication helps us make sense of these digital disconnects. The central idea is simple yet powerful: a ping isn’t just a message—it’s a signal. And in a remote or hybrid environment, the way we signal attention, care, and urgency (or lack thereof) profoundly shapes how we work together.
For academic librarians, the implications are clear. Our digital communications shape faculty relationships, student engagement, and team culture. But so does our respect for boundaries. The key is not more communication—it’s intentional communication.
What Is a Ping?
Brodsky defines a ping as any communication designed to get someone’s attention—a text, an email, a Slack message, a calendar invite. While these tools increase efficiency, they also introduce ambiguity. Unlike in-person exchanges, digital communication lacks tone, body language, and context. This creates a risk of misinterpretation, especially in busy environments like academic libraries.
In our field, where collaboration is foundational and workloads are often high, the stakes are even greater. Misunderstood messages can disrupt timelines, damage relationships, or cause unnecessary stress.
Clarity as a Professional Practice
One of Brodsky’s most valuable insights is that clarity reduces cognitive load. A vague message demands more mental energy from the reader. A clear message invites a confident, timely response.
Consider the difference between these two approaches:
Vague:
"Can you take a look at this?"
Clear and respectful:
"I’ve drafted our info literacy workshop slides. If you’re available to review them by Friday, I’d appreciate your thoughts—especially on the last few slides. No pressure if this week is already full."
This simple reframing respects the recipient’s time, reduces anxiety, and strengthens the collaboration.
Boundary-Respecting Communication
While Ping emphasizes efficiency, it also raises a vital question for those of us in higher education: How do we protect our time and mental space in an “always-on” digital culture?
The answer is not to reject digital tools but to use them more thoughtfully. This means:
Normalize Delayed Responses
Not every ping requires an immediate reply. In library teams—especially those working with limited staffing—it's essential to allow for thoughtful, delayed responses. Managers should avoid setting the precedent that availability equals commitment. Librarians should feel empowered to respond during working hours and take time for focused, uninterrupted work.
Communicate Expectations Without Creating Pressure
Use language that communicates your needs without assuming instant availability:
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“Whenever you have a moment—no urgency.”
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“I’d appreciate a reply by Thursday, if that timeline works for you.”
This models respect for others' time and invites reciprocal behavior.
Schedule Messages for Business Hours
Even if you're working late, delay email sends or add a signature line like:
“This message was sent at a time that works for me—please respond at your convenience.”
This helps normalize asynchronous communication without creating the expectation of 24/7 responsiveness.
Building a Healthier Communication Culture
Virtual communication isn't just about transmitting information—it’s about cultivating trust. Whether you're leading a team, collaborating across departments, or working solo, small changes in how we communicate can build a culture of clarity, respect, and well-being.
If you’re in a leadership role, consider:
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Holding a discussion about communication preferences and norms.
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Modeling healthy digital habits, such as taking time off and responding during business hours.
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Reframing urgency: ask, “Is this urgent for me, or urgent for the person I’m contacting?”
For solo librarians or small teams, being explicit with faculty and administrators about communication availability can help reinforce healthy norms.
Putting It into Practice: A Sample Ping
Here’s a refined example of boundary-conscious communication:
Subject: Review Slides for Next Week’s Workshop
Message:
Hi Dr. Nguyen,
Attached is a draft of our slides for the upcoming information literacy session. If you have time before Thursday, I’d love your input—especially on the new activity we added on slide 5. If you’re busy this week, I’ll plan to finalize Friday morning either way.
Thanks again for partnering with the library.
Take Care,
personal name
This message offers clarity, signals respect for time, and provides an easy path for engagement without creating stress.
Final Thoughts: From Efficiency to Empathy
At its core, Ping reminds us that communication isn’t just a productivity tool—it’s a relational one. As academic librarians, we rely on relationships: with students, with faculty, with one another. Building those relationships virtually takes intention, care, and a shared respect for boundaries.
The best communication culture is one where people feel safe to disconnect and supported when they reconnect. Where clarity is the norm and pressure is not. Where pings feel like invitations, not interruptions.
In the end, effective virtual communication is not just about how fast we respond. It’s about how clearly, how respectfully, and how humanely we engage.
How does your library navigate digital boundaries and communication norms?
We’d love to hear your strategies. Share your thoughts and join the conversation at Inclusive Knowledge Solutions.
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