We’ll send you the link in our newsletter. Please don’t share it on social media, but feel free to invite your trusted friends to join us. Either follow the link or use the meeting ID and password in your Zoom app. You will have to wait for the administrator to let you in to the meeting. Don’t panic. Our administrator (librarian) is very quick and helpful. Then try the following…

1. Move your mouse or tap your screen to see the microphone button (bottom left on a computer). If there’s a red slash through it, the microphone’s switched off. Tap or click on it to switch it on, then tap again to switch it off.
2. Again, move the mouse or tap the screen. The video button is next to the microphone button. Tap or click on it to switch your video off and on again. If your video appears as a black screen, switching the video off and on might fix it. If this doesn’t help, try switching your computer on and off again. (If you have “zoom app” you can use the settings button (cog wheel) and select “video” to test your video before joining a meeting.
3. Speaker view focuses your screen on the person who is speaking. On a small screen this is the only person you will see. On a large screen, you can usually see a film strip of people above the speaker. Click on the button at the top right to get a grid view instead and see “everyone.” When there are too many people to fit on the screen, tap or move your mouse over the film strip or grid and you’ll see an arrow that lets you see the “next page.”
4. Names. If your name appears as something like Consumer Cellular or iPad, you may want to change it. On a large enough screen, you will see either a film-strip of attendee videos, or a grid of faces. Move your mouse or tap over your own image, click on the three dots and choose “change name,” then type in your real name. Alternatively, click on…
5. This should be one of a set of buttons at the bottom (or maybe something that appears when you click on three dots if you’re using a small screen—move your mouse or tap the screen to see these). The button looks like a stylized face and brings up a list of participants, including yourself. You can change you name in the list by clicking on “more” or on the three dots next to your name.
6. Chat is the button next to Participants, second from the left on my machine. It will open a box where you can type messages (such as “My mic isn’t working”) to everyone. If you want to chat to just one person, click on the arrow next to ‘everyone.’ If the arrow’s not there, that means we haven’t set up permission for private chat.
7. Share Screen is the next button. That’s what a speaker will use to share a PowerPoint presentation, or a critique leader might use it to share a word document. Otherwise, please don’t touch it.
8. If you can’t see the shared screen properly or you’re using a small screen, try turning your phone or tablet (or iPad) on its side, to view horizontally. If you have a larger screen, move your mouse to the top and choose options. You can now choose “side by side” which separates the shared screen from the filmstrip of participants.
9. Use the Reaction button to wave or give a thumbs up during a talk.
10. Use the raise hand button—on the right hand side below the list of participants—to raise your hand to ask a question. Or just type your question in chat.

And be patient. Technology can be a pain, but without it we’d be even more isolated. If something technological doesn’t work, you should always try “switching it off and on again.” Which just might mean switching your computer off and on again. Just sayin…