It has many advantages:

–we can do checks for items while walking the floor, communicating with outside callers or librarians from other branches about checking our shelves for particular print items, perhaps asking how items we locate might further assist with a query.
–we can place calls to anyone in the system, talking to them if they are available and leaving them messages if they are not, without knowing their phone numbers. One simply asks Vocera to find them by name.
–for large branches, it is an excellent way to speak to somebody one cannot see, asking them a question without finding them or summoning them to a reference desk or other place where they might be needed.
–pressing a button will send a tone to other Vocera units, summoning security and help in emergenices

Our experience has not been without issues:

1. If a branch is particularly noisy, the sounds can interfere with Vocera use. The Vocera unit can get confused by the outside noise and think one is requesting something one is not (i.e. one says “Call Michael at Dublin” and has Vocera respond “Was that Ray at Hilltop?”) Even with the detachable ear bud in place, the units can be hard to hear.
2. Cell phone calls sometimes get dropped.

We are encouraged enough by our successes, however, to ask Vocera to address our issues so that we might continue using this technology.