For times when a patron cannot host a Zoom meeting or a staff member does not have the time to navigate setting up a Zoom meeting there is a free alternative.

This alternative does NOT have a 30 minute restriction (like Zoom) and is a breeze to get running.

Meet Jitsi! Jitsi is an HD video conferencing solution completely free. It's feature set is nearly identical to Zoom and it's layout is also very similar allowing it to be very user friendly.

Jitsi free has the following features;

To start a free meeting, simply click this link https://meet.jit.si/ . No account is needed, no sign ups required. Simply create the meeting by typing in a unique name in the Start Meeting Box (below), and pressing the Start meeting button to begin the meeting.

Once you have launched the meeting you'll be presented with the initial settings page, from here you'll be asked to enable your microphone and camera. Also you'll be able to invite people from this page (clicking the people icon). add in a background filter, and other additional settings (enable sounds, language, profile, etc).

Clicking the Join meeting button will begin the meeting, which should display the self view (your camera) and display the action tool bar (image below). The action toolbar allows you to share your screen, record the meeting (dropbox only), open the chat box, raise/lower hand, toggle view, and lastly more actions (3 dots).

Whilst the more actions items are self-explanatory, let's look into the Security options

Security Options has 2 options, enable lobby and the option to add a password to prevent unwanted participants from joining your meeting. NOTE: If you enable password, you MUST provide it to participants to your meeting otherwise they will be unable to join.