Understanding Lync chat room membership

If you've heard about a specific chat room but can't seem to locate it, chances are it was set up with a privacy level that keeps it hidden from view. Every Lync chat room has a privacy level, which controls who can find it and who can get into it. The chat room owner sets the privacy level on the Create a room window when the room is first set up.

Here are the differences among the three privacy levels:

Privacy Level	Open	Closed	Secret
Membership policy:	No membership is required or allowed in an open chat room.	Membership is required in order to read, post to, or follow a closed chat room. Non-members can find closed rooms via search and can see participant lists of closed rooms, but can't read, post to, or follow them.	Membership is required. Members can find, read, post to, and follow a secret chat room. Non-members will not be able to find a secret room, learn who has membership in it, or read or post to it.
To become a member of this type of chat room:	Not applicable	Request membership from the room manager: 1. In the Lync main window, use search to display the listing for the room you want to join. 2. Point to the chat room listing and click the See Contact Card icon. You'll find the name(s) of the manager(s) on the contact card.	Membership is by invitation of the creator or manager of the room.
To find this type of chat room:	Use Lync search by room name and/or topic.	Use Lync search by room name and/or topic.	Members: Use search or click the Member of tab on the Chat rooms view. Followers: Use search or click the Member of tab or Followed tab on the Chat rooms view.
To follow this type of chat room:	Find the room via search, then add it to your list of followed rooms: 1. On the Chat rooms view, point to the chat room icon for the room you want to follow, then click the More options button. 2. Click Follow this Room.	You need to first be a member of the room. Once you have been granted membership, add the room to your list of followed rooms: 1. On the Chat rooms view, click the Member of tab. 2. Point to the chat room icon for the room you want to follow, then click the More options button. 3. Click Follow this Room.	You must first be a member of the room. Once you have been granted membership, add the room to your list of followed rooms: 1. On the Chat rooms view, click the Member of tab. 2. Hover over the chat room icon for the room you want to follow, then click the More options button. 3. Click Follow this Room.

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