Thing 19: Podcasts

I’m an iTunes gal, and have subscribed to a number of podcasts over the years. At my height I listened to about 30 podcasts regularly — I’m now down to 2 (The Word Nerds and Grammar Girl).

I think that podcasting is a great way to involve your patrons or audience and keep them engaged in your programming. Recently I attended an author event at the University of Minnesota bookstore. (Lynne Cox. Awesome.) The bookstore extends their services by offering their author lectures in a series of podcasts too. I think it is a great way to involve a larger audience, and to keep those people who came *once* involved. Same goes for the MPR podcasts — smart way to keep your audience involved.

Am I inspired to create a podcast? Personally, no. Professionally, I think it’s important. My library system has made audio versions of booktalks available on our website, and there is a regular podcast created by teens for TeenLinks.

Like blogging, I think it would be important to create a unique voice or angle for yourself if you want to get and keep a regular listening audience.

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Thing 18: YouTube

This medieval help desk video reminds me of the frustration with learning new technologies, but that we can and should embrace them….

I have used YouTube in library programs. Last year we read Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park for the girls book club and, seeing as though I couldn’t get my hands on any mulberry leaves or silkworms, I showed videos of how silk is made so we had a visual of the project the characters were working on.

My teen volunteers are currently working on making a video for me to show to groups that visit the library this summer.  Other libraries in my system have held video contests, and posted the entries on YouTube.  The only downside is that the library currently does not provide video editing equipment or software, so we have to rely on the equipment that our patrons have.  Which is fine, just a bit frustrating.

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