Podcasting library websites I visited:
- The Library Channel at Arizona State University had a variety of podcasts. All had clear, crisp audio. In an interview with a Chinese visiting professor the audio was hard to understand because of his accent, I saw that as a drawback to the use of the interview as a podcast - perhaps a vodcast with captions would have been better. I liked the "Faculty and librarians team-up for Student Sucess" podcast. I thought the podcasts worked well for the university setting. They also had streaming video productions and I thought they were extremely helpful -- the 5 min. "Finding books video" on how to use the ASU catalog was very informative -- we could do that here at VBPL.
- Denver Public Library - a sheer delight! The children's stories were wonderful to listen to. It would be fun to have a children's story hour podcast that kids could sign on and experience, it would be a fun way to show them safely fun ways to experience the library through their computer.
- Sheridan Libraries at John Hopkins University had podcasts that met the specific needs of students & faculty but, like the ASU podcasts I think they work with universities and may not work as well with public libraries.
I like podcasts but I think vodcasts carry a bigger punch. Customers prefer certain narrators for audio books and I am wondering how they would react to voices in our podcasts.
I could see podcasts used at VBPL for short, simple directions or information on our website: library hours, holiday closings, etc.; on IBistro: how to renew your library card, change a pin, etc. Short snipets that inform. Also, they could be used as part of a regional LIBRARY TALK SHOW that showcased library issues in the region, interviewed city administrators, local politicians, promoted our Friends, etc.
Like all the Library 2.0 and Web 2.0 technologies I think we should use podcasts and vodcasts to inform our customers and market our services. Before we just started putting podcasts up though a thoughtful examination of the who, what, where, when and why should be examined and a policy created to establish the guidelines.
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