Podcasts in the Library

For your viewing pleasure:


This week's topic is streaming media.

I checked out some podcast directories and was rather overwhelmed. I found it hard to find a podcast that interested me, and I couldn't tell which were reputable sources. In the end, I subscribed to a few podcasts from the CBC website through my Google Reader.

I'd been aware of podcasts for some time. I had mistakenly assumed that they were only for use with IPods and other portable devices. I was excited to discover my mistake, as I can now listen to my favorite radio show whenever i want. In fact, at this very moment I am tap-tap-tapping on the keyboard and listening to a radio show directly from my RSS reader.

So what about podcasts in the library? There are two ways to use them. First, as an information source, podcasts can help library staff keep up to date on library and information innovations. Or staff can direct library users to podcasts for their research or enjoyment. Second, library staff can create podcasts for library promotion and information. A podcast could review books (like the book picks video we saw in class), promote upcoming events (a special day in the library, upcoming speakers etc.) , or provide tutorials on library services ("how to renew books online" or "how to use boolean operators in your database searches").

Wikis

I recently contributed to my first wiki. I added my favorite book (Who has Seen the Wind) and my favorite music (currently Patrick Watson and Final Fantasy). I found it simple to use. I was even able to make links to websites of the musicians.

In her article Wikis, Laurel A. Clyde explains how wikis can be used both collaboratively and conversationally. Wikis are unique in their collaborative nature; any user can modify, add or remove information. Blogs are similar to wikis, however, when used as a back and forth conversation. One user adds information and the next responds without modifying the previous post.

Wikis would be an excellent tool in libraries. Any sort of user feedback or list making would be ideal for a library wiki. For example, patrons could share book reviews, create a wish list, or make comments about good and bad service.

Being able to collaborate on wikis is appealing. Giving who-knows-who the power to write who-knows-what is a little less so. However, I wouldn't expect intentional sabotage in a trusted group of people (eg. a library tech class wiki).

Happy wiki-ing!

RSS Feeds

Blogs and news sites are a wonderful way to keep informed. Up until a few days ago I would dutifully make the rounds on the couple of sites that I liked to read. It was mildly time consuming-- especially if there was nothing new to read or look at.

Enter RSS! I started using Google Reader a few days ago. I am hooked! It is as if a newspaper is delivered to my computer at all hours of the day and the articles in it are actually interesting to me. To be honest, I am disappointed when there is nothing new for me to read.

In conjunction with reading "RSS For Non-Techie Librarians", I can see how important RSS is to any professional industry. It allows people to save time (time is money!) and keep up to date on innovations in their area. It's an easy-to-use system to keep informed. What isn't there to love about having all the information you want in one place?

First of all...

Welcome to the Adventures of M.O.!

Here you can read about the ups and downs of my learning adventure as a student in a library tech program.