There are lots of different ways that libraries can use podcasts, some of which I have direct experience in.
Over the summer, I worked at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) as a reference librarian. Every day, a newsletter was published of the top electronic stories, called Smartbrief, and was e-mailed to internal and external customers. The library, along with other departments, took turns making audio posts of these newsletters for those unable to read the print-version. It involved taking all of the stories and figuring out which to keep, and which to take out. It also required you to prepare a script and decide exactly what you were going to say before you started recording. Luckily, CEA had lots of professional equipment, so the podcasts came out sounding very nice – although we did use Audacity, as well, to edit them.
Libraries can use podcasts for other things too, such as a spotlight on a new database/resource or a list of upcoming events. They can also do interviews with other librarians and staff members. The possibilities are endless. I do think that whatever information is presented in the podcast should be duplicated somewhere else in written form. For instance, if a library did create a podcast of upcoming events or highlighted a database, they should also put these somewhere on the website for others to see. While podcasts can help reach a larger audience, it is important to remember that not everyone is able to (or wants to) play audio files to listen to information.
Podcasts are definitely beneficial to libraries, but it is important to recognize that they take a LOT of work. A podcast may only take 3 minutes to listen to, but at the minimum, may take an hour (or more) to create when you factor in researching, scripting, recording, and editing, and publishing. The podcasts for CEA were about 4-7 minutes in length and took me about 2 hours from start-to-finish to create. Management must understand that podcasts are valuable, but take a lot of time and are not just a “five minute procedure”. I compare it a lot to technical writing, which I used to do. Instructions may take someone two or three minutes to read through, but a document could take hours or days to write!
Another drawback/consideration to podcasts is that audio files take up a lot more space than a basic webpage. It is important the library understand their resources available and understand if they are able to host the files without a problem.
Another drawback/consideration to podcasts is that audio files take up a lot more space than a basic webpage. It is important the library understand their resources available and understand if they are able to host the files without a problem.
It took me a lot longer than 2 hours to create a podcast that was a little over 2 minutes. Having a script helped a lot – and even then I had to record mine again as there were some prolonged pauses, and those silent moments felt like an eternity. Also duplicating the podcast with some type of website presence is better than just having the audio version alone.
ReplyDeleteYou are not kidding! I recorded mine over and over. I kept breathing too loud - I saw somewhere we could reduce background noise, but I was way frustrated by then. I was finally recording the perfect podcast when my husband got home and raised the garage door. My dogs went ballistic and ruined the whole thing. I tried editing just that part out, but I couldn't get it to line up exactly right. I guess that's an art I haven't quite mastered. My voice also changed tone between the two parts. I just gave up and did it again!
ReplyDeleteI should have also mentioned that the first podcast is definitely the hardest. My first podcast for my company probably took 3-4 hours to make. But, once you do it over and over again, you definitely get faster at it.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to be a perfectionist and make podcasts. Especially when you don't like the sound of your voice.
Yes, it is! I can't stand my voice sometimes. (I continue to work on it.) I came to the same conclusions. Podcasts can be used to create audio versions of whatever informationt a library wants to disseminate. A major drawback is time. I kept my script short and sweet but it still took hours to create my podcast. (Mostly, because I couldn't get my voice right.) There definitely needs to be a "Designated Dave" (Who remembers that movie?) for podcasts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I love that you created these electronic newsletters in yet another format, utilizing technology to the fullest to benefit those who may not have been able to participate in the viewing of the information. I know the visually impaired are particularly happy to have the technology of pod casts to help them integrate even more than before in societies literary and digital offerings.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started creating video tutorials it would take me hours to make a 5 minute video, but now I can whip 'em out pretty quick. Also keep in mind the time spent researching, writing, etc would be in any kind of project, not just a podcast.
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