LIBR 246-12: Web 2.0 and Social Networking Tools (Fall 2008)

Smithsonian: Podcasts

The Smithsonian offers podcasts on a variety of topics.  This collection would be a wonderful resource for research on, including but not limited to, art, history, music, and science.  The Global Sound Podcasts include music from all around the world.  Morever, it featuresTools for Teaching, resources and lesson plans for grades K-12.

I enjoyed the podcasts from the Seattle Public Library.  They offer a variety of podcasts:  authors/events,  teens, library tour, information professionals podcasts.  The podcasts are well-organized.  It's wonderful to be able to access these wonderful resources with a click of a mouse.

I found the University of Arizona's faculty tip sheet for podcasting very helpful to faculty and academic librarians.  I really wish that podcasting was popular while I was in college.  It would have really helped me remember my professor's lectures.  I often wished I recorded my lectures so I can go back to it to clarify notes, etc.  Now, professors can not only podcast their lectures, they can also record other helpful tips and supplemental materials to enhance the student's understanding of the subject being taug

What types of podcasts would be most useful in your library setting (or the setting you'd like to work in) and why?

I currently work for a law firm library and I think 3-6 minute podcasts regarding the following will work best:

Podcasts can be used to make archival content more transparent, to orient them towards their users while attracting new prospective users, as well as to contextualize documents. Some interesting applications can also include:

• Providing concise and engaging information on the strength of the collections within each finding aid. It could be interesting to add an audio dimension to the digitized materials allowing for a “story” to be shared through the content.

My friend of mine introduced me the following useful site.

Copy & Paste Excel to Wiki Converter

The Ohio University libraries podcast library tour is a great idea to introduce the library. This is a wonderful way to give library instructions to new students. If I would have had this type of service at my college library when I was a college student, it would have been an asset for my school life. The podcast in the library provides patrons service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I listened to Dr. Main’s message regarding spring 2009 registration.

I really like what The Alden Library at Ohio University is doing with their podcasts.  The audio tour is a good idea.  It is available in a number of languages and the time necessary to complete the tour is clearly outlined.  I am very curious how many students download this podcast and in what language. 

Well I learned two things form podcasting.And all I can say is that I am glad I am a lawyer.

First trying to get something between 3 to 5 minutes is really hard. It took me several takes, and a few rewrites (I always hitting like six minutes).