Podcasting: For All the World to Listen

What is Podcasting?

Formally known as a webcast, podcasts are pre-recorded audio or video files that are released episodically, and often downloaded through web syndication. The term cam about with the on-set of the IPod, and was derived from combining the word “IPod” with the word “broadcasting”.

Many podcasts can be subscribed to – and thus automatically downloaded – through ITunes. For example, when I listen to a podcast, I am subscribed to it through ITunes. So every week, when an episode of my favourite podcast comes out, it will download on that day as soon as I open my ITunes program. I can then listen to it at my leisure.

But podcasts need not be used solely by individuals; companies and businesses use them, too, as well as various organizations that want to communicate with a growing media-centered population. As well, podcasts will often, if they are posted on a particular website – like a library website – allow for a comments section, (much like on YouTube), and below, listeners/viewers can provide feedback and opinions, opening up the comments section like a forum

You can check out this Wikipedia article for more information about podcasting.

Who cares?

Well, for one thing, I care. I don’t listen to or watch many podcasts, and not for anything by enjoyment purposes, but I still do listen. The one I listen to is the RoosterTeeth podcast, formerly known as the Drunk Tank podcast. It’s hosted by the staff at RoosterTeeth.com, a video game-focused company based out of Austin, Texas. They are best known for their webseries, Red vs. Blue, which takes the video game Halo, and creates a storyline within the parameters of the game.

I’ve also listened recently to a few library podcasts, and I have mixed feelings. I listened to a reading of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven, and it was much too quickly read, but the concept there is a valid one; to conduct a book reading, and then discussing it with others on the podcast, and asking for comments. I also listened to an educational podcast. It discussed in playful acting the benefits of using Google Scholar to university students.

How to use Podcasting in Libraries

All libraries can use podcasting, albeit to differing degrees depending on the type and size of the library. An elementary school library, for example, might use podcasting for:

-     Promoting the library. This allows students, faculty, staff, and parents, to know what services the school library has, and any up-coming events that might take place.

-     Sharing school news. If the school has an up-coming pizza lunch, or a bake sale, or is putting on a play, a podcast would be a good way to share that information with those in the community that these events could affect.

-     Providing professional development. You can discuss topics that can allow both libraries and staff to listen to suggestions on how to improve student learning, and make available services for those who may have trouble learning.

Podcasts can become a useful tool that works much like a radio broadcast; you share information that is pertinent to your target audience, and through that, you hopefully get the message across. A couple other ways to use podcasting in a library are:

-     Sharing library, news, as was above mentioned. Like, if a guest author is coming for a book reading and signing, and you want to share that with as much people as possible, not only could you podcast about the event coming up, but you could record the book reading, and post that as a podcast (with the author’s permission, of course). And,

-     Podcasts can be used as a teaching alternative for students with disabilities, or for students who learn through listening. There was a student in my high school who never took any notes, never even looked at the teacher, but was a near straight-A student because he learned through listening.

Conclusions

So podcasting is a valuable tool for libraries, and in a growing population all focused on technology, it’s important for librarians and library staff to be aware of the changing face of technology, and what it means for libraries and how we share information about libraries.

~Beyond-the-Pages~

Socializing for Dummies

The What, Why and How of Social Media
Social Media is something we all use, day in and day out. If you have ever used websites like Reddit, Facebook, Twitter or Google+, then you've used social media. Social media is a source that allows everyone - not just the socially adept - to interact and communicate with very little difficulty.

There are several different kinds of social media, and I will discuss just a few.

Social Bookmarking

Social bookmarking involves websites like Reddit, Del.icio.us and Digg. Websites like this allow you sort and save website URLs more efficiently than using a browser. They also make these bookmarks public, so your friends can go and see all your bookmarked sites, hence the social aspect. So instead of actually telling your best friend about the great website, you can just add it to your Del.icio.us account, and they can go and check it out on their own time.

Now, if you're like me, and you're super organized with your bookmarks on your browser, then maybe social bookmarking isn't the thing for you. I can pretty much guarantee that I will never use it for any personal purpose.

That being said, the benefits for something like a business or a library is great. Much like using a wiki, social bookmarks allow your fellow librarians/library technicians to see the websites you recommend with regards to things like cataloguing, multimedia equipment, news, etc. New websites that hold innovative ideas can be added, and very quickly they can be shared, and everyone in your workplace (library) can be on the same page. (No pun intended.) It's SUPER easy.

Social Cataloguing

Social cataloguing is a form of social media that goes beyond just bookmarking. It's like bookmarking for your stuff.

Are you a movie buff? Do you love Lady GaGa and Katy Perry? Well now, instead of just using iTunes, you can catalogue all your CDs, DVDs, BluRays, books, etc onto one website, allowing you to share your list of awesome items with your friends. You won't need to bring it up in conversation at all, because they'll be able to see everything you've catalogued in your account. Websites like LibraryThing allow this kind of socializing.

I myself have a LibraryThing account, but I got annoyed with it for some reason, and I haven't used it in over a month. But all I had to do was type in the title of the book I wanted to add, and it would come up with not only a list of possible matches, but editions to match the title. You can also look up subject, author, etc. You can create lists of books you want to read, or books your recommend.

Websites like LibraryThing are a great thing for libraries because it can get patrons more involved in the library. So the library could have a list dedicated to monthly recommended titles, or one to must-read books of all time, or something like that. It's very simple, and can create great opportunities.

Social Networking

We all know about this one; this is Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and anything in between. I can't think of a single person I know who hasn't at least heard of Facebook or Twitter. Myspace used to be the thing, too, before it was eclipsed by Facebook.

What's great about social networking for libraries is that it allows libraries to connect to patrons - and through them, potential patrons - to make more people aware of what goes on in the library, and involve the community. Again, this is something anyone can do; you don't need a degree in communications to use Facebook. On Twitter, whenever a library posts a Tweet, all of its followers will see that tweet, and get an immediate update about what's going on in the library. It's a great way to keep everyone up to date.

The downside is that, if you're like me and hate advertisements, you may just "like" the library page, and then hide it from your wall, so that you don't see any updates. People - like me - do this because it clutters up your Facebook wall, and then you can make heads or tails of anything. A lot of people will just add the library to say they've used it.

Conclusions

So social media has its ups and downs, but it can always serve some kind of purpose. Some may use it, some may not, but even a dummy can figure it out.

So what do you think about social networking?

Wikis: What, Why and How?

Wikis - What are they?

A wiki is a web page that allows the interlinking of other web pages. It is easily created and edited, so as to better share information and coordinate topics. There are several websites that allow creation of wikis, whether free or paid for. For example, Wikia, Wetpaint and PBWorks.

What do you think?
Wikia is a more every-day wiki, with content starting from your favourite TV show, all the way to your favourite video game. It appears to be more entertainment-focused. Wetpaint is more confusing to me; I clicked on some links and didn't really feel like it was easy to manage. PBWorks is a more business-focused wiki, and although the basic work spaces are free, the general, more usable wikis require payment, of about $99 per year.

Out of these three, I'd have to say I prefer Wikia. It's simpler, less convoluted, and you know exactly what the content of the wiki is. One of my favourite wikis is for a video game that I play, called "The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind". This wiki allows me to look up anything in any of the Elder Scrolls games, which is a series of games, Morrowind being one of them. So if I'm looking for a location called Sulipund, all I have to do is look it up, and low and behold, I find Sulipund, and everything that I need to know about it, including a map, how many NPCs (non-player characters) there are, and any quests associated with that place.

Wikis in Libraries
So how can this be useful for a library? Well, it can be useful in a number of ways:

1. To allow staff to coordinate upcoming events.
2. To inform patrons and staff of new materials, in an easy-to-update manner.
3. To share detailed information about books, multimedia equipment, etc.

Wikis are a useful tool that can be used easily in any library, and while some require payment to get the full package, the free ones can still be a useful tool for a library.

So what do you think about wikis? Which is your favourite? Have you used them before, or not?

Spirituality of the Individual

Baptism

Walk me to the water
and let me drown.
Leave me falling under,
to consume the shades of brown,
and watch as winter fades away,
while the whirlpool swirls round.

My words, they make no sense,
but I don't really care.
My soul is free to walk the earth,
and I'll find my Father there.



Being Spiritual
Whenever we discuss being spiritual, we think of New Age spirituality; we never think of Christianity.

This is because Christianity is assumed to be traditional (ancient), and full of ritual. Anyone who isn't a Christian, and has never experienced God in that way will have a difficult time associating Christianity with spirituality. But the two are not mutually exclusive, just as they are not mutually inclusive.

I have led a very spirit-driven life. But here's the kicker: I don't go to church. I don't talk to God a lot, unless I'm forced, and like everyone on earth, I try to do things my own way first, and even sometimes when I fail, I still ignore God's offers of help. I have this deluded idea that my way is better than His, and therefore He can go suck an egg. But the trouble with this kind of thinking is that all it does is lead you in circles; you never really reach your goal, and the Lord just sits and waits until you get tired of running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

I definitely have my head cut off and buried much of the time, but there are those times when I have had deep, meaningful talks with the Lord, and he has shown me things that some may not be able to conceive. I know many, if not most, of those reading this are not Christians, but this is something that is on my mind and heart, and I wanted to say it and send it out into the ether. Just the same, though, I choose not to put specific instances here. Suffice it to say, I have had intimate conversations with the Lord, and I always came out of them feeling better, for the most part.

The Headless Chicken
But if that is the case; if we leave our conversations with God feeling fulfilled, then why do we choose to ignore the Lord when we have a problem? It makes no sense. I talk to the Lord, and I feel fulfilled, but then when push comes to shove, I push and shove Him away. Why? I don't know. I think part of it might be my own human baggage, but I know I'm not the only one. So what's the common denominator?

The common denominator is that we associate God with the Church, and the Church with something negative. When we think of the Christian Church, we think of hurt, pain, and inconsiderate attitudes; we think of arrogance and a sense of superiority. I'm not saying this to accuse and blame the Church as the sole reason why people turn away from a spiritual connection with the Lord, but it is a strong factor.

My point in bringing this up is not to say, "Hey, look at me, look how in tune with the Spirit I am!" or to say "The Christian Church is a douchebag!" or anything like that. My point is to say, "Yes, there are personal, Spiritual experiences to be had out there with God, as a Christian, even if you may have been hurt by the Church before." You don't have to be a part of a New Age group to experience spirituality.

I know I'm not perfect, and I don't always try as hard as I should. But I am human, and a sinner, just like everyone else. And I am not writing this so everyone and his dog should jump on my bandwagon, or so that everyone and his dog can attack me and what I believe. I have no sources of information to prove my point; I have only my own experience and the experience of those around me to draw my conclusions. And my conclusions are that we are a society who fears God. We are afraid of Him, and what He might represent, and we pull away because He is associated with the Church, and maybe the Church has hurt us, and so we decide that we don't need him, and by running around with our head cut off, maybe we can convince ourselves that we're not really dead.

-Izzy

RSS: Really Sounds Stupid

Well, without sounding too cynical, that title is meant to show the frustration that can accompany learning about RSS feeds - one which I have felt recently. But RSS feeds have their place.

RSS Feeds - What are they?
For those who don't know, RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. But if you're like me, and have trouble even posting a blog like this, then that statement becomes an oxymoron. An RSS feed is difficult to explain in basic terms, but I will try. Basically, instead of going one or more times daily to your favourite blogs or websites, you let the feeds, or articles come to you. For example, you have subscribed to my blog here. So now, if you go to your Dashboard in blogger, this blog is now posted there, to let you know I have updated. RSS feeds are what allows you to receive emails from your favourite band's website, letting you know they have a new CD coming out, or they are going on tour in your area. The link above will explain it better than I can; as I said, I'm not exactly tech-savvy.

What do you think?
I think that RSS feeds have their place, but I also know myself well enough to know that I probably won't use it at all, unless I have to. I have a stubborn personality, and if something seems to difficult for me at face value, I'll wait until I absolutely have to before I use it. I also don't have a lot of sites that I wish to subscribe to; anything I subscribe to, I get emails for, and therefore RSS feeds, such as they are on websites like blogger, do not have a place for my web surfing just yet.

RSS Feeds in Libraries
Nevertheless, from what I find with RSS feeds, they can provide a very beneficial, quick and easy way to share information over the internet, and make that sharing more easily accessible to the public. In terms of a library, some ways an RSS feed could be used are:

1. To alert patrons to news and upcoming events
2. To connect library staff and share information
3. To advertise for the library (which is something librarians aren't really known for being terribly good at)

While someone like myself may have trouble adjusting to something like an RSS feed, and using them in day-to-day life, like anything, once you get used to it, you won't be able to imagine your life without it, and the benefits it can provide. But if you are like me, and only subscribe to a few websites, like maybe Twitter, Facebook or deviantART, then you may not want to use RSS feeds just yet, and wait until your browser is completely bogged down from all the websites you follow.

Still, I would like to know what you guys think, so leave a comment, and tell me, what is your opinion of RSS feeds? Do you use them, and if so, do you like them?

Say what?! Blogs and Blogging in the Library

Blogs
A blog - like this one - is a type of website, or part of a website that is constructed for the purpose of sharing information, whether it be formally, or informally. They can be created by corporations, individuals, groups, or anything in-between, really. The information they contain can be broad or narrow, and they have many uses within corporations, or institutions, including in your local library. See blogs - Wikipedia article.

What do you think?
I believe that blogs can be an important tool to use both in and out of a library. I myself have never used a blog up until this point, but already I like the format, and will most likely continue to use it. A blog allows the blogger to share any information they desire about any subject, without necessarily getting caught up in whether or not their sources are 100% true. So I can share something I heard in the news, but if I'm unclear on all the facts, it doesn't create an upheaval, because this is a personal blog, as opposed to a professional one, and therefore provides room for the inevitable human error.

How can blogs be used for Libraries?
There are variations on blogs, and while the idea of having so many blogs that you look at is daunting, because of RSS feeds (which will be discussed in a later post), being informed about the latest updates to your favourite blogs is easy. I can see blogs being particularly useful in the context of keeping patrons and staff up-to-date on up-coming events, as well as an internal blog that allows a head librarian to communicate readily with staff, when they are not in the library. Other library uses can include book clubs, sharing videos of authors reading books, pictures of new books that are entering the library, and any other news that needs sharing. Librarians have also not been known to be the best at getting the message out there that their library does in fact have uses besides free internet access, and a blog is a great way to get both patrons and those who don't normally use the library to log on and see what's-what, without feeling like they're entering the library homepage. A blog is a more informal setting to getting information, and it allows the viewer to be more relaxed and open to accepting the information and exploring for more.



I encourage all of you reading this to go exploring other blogs, and let me know in the comments section what you think of blogs and blogging in general, and how you would like to see your local library, or other institutions, use them effectively. For a more visual description of blogs, see Blogs in Plain English.

-Izzy
-Beyond-the-Pages

Just so you know...

So for an assignment, I have to do a certain amount of blog posts on what we are working on that week(s), so this one is about - wouldn't you know it? - blogs! Yay, cue applause. Each one will be different, but they're all for assignments, you can read and comment if you want, or disregard, whichever is your preference. I'm writing them as though I were a library tech already, writing it for the library I worked at. So, onward!

-B