Podcasts and Libraries

Wow. I thought that it would be hard to set up a podcast before I listened to today's podcast. I thought that I would need special equipment, like a mike for the computer and software. All I used was my phone! I was simple. (thanks for the second email, PP2). It was so easy to use gabcast to record the short 'cast, locate it by the time, listen to it, rename it and even paste it to my blog.

There are a lot of things librarians can use this technology for. I can see it being used to promote upcoming events, like a booktalk for a program, so to speak. Also, podcasts can be used for booktalks; book, music, and movie reviews (by staff, teens, or even other adult patrons); recordings of programs; storytimes (assuming books are past copyright); speakers; and training and meetings for staff. Teens would like it for an alternate place to get their voice on the computer 'casting to the world.

For our library, I could see it being utilized for the teen area and for past programs- if our broken microphone was ever replaced or fixed! A program would have to be taped before it could be submitted over to gabcast. I would like it used for promotion of upcoming events too.