This week in class we have been studying podcasts. Basically a podcast is an audio file that you can listen to through a media program, such as winamp or windows media. It’s is similar to a radio show format, without the commercials. Some podcasts follow a format, and some are just the creator talking about whatever is going on in their life at the time.
The first time I heard a podcast was about 5 years ago when my brother clued me into a Kevin Smith show. I always thought podcasts were just another cool way to have fun on the internet, but I had never really given much thought to how they could be used in a library setting. I had no idea that there were so many libraries making use of podcasts, and the reasons actually really impressed me as well. We looked over several podcast shows and one that really stood out to me was the story time shows. I really liked the LA public library show, they had a reading of the giving tree and I just thought it was a making great use of the technology.
The Duggan library also had an impressive podcast on book reviews. However, while it was very informative, it was indeed very boring. The creator obviously knew the topic very well, he had an extensive knowledge of book reviews, but the monotone drawl completely lost me. It was very informative but I will not be subscribing to their RSS feed anytime soon.
I think there is a time and a place for libraries to be making podcasts. In my home town public library I am willing to best you would not get many people paying attention to your show. However, if a librarian was so inclined I think they should do a podcast regardless of whether or not they make the front page of the newspaper. I think there is more opportunity for podcasts in the school libraries; young people are more likely to actually use the podcasts. It would be great for the students to be able to access shot internet use podcasts, since studies have shown that students are not particularly keen on asking their librarians for assistance. Also, they would then be able to listen to the podcast at home rather than having to be at the school, so there is definitely something to be said for the convenience factor.
I am glad to see so many libraries taking part in podcasts, I do not think they will be going out of style in the near future, but the way technology is going it is very tough to say. Like I said earlier I think the podcast is more suited to the school libraries, but in cities I’m sure they would be used as well. When we have our first work experience for this course I am set up to go back to Winkler to work, and I am tempted to do some research and possibly make a trial podcast just to see what happens. I’m interested to know if patrons would bother to listen; it’s possible they might shock me.
