Podcasting (L4L)
Podcasts can be a great way to get your programs out to people in your community or a new way to interest kids in your services. Use the resources below to explore this technology and consider offering a podcast (or two or three or more) at your library!
- Background
- Libraries and podcasting
- How to get started
- Free tools to help you create a podcast
- How to find podcasts
Background
"Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio programs or music videos, over the Internet using either the RSS or Atom syndication formats, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers." (Wikipedia) Many mainstream sites offer podcasts as a regular part of their web content, for example, visit NPR online and you'll find loads of podcasts available for free download.
For a great, easy to understand introduction to podcasting, watch Common Craft's Podcasting in Plain English video:
Libraries and podcasting
Libraries have been joining the trend and are offering podcasts of their own. The Library Success Wiki includes a list of libraries providing podcasts to their patrons. Check it out to get more ideas for what you could do at your library.
How to get started
Interested in podcasting, but not sure where to start? There is a lot of information on the web, but here are a few selected sites to get you going.
Getting Started With Podcasting
A resource guide on the 'Casting @ OWLS blog, built as a tool for OWLS member libraries to use when using the grant equipment and software purchased for podcasting at their libraries.
Project Play: Podcasting
A blog post including the basics, how to find and subscribe to podcasts, how libraries are using them, and how to create them.
A Beginner's Guide to Podcasting: Part
1 - A Consumer's Guide and Part
2 - A Creator's Guide
SirsiDynix Institute offers a fantastic archive
of FREE online events, and Greg Schwartz's
sessions are just what you need to get started with podcasting. Take an hour
or so to listen to what he has to say, and you'll be off to a great start.
Podcasting plus
UW-Madison has put together a very helpful site on podcasting. Sections include,
"what is podcasting?, "teaching and learning with podcasting," "examples
of podcasts," "how to create and deliver podcasts," and "additional
resources on podcasting." While some of the information is specific to UW,
most can be used by anyone.
How to create your own podcast - a step-by-step tutorial
About.com has a pretty decent tutorial on the steps it takes to create your own
podcast. Basic information on
software and how to create an RSS feed of your podcasts to syndicate your content.
Free tools to help you create a podcast
Audacity
A cross platform sound editor that is easy to use and is FREE. Recommended by
all of the resources listed in the How To Get Started section of this page. Use
it to create and edit your podcasts.
Gabcast.com
Another free service that allows you to record a podcast using your phone or
VoIP.
How to find podcasts
A search for "podcasts" in Google will yield a lot of results, but if you want to search only podcasts for a topic you're interested in, you might want to try one of the sites below.
iTunes
Not just for Apple users! Requires a download of the free iTunes software.
podscope
An audio and video search engine. The New York Times on podscope: "Introducting:
the first search engine that can find podcasts according to the words spoken
during them!" A great tool to zero in on content of interest to you.
Yahoo! Audio Search
Find audio files, including podcasts.
Podcast Alley
"The podcast lovers portal."
Pick a podcast genre, and you'll receive a list
of podcasts to take a listen to. Genres include, but aren't limited to: business,
cultural/political, environment, movies/films, sports, technology, comedy, travel.
Find Podcasts
A directory where you can search in categories much like the site above, but
a nice addition is
"kids and teens." Check out new podcasts, rated podcasts, or popular
podcasts, too.
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