Designed to help libraries take advantage of new tools on the Internet, this program introduces blogs, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds, and social networking and video sharing sites, offering tips on getting started and avoiding pitfalls, as librarians discuss how they're using these inexpensive technologies to interact with both patrons and co-workers. In addition to suggesting web resources to help libraries get started, numerous examples are given (with screenshots and URLs provided), including blogs promoting new titles, the Librarysuccess.org wiki, Denver Public Library's podcasts of children's stories, the California State Library's podcasts, a teen magazine podcast from Connecticut's Cheshire Public Library, and the Minneapolis Public Library's RSS feeds alerting patrons about new music and fiction. Good tips for shooting promotional videos are presented along with ideas for podcasting video or posting it to YouTube. While suggesting that libraries should take an active role in online communities using these tools, the program also emphasizes both professional and privacy issues: online content should reflect the library's image, and librarians must be ready to manage situations in which false or malicious information is posted on wikis or in blog comments. New media can seem overwhelming, but as this excellent guide reminds us, the next generation of library users (and taxpayers) are savvy about Internet tools, and libraries should take advantage of these new low-cost opportunities to promote resources and services. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. Editor's Choice. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)
Wikis, Podcasts, and Blogs, Oh My! Web Tools for Your Library
(2008) 28 min. DVD or VHS: $99. Library Video Network. PPR. ISBN: 1-56641-110-6 (dvd). Volume 24, Issue 1
Wikis, Podcasts, and Blogs, Oh My! Web Tools for Your Library
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.