Podcasting and Online Hosted Videos

Podcasting seems to offer real potential for libraries. What a great way to add something useful to a website which users can refer back to at their convenience and download to take with them. The old "pathfinders" can become audio and updated as often as necessary. Physicians have used audiocassettes for keeping up on topics for years--this can be a similar, yet newer, way for librarians to join in.

We plan to use podcasts for a comomunity book project to generate interest in the chosen book and highlight the topics with background information. Library science students may be creating the podcasts so we can all learn from the experience.

YouTube and other hosted videos have potential, too, but also privacy issues. Since there are other means of educational online methods, such as webinars, this might be just one choice, and maybe not always the best choice.