Video as a tool; "Programming for Libraries"

News September 21, 2007 (mp3 file: 3.6 MB, 3:56 min.)
Video as a tool; "Programming for Libraries"

This week we received a toy, er, tool that I’ve been wanting to get for some time—a digital camcorder. The final impetus for the purchase was the early childhood literacy initiative, so we could do some short video clips that demonstrate reading to very young children. But we have other things in mind, and I expect that we will be thinking of more things.

So, video as a tool. To do what?

My first plan, that’s been in my mind for a few years now is to video-record a walk-through of a library, as a tool for the staff and board to use when thinking about the physical appearance of the library. When you walk past something every day you tend to not “see” it, and the video camera helps to see things through new eyes, as a new patron (or even an old, faithful patron) sees that signage, or the box of sale books right at the front door, or that easy chair that looks pretty tattered…

And I’ve also wanted to use it to record tours of new libraries, or buildings that work very well, highlighting features and ideas for those libraries that are contemplating a building project and want to see what other libraries have done—what they have liked, and what has not worked as well as they had hoped.

Video might also be used for short library virtual tours, or short tutorials on using library resources. Or video book reviews. Or even a short welcome message from the library director. Perhaps an author talk.

I think there are many options for using video in libraries—from planning to promotion to learning. Tell us some of your ideas, and if you’d like a video walk-through of your library, let me know! --Karen

Book reviewed by Marcia:
Programming for librarians: a how-to-do-it manual for librarians, by Barbara J. Brown. Neal-Schuman, c1992.