Podcasting in Libraries

Podcasting has been around for years but we noted in the eMarketer report posted earlier this week that the podcast-user base is growing at an incredible rate. How have libraries responded to the growing availability of this resource as a means of distributing audio and/or video content? The Boulder Public Library has podcasts created by teens linked from their Teen page. Visitors to the site can listen to the teens provide news from the library Teen Advisory Board, interview artists displaying art in the Teen Gallery, or listen to reviews on books, movies or music. The Denver Public Library provides podcasts of storytime favorites.

Many libraries are creating podcasts but I have found that the Pierce County Library in Tacoma, WA has found some very interesting and diverse uses which help to promote library services. They’re using podcasts to instruct parents on Early Literacy Skills, to inform the public on What’s New at the Library, How to Apply for a Job at the Library, How to Volunteer at your Library, Booktalks for Adults, Virtual “sightseeing" Tours of the Library for Children, Teens and Young Adults, Librarian Book Reviews, and an interview with the Library Director on her background and where she sees the library going in the new millennium.

Our library system has a wonderful collection, outstanding electronic resources, numerous special services, programming for every age group, and a very talented staff. How can we use podcasting to inform the public and expand our service base?

I've always loved Harriet

I was 12 when Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh was published and I was an avid reader. I loved this book right away. Not only was it set in my city, the main character was completely different from anyone else I'd ever read about, or met. Now I have a little more insight into Harriet and Louise, because yesterday morning I heard this story on NPR's Morning Edition. You can listen to just about anything on NPR via podcast, entire shows or just the story you want to hear. You can subscribe to your favorite shows and listen via computer or iPod or other MP3 player. This is true of other radio stations as well, including "the best little radio station on the planet Earth", WMNF.

Lookybook!

Lookybook is a new, free, 2.0 site for parents, children's librarians, teachers, and kids, to use and love. It's in beta right now, but can you think of all the ways we can use this one?
Go ahead, click on the book. And keep clicking. Or click those googly orange eyes.

Stinky Cheese, Awesome Ambassador

The librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, has named the country's first ambassador for young people's literature. Hooray for Jon Scieszka! What's your favorite crazy Scieszka book? Vote for it now on the poll right over there, and use the comments to name other authors who would be great for ambassador number two! Don't forget to sign your comments with your first name and last initial (or your full name).

Bet you can't read just one

There are so many interesting and informative blogs out there. One way to find blogs that you want to read is through the blogs you already read. Many blogs include a list of recommended sites along the side (see our blogroll over there on the right), and often you'll find bloggers mentioning each other in their posts.
For example, I like to look at Book By Its Cover, a blog that celebrates the art of all kinds of books, including picture books, graphic novels, and handmade books.
And speaking of beautiful books, you can view a slide show of The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books 2007.

Al's Book Club for kids

HugoCabret03.jpg
Originally uploaded by doobybrain.

The Today Show's Al Roker is promoting summer reading with a very cool reading club including author visits, discussions with kids, and good support materials from Scholastic for book discussions. He's highlighting five books over the summer, starting with The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. These would be great library programs too!

Worldcat's Top 1000 Books -- The Children's Titles

OCLC Research has updated its list of the top 1000 titles owned by member libraries—the intellectual works that have been judged to be worth owning by the "purchase vote" of libraries around the globe.
Here are the children's titles on Lorcan Dempsey's del.icio.us page; see the cloud on the right to bring up other lists.

From the Bloggers: A New Book Award

Unlike other awards for children's books, the Cybils consider both literary merit and kid appeal. Read more about this award that children's literature bloggers came up with in School Library Journal.