Looking for some exciting examples of multimedia podcasts?  The December issue of Wired Magazine claims to have the answer:  http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.12/start.html?pg=10 (make sure you click on the story image to see the list of suggested podcasts).

–Pam

Sent to us by Ellie:

By davidleeking on Videoblogging

Update: I’ve added a library to the list of videoblogging libraries:

1. Westerville Public Library, which I mentioned yesterday. They seem to be focusing on videos of programming right now.
2. Manchester Public Library’s Teen Matrix – “a video podcast about books.” Not sure if they plan to update this (all three videos are from Nov 2005).
3. Orange County Library System is also offering videoblogs. They have set up their videoblogs to be compatible with iTunes – wow.
4. Public Library Delft is videoblogging, podcasting, and blogging. Whew!
5. Kenton County Public Library’s Off the Shelf program: “airs every week on Monday and Wednesday at 9:30 pm, and then again on Saturday at 4:30 pm on Insight Channel 21. You can also subscribe using iTunes or our RSS feed.” Found via Librarystuff.net

–Pam

Sent to us by Jim Julius:

Date:    Mon, 7 Aug 2006 10:45:30 -0400
From:    Megan Fox <megan.fox@SIMMONS.EDU>
Subject: mobile phone audio tours

In my investigations of handheld and mobile technology applications in libraries, I have came across a number of companies that have worked with museums and cultural landmarks to create tours, guides, and more that are accessible via a cell phone.  You’re probably familiar with how many museums will have a two or three digit number next to a piece of artwork, and you rent a player at a museum and type in the number of the item in front of you to hear a short audio clip with more information.  You can follow the numerical sequnce for a specific tour, or do a self-guided tour in any order you choose.  Well, instead of requiring people to rent the special machines, and requiring museums to manage the rentals and equipment, the latest trend is to make this audio content available through a mobile phone.  Users dial a special phone number on their own mobile phone, and use the phone keypad to select the number of what they want to learn more about.

One such company, Guide By Cell, is very interested in pursing further possibilities for the adoption of this technology in libraries.  They are willing to provide three months of the service completely free to allow libraries to do pilot tests and see how this technology could be useful in their library.  For example, here at the Simmons College Library, we are creating a first year orientation of our new library building that is accessible via mobile phones.  The librarians managing the audio content simply call in and update their content similar to changing a voicemail message.  This is easier for us right now because of the politics and equipment involved in recording and posting a podcast to the web – institutional politics and procedures for widespread podcasts are still in flux.  Also, we know more users have mobile phones than mp3 players, and they can use the cell tour without having to connect to a computer or download the content.  For potential users that have limited cell minutes or no mobile phone, we will also put the audio files onto an iPod they can check out from the Circulation desk.

If you can think of an application for this technology in your library and want to take advantage of the offer for three months of free service, please contact Dave at Guide By Cell dave@guidebycell.com

And I will keep you posted on how our Orientation cell phone tour trial goes this Fall.

Thanks,
MEGAN

–
Megan Fox
Web and Electronic Resources Librarian
Special Projects Analyst for Administration and Planning
Simmons College
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
ph: 617.521.2742
fax: 617.521.3093
megan.fox@simmons.edu

–Pam

Ellie forwarded some information from another blog about libraries that are using video podcasts.  Here are links:

Westerville Public Library:  http://www.ocls.info/Programs/podcastAndRSS.asp?bhcp=1

Manchester Public Library’s Teen Matrix:  http://castr.westervillelibrary.org/

Orange County Library System:  http://library.ci.manchester.ct.us/teen/podcast/

Public Library Delft:  http://www.dok.info/index.php

–Pam

>Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2006 17:45:06 -0800
>To: cyamus@lists.oregonstate.edu
>From: “Steve Watkins” Steve_Watkins@csumb.edu>
>Subject: Library podcasting examples
>
>As a followup to our discussion of blogs, wikis and podcasting,
>here’s one academic library that’s started a fairly active series of
>podcasts that may be good examples of the potential of that
>technology:
>
>http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Library/Borrowing/Podcasts/
>
>–Steve
>
>Steve Watkins
>CSU Monterey Bay Library
>100 Campus Center, Bldg. 12
>Seaside, CA 93955-8001
>(831) 582-3793
>steve_watkins@csumb.edu

–Pam