Thursday, April 3, 2008

Screencasts

I think there are lots of applications for screencasts in libraries. It would be very helpful to have tutorials on how to use the catalog to find materials and place holds, on how to use the basic databases, etc. However, I think screencasts such as these should be created at the system level, since each member library has access to these resources, rather than having individual libraries create their own and possibly duplicate efforts.

I could envision creating a screencast tour of the library, as it might be simpler than creating a video and easier to follow for someone who is brand new to the community. Still photos might be less distracting.

One thing I didn't like about a few of the screencasts is that they had too much information in such a small space and time frame. One had tons of information and moved way too fast, so much so that I felt it was difficult to follow, so I can only imagine how someone who is new to libraries would feel. I think the creators of the content need to be aware of their pacing and slow down.

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