Some people are just aural. They learn best by hearing. Podcasts are perfect for them. Training new pages, teaching new techniques, training volunteers can be done by podcasts. Library Success has a podcasting tutorial. Equipment seems to be minimal. It should be a natural extension for users of MP3s and such. Could they be produced in different languages for simple library instruction? My library has a variety of international users. Language-friendly explanations of what they library is and has for them would speed up the relationship.
Online podcasts varied. Pierce County (Seattle) has teen-friendly podcasts and film reviews. Booktalks Quick & Simple is that, but it’s topics seem so sad: child abuse – fiction, drug abuse – fiction, geared towards the K-12 listener. She does have adventure titles. This might be a good site for reader’s advisory, especially for non-youth librarians who don’t keep up with all the new authors (me).
