Week #9 - Podcasts

This week we look at podcasts and audio files. A podcast is a non-music audio or video recording that is distributed over the Internet. There are various terms of podcast, vodcast and screencast; these can be used synonymously or with slight variations. In general:

• Podcast is used to refer to an audio track. For example, listening to last night's FM radio program.
• Vodcast or videocast is a podcast with video.
• Screencast is often used for conferences and displays presentation slides while listening to the audio track of the presentation.

Most commonly people refer to all of these items as podcasts. It is the distribution that makes these 'casts powerful - interested listeners or watchers can receive updates through RSS when new content is posted. Watch Commoncraft's Podcasting in Plain English for a simple introduction.

Podcasts come in many shapes and sizes. They can be brief (just a few minutes) or considerably longer (interviews, panel discussions, radio shows etc). They can be slickly produced radio broadcasts or home-grown recordings. They can be audio only or they can be video. You can listen to them on your computer (don’t forget to use headphones in your work area) or play them on an MP3 player. Despite the name, you don't need an iPod or a MP3 player to listen or watch - all you need is a computer with headphones or speakers.

You can subscribe to many of these podcasts via iTunes (if you have an iTunes account) or via RSS to your Goggle reader; then listen via your technology of choice (PC, smart phone, iPod, iPad, MP3 player etc). Using a podcatcher (or podcast client), you can set up your computer to automatically download new 'casts as they become available. For example, you may wish to download the new content overnight so that it is ready for you to listen/watch the next morning.

For those who may be interested in going further, this post from iLibrarian includes a list of tools for libraries to create their own podcasts.

Discover: Listen to a podcast from at least two of the following sites:

• Cockburn Library (participating in this course) have just produced their first podcast
• Scientific American puts out a 60 second science podcast
• ABC Radio & ABC-TV put out many podcasts each week
  [Hint: use the subject option to see what is available]
• Monash Public Library in Victoria has podcasted its Wordfest talks from June 2010
• Curtin University has a range of podcasts for its members
• State Library NSW podcasts its Talks & Events
• National Library of Australia podcasts the speakers of the Innovative Ideas Forum each year
• The British Library has a range of podcasts on many of their exhibitions
• Virtual Dave's Librarian Militant, Librarian Triumphant is 60 minutes that may change your outlook on your profession!
  [We highly recommend that all librarians and managers set aside time to listen/watch this screencast!]

Explore: Listen to some of the podcasts linked on the Library Success wiki. Blog about how your library could use podcasts for your patrons and staff. What is an area that you haven't seen any local libraries using podcasts for? List a favourite podcast that you would or do subscribe to (does not have to be work related).

Next week: Geocaching and wrap up ....