Tuesday 26 July 2011

No place like the Library!


This is fun, but it's also to the point, how many students even know the range of services we provide CDs, DVDs, ebooks?  Maybe we could make a back to basics fun library video, that hammers home what we actually offer?  Just a thought :)

Thing 16 & 17 Youtube and Vimeo

I’ve used Youtube a lot over the years, primarily for looking up old music videos, but also I find it great for crochet and cooking etc. I have a Youtube account and  I’ve uploaded private videos for family viewing.  The privacy settings are quite good, you can set it up so that noone can see a clip unless you invite them to see it and send them a link.  In that regard it’s REALLY useful.  For my brothers 30th last year, I made a mini film where I edited together birthday greetings from several family members into one message, it took a while but he was chuffed.

In the library over the last semester I’ve been creating little online tutorials for students and uploading them to youtube before embedding them into  the library website. The product I use to capture mouse  movements on the screen is jing.  I then open the unedited file in a package called Camtasia Suite, where I can edit out pauses, and add in captions and there is even a facility for a voiceover( which does not seem so daunting an experience now that I’’ve made my first Podcast).

Here's a tutorial on how to remew library books.

You can see all the current tutorials here: 

I downloaded Celtx and had a play around with it.  It seems like quite an elaborate programme, I can see its uses if you are delegating out tasks as everyone could input their own ‘section’.  At first I thought it looked like it would create more work, but actually when I had a play around with it, seems like a neat way of storing the data in a very organized way and again, for a project with several inputters, it could be really useful.

Now I just need to think of something to do for our Cregan Library video.  I'm thinking I go to the wiki area to discuss that?

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Podcast - Film review of The Guard


So I've finally got back on track with the remaining 'Things'.
I listened to some of the library podcasts and choose to do a film review for my own podcast, simply because I went to the cinema last week, and the film was fresh in my head.
There are no words for the embarasement of listening back to your own voice.  I have not heard a self recording in years and I never realised I had such a pronounced lisp, cringe!
I downloaded Audacity but had problems saving the file, and somehow corrupted it in the process, after much messing about(and I'll admit it a little help from my hubby) I uploaded it to Podbean.
I'm sure with a little more patience I would have figured it out myself but patience is a virtue ............ and in my defense I am conscious of how far behind I've fallen so am panicking somewhat.  Silly I know!
In spite of the cringe factor, I actually enjoyed the process.
As regards practical application of podcasts in our library, we could feature some on our blog.  And it would be a welcome feature to the youtube clips we do for online tutorials but more on that in the next 'Thing'.

The Guard Film Review

Monday 18 July 2011

Playing catchup

Back from holidays and two weeks behind on the 'Things' I have to do, to be honest I'm quite daunted by how far behind I am.  Baby steps, and I'm sure I'll catch up!