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A prominent example is streamed video. In August of this year alone, 188 million U.S Internet users watched 37.7 billion online content videos with YouTube.com ranking as the top streamed-video provider (comCore). It makes sense for academic libraries to exploit this fact and utilise video as a means to appeal to a broader audience.
Videos in academic libraries can be deployed for marketing, advertising of resources and services, locations and instruction. A crafty example is the University of Idaho Library’s instructional video featuring Joe Vandal, the school mascot, as an information seeker. The Youtube-hosted video combines library promotion with instructions on how to locate a book. It demonstrates the cognitive and affective domains, as well as the physical skills required in navigating the library space. However, it also combines instruction with humour as an attention-getting device. The library realised this ambitious project in partnership with the university’s Video Production Centre.
The valuable thing about instructional library videos is that they have the ability to bridge the gap between in-person instruction and static web-based tutorials. They can free up time for library staff by directing students to videos that contain relevant and real examples, such as navigating the physical library space (where is what) and how to go about finding library materials.
Creating decent instructional videos requires expertise. The University of Idaho Library had the good fortune of being able to tap into an existing campus department with the necessary technical skill. But what if specialist in-house support is not available and external services cannot be drafted in?
It is possible to pull it off yourself. Here’re two resources that will help you get started:
- Wevideo: an online video production platform in the cloud with a full-featured video editor. See here for full overview. Wevideo offers a free Lite version.
- Video Production Handbook for short educational videos (Colorado State University): covers basic necessities such as equipment and software requirements, script writing, storyboarding and how to prepare for the video shoot and editing.
Henrich, K. J., & Prorak, D. (2010). A school mascot walks into the library: tapping school spirit for library instruction videos. Reference Services Review, 38(4), 663-675. doi:10.1108/00907321011090791
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