Thing 6: YouTube + Screencasts

The One Hour Per Second video is YouTube’s statistics as of January 2012. With 10 decades worth of video uploaded every day, YouTube’s usage via mobile is accounting for 1/4 of global views. With hundreds of millions of devices wracking up 1 billion views a day, YouTube is the 3rd most popular website after Facebook and Google.

Other than Youtube, Vimeo, Vine, Viddy, Social Cam, Animoto, uStream are some of the various video apps and tools. Screencasting is another whole kettle of fish.

Screencasting is traditionally capturing video of a screen for training or educational purposes. One of the screencasts I regularly watch are gamers screencasts, of their screen as they play through a game. While some smartphones give you the ability to capture screenshots, there are few legitimate apps. Much of the software is only desktop recording.

So in this Thing, we will check out some of the different ways libraries are using video to not only engage with clients, provide services,  general information and event programming while still having fun.

DISCOVER:

You have probably seen some great uses of YouTube for libraries.

• virtual story times
• book trailers to promote your collections and foster community engagement
• specialist training for library staff
• library and OPAC training for library patrons
• capturing library events
• school library rules in cartoon style
• library tours
• library channels with lots of videos
• promoting a library

But what about something new like Vine ?

• Justin Hoenke made a Vine clip for #23mobilethings
• Vine is so popular it has a category of its own at the Tribeca Film Festival
• There are some ideas for using Vine in libraries from Matt Anderson and Emily Lloyd (Shelf Check)

EXPLORE:

Beginners: Record a video on your mobile device and upload a YouTube video

• you will need to create a YouTube account to upload your video
• you could try using the YouTube Capture by Google app if you are using iOS or download the Vine app or use any other video platform

More experienced: Challenge yourself to create a video using Vine (using #anz23mthings when you share it), Animoto  (iOS and Android apps available) or Xtranormal

• There are more links and ideas on the 23 Mobile Things Pinterest board

Bonus Points:

• Create a screencast video of a regular library task and commentate the video like a documentary.

THINKING POINTS:

• Does your library have a video channel? if not, what could you use one for?
• Could your library use video to claim a space as a tastemaker? (eg. TED,  Tate Modern, Live from the NYPL )
• What information about using library equipment and services could be explained simply via video?
• Have you tried creating movie trailers for promotion eg. children’s book week or activities ?
• How can donors contribute videos to your collection?
• Could you use video / film making on iPad/tablet as a library program (eg. Mash it up iFilm 101 program )
• Have you considered the role of digital storytelling in local history eg. oral history videos?
• Do you have digital signage in your library?  Are the signs always static or could you include videos and animations to capture your clients attention?
• Do you watch videos to keep up with industry trends?

This post is a remix of 23mobilethings.net Thing 6.