People are plugged into MP3 players and moving through their days to the beat of their chosen drummer – when and where they want to.  I’d made some assumptions about these devices and the people wired to them that were shattered when I got my own iPod.  I also finally discovered what my friends at ICFL have been trying to tell me since they first introduced me to the idea of podcasting: This is for libraries.

Assumption: You have to yell or tap anyone with earbuds to get their attention.

Reality: This is only true some of the time, and mostly when the person is your own teen and actively tuning you out.

Assumption: MP3 players are only good for music and have nothing to do with real life.

Reality: Listening to podcasts on my iPod has convinced me that people all over are –or soon will be - freed from sitting at a computer to consume their chosen content.

Assumption: MP3 players are just another expensive electronic toy for kids and people with too much time on their hands.

Reality: It may have started out that way, but there is so much good and even educational content in syndicated podcasts that I now firmly believe in MP3 players as tools that also happen to be terrific toys.

Assumption: Libraries and MP3 players only intersect for eAudioBooks.

Reality: Podcasting content for MP3 players is an excellent way to broaden remote services for our customers.  Think: outreach.

The only way to fully grasp the value of libraries providing content through digital media players is to experience it as if you were a library customer.  If you aren’t ready to buy, and your library doesn’t have a player you can borrow for a couple of weeks, ask an adult who has one to loan it to you.  It would be cruel (and probably fruitless) to ask to borrow a teen’s player.

Here are a couple of lists for sampling.  The first is for experiencing the joy of leaving your computer behind and consuming content on the go – like your library customers will.  The second is to spark ideas for how your library can use podcasting to reach existing and new customers, and how staff can use podcasts for professional development.  If your player is an iPod, you can get all of these podcasts in one easy visit to iTunes.  If not, just do an internet search to find them.

 List 1

60 Second Science – High quality short episodes produced by Scientific American.

A Way With Words – An engaging call in radio show about grammar and usage.

The Writer’s Almanac – Liberate Garrison Keillor from your car radio and take him into the grocery store, back yard, and laundry room.

Best of YouTube – This one is for you if you have a video player.  Some are O.K., some are great, others are amazing.  Try #230, Kinetic Sculptures and #281 Attack of the Note Sheep.

Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips – under five minutes and very well done.  Also try Get-it-done Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips for short bits on how to “work less and do more.”  (How useful is that for overextended library people?)

The Princeton Review Vocab Minute – listen to several episodes before you decide that it isn’t your style.  Each episode is a short original song that incorporates some good vocabulary words.  Many musical styles are used, most songs are quite funny.  A fun and useful podcast to recommend to teens.

NPR podcasts – Never miss your favorite NPR feature again.  I like Wait, Wait, Don’t tell Me! and Car Talk best.  Go browse and choose your favorites.

Podictionary – for word lovers.  Interesting etymology.  This is one of my personal favorites.

PRI (Public Radio International) – Like NPR, there are many great podcasts here.  Two of my favorites are Selected Shorts and Whad’Ya Know?

The Classic Tales Podcast – Actor B.J Harrison has a terrific voice and reads short stories that are in the public domain.

Hot For Words – Not my cup of tea, but every single male I know who’s watched this podcast comes back for more.  They say it’s for love of words, but I think the teacher has something to do with it.

  List 2 

LiSRadio :: Webcasts – Created by the Library Science Program at the University of Missouri.  A wide variety of subjects of interest to libraries.  My favorite is the Nancy Pearl interview.  I also like some of the services to youth episodes.

Prime Speaks – a library teen project that reviews books.  Listen to get an idea of what a group of motivated teens can do.

CPL podcast (Cheshire Public Library) – another library teen project.

                                      Submitted by Tina Cherry, Jerome Public Library