I love YouTube. It took me a while to warm up to it, I admit. It just seemed like a place for silly people to take silly videos of themselves doing silly things and share it with other silly people. Internet usage at its best.

But then I discovered that there is an entire wealth of information and material on YouTube. I’ve used uploaded video tutorials, watched clips from childhood shows, viewed television episodes of content only relased in the UK, and then of course there are those funny videos that everyone watches again and again. Like the clip of Miss South Carolina from the 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant. Enough said. 

When the library had the teen video contest, I checked back on a regular basis to view the entries. I think it was an awesome way to reach youth where they already are.

And I know the library does podcasts, because Catherine is always trying to find a quiet place to record them. Or she’s heading off with her little armored wheely bag to go teach podcasting techniques at one of the libraries. I think it’s quite awesome that we’re keeping up with things this way.

Then there’s also InfoPeople who has archived videos and podcasts for library trainings. You can go in and view any past webinar you’d like. Quite handy.

Videos and podcasts are a great way for libraries to communicate and educate because it allows for that human element without having to be in the same location at the same time. And they can be viewed/listened to again and again!