ASU leads the way on podcasting

Take a look at ASU's cool podcasting projects.

I attended an inspiring presentation by them at AzLA this week and found that as usual they have explored new territory. They've recorded about 50 podcasts and made them available to the world.

If you haven't listened to a podcast yet it's just an audio recording of an event or interview that is made available for you to listen to on the internet directly, or to download it to your MP3 player so you can take it with you anywhere as if it were your favorite music recording. I believe there are also video podcasts but ASU has just done audio.

The topics are all over the map, from library instruction for example featuring their full text databases to be used for last minute research, Don't panic: Information Sources for when your deadline looms to an interview with an expert on a current exhibit at the library, A sense of the Sacred. How many of our programs and exhibits could be spotlighted in this way? Lots! Many more patrons could see and experience the experts featured in our Health For a Lifetime series, ourbestselling author presentations, our 50+ speakers, the cutting edge @ Central Gallery exhibits, even the professional leadership series speakers could be interviewed for a 15 minute podcast allowing all staff to benefit from their expertise. Sure, it would take some work to get these kind of projects up and running at our library, but we need to keep in mind how best to serve patrons. Should we serve patrons where they are, or wait for them to come to us? If they can't come to the library for an event, a podcast might be the next best thing.