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Making Library Videos: Children's Videos

Some of my library's most watched videos are aimed at children.  Library children's videos promote early literacy, engage youngsters into developing lifetime reading and comprehension skills, and are fun for kids and caregivers to watch.  There are many types you can create, some of which include:
  • Live-action puppet shows, which may include some of the following aspects;
  • Readers' advisories;
  • Children's crafts;
  • Readalouds;
  • Singalongs;
  • Children's songs;
  • Nursery rhymes;
  • Book trailers (for librarian book talks);
  • Live video recordings of children's programs; 
  • Promo trailers for upcoming or ongoing children's programs; and
  • Instructional videos (telling children how to use the library's resources, etc.).
My library has done all of these (examples further below), but some are more popular than others.  Viewership of our puppet shows always lagged considerably behind our readalouds and singalongs.  This seemed strange, since our youth services staff making the videos (almost all of whom have now moved onto other jobs elsewhere; hence, my use of past tense) were energetic, engaging, funny, and knowledgeable. They were highly skilled in creating and providing informative, stimulating youth services programs and activities.  Our patrons loved them and flocked to the library to participate.  I admired these youth librarians and enjoyed working with them.

But the puppet videos didn't garner huge viewership.  Why not?  Let's watch one to see if we can detect what's slightly off about them.

Miss Jaymi & Sammy the Toucan
The Letter X x (Early Literacy Fun) (2012)

The basic approach is sound:  Talk about books being read during story times and craft activities being made in conjunction with the reading.  That should appeal to caregivers looking for do-it-yourself home projects for their kids, as well as to other children's librarians looking for good ideas.

Therein lies the problem.  Our puppet videos were geared to adults (caregivers and youth services librarians), sharing ideas that were working in our children's programming.  There's nothing wrong with that focus, by the way.  Videos aimed at caregivers and librarians can be extremely helpful and informative, but viewership will be limited.  Plus, you don't need a puppet to discuss these things with grownups.

If you're trying to reach the largest audience for children's videos, the target should first be kids, with adults as a purely secondary consideration.  Talk about reading books or making crafts--but talk directly to the youngsters watching.  The adults also watching will discern the clever crafting ideas or reading suggestions, but the kids will be fully engaged in the human/puppet interaction on the screen while they're learning to read and do new things.

This is why some of our other youth videos (readalouds, singalongs, children's songs, nursery rhymes, etc.) are watched more:  They're directly aimed at children (particularly preschoolers or early elementary schoolers).  Let's see some examples.


Animal Alphabet Song, by Miss Jaymi (2011)
(Our most-watched video)



https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt5bkxeYN4gOd-ykpDx10_T70tYb5LkBL

by Clinton (Indiana) Public Library


The "Open Shut Them Song," Featuring Miss Michelle @ MPL (2013)



Five Little Peas (Nursery Rhyme Time With Miss Michelle) (2014)



Little Bunny Foo Foo (Fingerplay Song)
by Miss Michelle @ MPL (2013)
(Storytime Rocks! Video Series)


Readaloud videos can present copyright problems, however.  Videorecording someone reading an entire children's picture book could constitute copyright infringement, although some have argued that these types of videos fall within the "fair use" exception under Section 107 of the federal copyright act (17 U.S.C. §107), since the videos serve an educational purpose and are created by non-profit entities (libraries).  Four factors are listed in the statute to determine how "fair use" applies to use of copyrighted materials, and readaloud videos might run afoul of the following two considerations:

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

Making a video of a librarian reading the entire, verbatim contents of a children's book essentially appropriates the whole copyrighted work, and it is possible that such videos could undercut sales of the copyrighted material (why buy the book when you can watch somebody reading it out loud?).  It is for this reason that many libraries restrict their videorecordings to reading aloud only a few pages or a single chapter.  That can be frustrating for the viewers, however.  Caregivers and children would understandably be disappointed if the video showed only a portion of the story.  The copyright concerns, however, are important and deserve careful evaluation.

Some publishers, such as Scholastic, Candlewick, Penguin RandomHouse, and Little, Brown, have guidelines for librarians to follow concerning use of their copyrighted materials in online videos.  Many publishers, however, do not, and securing permission from them can be an arduous process.  An alternative is for librarians (or teachers, parents, and children themselves) to create original stories for readaloud videos, which is discussed further here.  Some websites, such as Storyline Online, offer many readaloud videos sanctioned by publishers.


Book trailers, too, can become a staple of a library's children's videos, coupled with book talks at schools, the library, or elsewhere.  Consider this playlist from our Ms. Casey's book talks.


Ms. Casey's Book Talk Trailers (Playlist)
by Mooresville (Indiana) Public Library

Promo trailers encourage youngsters and their caregivers to visit the library to participate in fun activities.



Addison Public Library (Illinois) Programs for School Age Children (2010)



Legos at the Library Program Trailer
by Mooresville (Indiana) Public Library (2014)

Video-recording entire children's programs allows those unable to attend to watch after the events, but these can try the patience of short attention spans if the complete programs are filmed continuously from start to finish.  It would be better to slice the program up into shorter, more watchable segments.

Instructional videos about using the library's resources can be fun for kids, but they need to be short, simple, and straightforward.  Giving a video tour of the library's youth services collections or other resources can help new patrons learn where to go or what to do when they visit the library.


How to Use Our New Self-Checkout Kiosks, by "Flat" Cauli Le Chat (2013)

Library children's videos should be fun to watch.  It's another way libraries can share the joys it provides to young patrons and their caregivers.

Publishers, too, have created free children's activity videos that promote reading and comprehension.  For instance, Scholastic has several interactive digital activities for children.  Schools have created virtual fieldtrips for students as a cost-saving alternative to onsite visits.  There are many virtual options available for kids, teachers, and caregivers.

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