BiblioTechno Global Footprint

Have you ever taken photos at library programs?  If you're a librarian, have you then used those photos for promotional purposes (e.g., posting on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Flickr, Tumblr, Instagram, or elsewhere)?  Do the images include identifiable patrons who attended or participated in the programs?  If so, you should probably have gotten their permission before publicly displaying the photos. In tort law, appropriation, a form of invasion of privacy, occurs when someone uses another person's name or likeness without permission to gain some benefit.  For example, if a library used a picture of a patron attending a library program in a brochure (or online) to promote future programs, and the library failed to secure that person's permission to use his/her likeness, then the library could be liable for the tort of appropriation.  (I'm paraphrasing  this paralegal torts textbook's definition.) Are most folks going t...

When creating library videos, librarians must decide whether or not to include an audio track (or multiple audio tracks) and/or a music soundtrack with the video.   In live action recording, most digital cameras have built-in condenser microphones to capture the performers speaking, as well as other surrounding sounds (or simply background noise), and this audio is embedded in the video track.  There are times, however, when it would be desirable to have a separate audio track (or tracks).  For instance, a voice-over narration can enhance still images.  Here's an example below. Paul Hadley Biographical Video, Part One, by Mooresville Public Library (created using Windows Movie Maker Live) Most video editing software ( e.g. ,  Wondershare Filmora ) has the capability to insert one or more audio tracks, in addition to a music track, alongside the video track.  Windows Movie Maker Live (WMML), however, allows only one separate audio track, so unl...

In our last installment , we discussed how QR codes could be used to allow patrons with mobile devices to watch book trailers while browsing a library book display.  But how can you generate a QR code to print and affix to a display book?   You will need a QR generator.  This part is easy.  There are many QR generators available on the Internet.  Some of the most popular are Online Barcode Generator , QR Stuff , GOQR.me , Kaywa , and Visualead . Some are free and others are by subscription.  Some simply generate the QR code, while others allow users to customize codes with logos or graphics and to track traffic and other statistics.   Corey Wainwright  wrote a helpful blog post in 2015 explaining how QR codes can be generated, suggesting some do's and don'ts while walking readers through some examples. Let's say that my library has a display featuring books about disasters and survival.  It includes the book  To Stay Alive: Mary Ann G...

The ubiquitous book display is a  mainstay of traditional collection promotion in public libraries .  How many of these have you made over the years?  Frankly, I've lost count. Book displays increase item circulation because they attract patrons' attention and provide them with immediate gratification without their having to search for what has caught their interest.  The books are  right there ; just grab them and head for circulation to check them out.  Nothing could be easier. But what if the books are carefully wrapped-up (say, for a banned book display, which we did a couple of times), and patrons can't read the back cover descriptions?  For ordinary book displays, is there something more visually engaging that could appeal to patrons than just having to read the book jackets?  That's where book trailers could help "sell" the book. Wouldn't it be nice if patrons could watch the book trailers while they're look...

Once you've made your first library video, you'll need somewhere on the Internet to put it so people will watch.  Nowadays, many folks just upload their videos to their Facebook or Twitter (or other social media) feeds.  That works fine, but we've found that having a dedicated video channel is easier for viewers to find, particularly if they're searching for a video on a particular subject. We have uploaded our library videos to YouTube  and Vimeo .  Both are free, although we do pay $1.99/month to Google for additional storage space (for our videos and blogs, particularly one written by Cauli Le Chat , MPL feline roving reporter, which was graphics-intensive).  YouTube has been our primary video vehicle; we have uploaded 766 videos (at last count), which have been viewed 1,044,246 times (as of today).  Given that we have no marketing or production budget for videos, YouTube has been spectacularly effective in promoting our work at a cost ...

In 2013, my library presented a workshop at the Indiana Library Federation  (ILF) annual conference.  My bit was called "Using Videos to Promote Your Library."  In case you slept through it, here's a PowerPoint presentation (updated in 2022) summarizing my part of the discussion. When creating videos for your library, particularly if you're using photographs or other still images, you need to find a website that offers (ideally) free, share-alike images (i.e., no royalties or fees paid for their use).  There are several from which to browse.  Many also offer free, share-alike videos, music, and sounds, which you may also use in your library videos.  Some popular sites include: Pixabay Pexels Canva Vecteezy (vector art) DeviantArt Additional image sites include: Wikimedia Commons :   This website includes over 39 million images that you may download and use free-of-charge. Flickr Creative Commons :   Hundreds of millions of fr...

(UPDATED 4/7/2022)   What types of videos can library staff create?  Nothing is beyond your imagination.  Let's consider a few options.  At my library, we have made videos in the following categories: Book trailers, which promote particular books; Program trailers, which showcase specific library programs; Promo trailers, which feature certain library events, services, collections, technologies, or other resources; Instructional videos; Local history videos; Music parody videos; Readalouds (of children's books); Singalongs; Children's songs; Puppet shows; Video blogs (vlogs); Readers' advisories; Children's crafts videos (for library programs); Public Service Announcements; and Library board reports. Sometimes, a single video may include several of these functions.   Would you like to see some examples? First, a book trailer. MPL Book Trailer #366 Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Story, by Margriet Ruurs; illustra...

Library videos need a musical soundtrack.  Let's try a little comparison to illustrate. Turn-off the sound on your computer, mobile device, or whatever technology you're using to read this blog post.  Then play the book trailer (below). MPL Book Trailer #177 Floor Four: A Novella of Horror,  by A. Lopez, Jr. Now, turn on your sound and replay the book trailer (the music's a bit soft at the beginning, so turn it up loud so you can hear clearly, or, better yet, use earphones). 'Nuff said. Musical soundtracks set the mood of a video, especially when there is no voice-over track. Consider a couple of examples. MPL Book Trailer #49 Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson MPL Book Trailer #46 Good-Bye, Mister Chips, by James Hilton Live-action videos benefit from music, too.  Like this one, for instance: OverDrive Promo Trailer, by Miss Rachel & Miss Michelle How do you find music for your video soundtracks?  The...