Follow the Screener

(REVISED IN 2020)

When I first became a staff training instructor over 20 years ago, if we wanted to illustrate how to use a particular software or navigate a certain website, we had to take screen-shots that we saved as JPEG images, to which we would add text showing where to click or what to do. Then we'd import the images into MS-Word or WordPerfect documents. I wrote training manuals for hospital employees to use payroll software, patient record databases, or MS-Windows programs. If we were really fancy, we'd prepare a PowerPoint slideshow.

In recent years, trainers have been using screen-capturing software to track their mouse movements on screen that they can incorporate into a video illustrating how to use a particular software or web-based interface. Many librarians have used Zoom or similar software to screen-capture, as shown in the video below.

Miss Deb's Digital Tips 2: Rosetta Stone (2020),

by Mooresville (Indiana) Public Library

There are dozens of different screen-capture software brands available, including Snagit, Ashampoo Snap, Faststone Capture, FullShot Pro, ScreenHunter Pro, Hypersnap, Easy Screen Capture, CaptureWiz Pro, Any Screen Capture, and SPX Instant Screen Capture, all of which range from roughly $20-$80 each.

Comments

Using QR Codes to Promote Book Trailers on Book Displays

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 looking a

Making Library Videos: Music Soundtracks

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? There are w

Using the MARC 856 Field for Book Trailers

Book trailers are videos used to promote particular books and encourage patrons to read them. They are comparable to movie trailers as marketing tools. Book trailers are often posted on dedicated video channels, such as YouTube or Vimeo , or on websites, blogs, or other social media. At Mooresville Public Library, we place our book trailers on the MPL YouTube Channel , as well as links on our website and social media. Here's an example of one of our book trailers: MPL Book Trailer #322 A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman How do patrons discover our book trailers? A simple Google search (or YouTube search) with the book's title and "book trailer" will retrieve them, along with hundreds of other videos. Visitors to our website may click links to our YouTube channel or other social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, blogs) that feature our videos. But these are indirect methods of distributing this type of content. Is there a more dir

BiblioTechno Global Footprint

Search This Blog