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 look...

Library Blogs Can Still Be Relevant

I recently watched a webcast of a librarian round table talking about social media, and there was a brief discussion about library blogs. The panel consensus was that blogs had run their course as a library communication vehicle. "There're too many out there," said one librarian, "droning on and on. (He's obviously read my blogs.) Modern readers want compact content."--meaning, presumably, Twitter and Facebook blurbs. So, are library blogs dinosaurs? Can they still garner followers while imparting important messages relevant to their readers? Yes, if the blogger is talking about something lots of somebodies want to read. (That's rather axiomatic.) Clearly, I'm no expert about blogging and holding an audience's interest, but, in my experience, I've discovered two types of blogs that have maintained consistently large readership: Local history blogs; and Library animal "spokescritter" blogs. Previously , we've...

Using Video to Promote ALA Banned Books Week

When promoting ALA Banned Books Week (BBW), most librarians have probably turned to the ol' reliable book display, like so: Click images to enlarge Book displays are great. They centralize selected items, focus patrons' attention on a particular topic or theme, and they're relatively easy and inexpensive to produce. But they're just so, well, static. Stuff just sits there until patrons come along. Another popular static medium we use to promote BBW is the customized book mark. These take a bit more work but are fine as promotional tools, as far as they go. How about something more, say, techno-savvy? 2018 Banned Books Week Promo Trailer by Mooresville (Indiana) Public Library 2016 Banned Books Week Promo Trailer by Mooresville (Indiana) Public Library Since 2010 my library has used videos to promote BBW. There are the promo trailer variety (above) that help stimulate interest, and thes...

BiblioTechno Global Footprint

Search This Blog