Podcasting initiatives in American research libraries

Abstract

Purpose -This paper aims to discover how many American research libraries produce podcasts, on what subjects they are produced, and how those podcasts are promoted. Design/methodology/approach -The researchers looked at each American research library's website in December 2009 to determine whether the library had a podcasting initiative and, if so, what topics were covered. General scanning of the website, site search and Google search were used to discover podcasts. Facebook and Twitter pages were also examined to determine whether social media were used for podcast promotion. Findings -It was found that approximately one-third of American research libraries have podcasting initiatives. Podcast subjects vary widely, and social media are only used occasionally to promote the podcasts. The paper concludes that podcasting is a technology that has not yet reached its zenith and libraries have many avenues left still to explore using this technology. Originality/value -The paper provides a broad exploration of podcasting by ARL libraries, a perspective that is not yet offered by the literature.

Making Disciplinary Research Audible

“…A comprehensive study of ARL member libraries published in 2011, with not much on this topic published since this date, demonstrated in figure 1 of their research that five of the 37 respondents contained recorded interviews and only one included scholarly publishing content. 2 This ten-year vacuum in further research was unexpected but indicates an opportunity for a new type of podcast focusing on academic production.…”

Social Media Objectives and Challenges for Law Libraries: a Systematic Literature Review

“…• Promoting and Marketing Resources and Services Social media is a tool for law libraries to reach out to all type of users regardless of their professional titles and social status, since social media is already widely used across all population groups. Ax-Fultz (2015) and Bierman & Valentino (2011) state that social media helps law libraries to better engage with users. Such engagement increases the value of law libraries in the users' viewpoints.…”

“…Another interesting concept found in the included studies regards using social media to promote law library initiatives and projects. Bierman & Valentino (2011) mention law libraries' podcast initiatives. Danner, Leong & Miller (2011) also refer to social media as a tool to broadcast new initiatives and policies of law libraries.…”

“…Ax-Fultz (2015) and Bierman & Valentino (2011) state that social media helps law libraries to better engage with users. Such engagement increases the value of law libraries in the users' viewpoints.…”

“…Bierman & Valentino (2011) McLaughlin (2015) found out that some academic law libraries use social media to gather feedback and input from law students and public users for collection development purposes. Considering the financial restraint many libraries find themselves in these days, this use of social media can be very beneficial in ensuring their resources truly reflect the needs of their users.…”