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YouTube Killed the MTV Star
I think this is a great last topic for the "content" weeks of this course; YouTube is probably one of those websites that most people know about and associate with the new Web 2.0 wave that we're riding. We all know about amazing videos that have become Internet sensations thanks to YouTube: Where the Hell is Matt, the Evolution of Dance, and Bridezilla are just a few!
I must say, though, that before the readings I had never really thought about YouTube or Flickr as good tools for libraries, the way I can see potential in blogs, for example. I really enjoyed Michael Stephens' list of ways Flickr can be used in libraries. And as Paula L. Webb shows, YouTube can be used in virtually the same way. Just by taking videos and/or pictures of events at your library, and then posting them to a media sharing website, you are engaging in an effective outreach activity.
As usual, though, the problem that libraries probably encounter in using this form of social software is awareness. If no one is viewing your pictures or videos, then what difference does it make? Thus, librarians should consciously promote their online presence. For example, during an event let everyone know you're documenting it and that you will be posting the footage online and provide everyone with the website/tags/channel/etc. This will lead patrons to the footage you posted and will make them aware of material already online.
I was glad to see that the three case studies involving YouTube had respectable viewership, typically depending on the topic (Georgia Tech's videos about finding journals, for example, have no where near as many views as their video about water as fuel). What I did notice was lacking was actual subscribers to the YouTube channels. This could, of course, depend on how many of those libraries' patrons have actually subscribed to YouTube; but poor Georgia Tech only has one subcriber and the others do not fair much better! (Georgia Tech should probably consider adding new videos if they want to make their channel worthwhile!) Outreach and maintenance are, once again, the most important factors in implementing Web 2.0 into libraries successfully.
I think Duke University's and the Library of Congress' Flickr pages are particularly interesting. Posting old yearbook photos online will be of great interest to alumni and anyone interested in the history of the university, and the LC page allows many people to see the interesting photos that institution has to offer.
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Hi Kristen,
This is a little off topic, but I thought your title was entirely true. MTV and Muchmusic hardly play music videos anymore. Youtube effectively performs the function that they used to do, but does it so much better. No longer does someone need to sit through 3 videos they don't like to see one by an artist they do like. It reminds me of watching "Video Hits" on CBC when I was really young. I would watch an entire show of songs I didn't like to see one video that I did.
Kristen
I agree a library should promote their web page. - the library should contact local media whenever new projects are started. After all what good is a library - or it's website if no one knows it exists?
Hi Kristen,
I'd like to second both of those opinions. First, that MTV and muchmusic are no longer useful in my life (now that I can be entirely selfish and watch the videos I want :P)
And secondly, that all this media sharing hype will be nothing without the right audience, the right vehicle and a multitude of supporters.
Libraries should venture into new areas, but they should also be aware of upholding ones they are already in.
Kristen,
I liked reading your post - especially for the fun YouTube videos you pointed out. If only a library video could become so widely popular. This is one of my favourites - cutewithchris.com - he runs a blog and also does webisodes - one of them from a library. This one's a gem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goTfR3bIS3U
First of all, I love your topic heading; I keep forgetting that I could be watching all of my fave music videos from the 1980's golden era on YouTube without having to subscribe to a channel such as Much More Retro.
Secondly, it seems that the 2.0 revolution in libraries is mostly being done in the USA, as this week's case studies attest to. At my library, for instance, these new technologies would meet a lot of resistance from both the librarians and the management, probably because they are cutting edge and their long-term effect has yet to be measured (our junior patrons are not even allowed to access Facebook or MySpace because of our filters). It could be due to differing funding structures in the two countries, but I would love to see a Canadian library come forth with some of these ideas instead of always being shown how awesome American libraries are at integrating these new technologies.