You are hereBlogs / carolyn's blog / Media Sharing
Media Sharing
Media sharing is has become in recent years a very popular way to share audio, video and photos over the internet. It wasn't all that long ago when this was an impossibility due to the size and the slowness of dial-up interent. Through the use of high-speed interent the ability to share media has become easier and extremely useful.
I have had some experience with both YouTube and Flickr, so coming into this week I had some idea of what this entailed. I think that libraries are really getting into this technology in order to access users who may not check out the libraries website. Even if the library is small I think it would be important for them to have some library presence in other places such as on Flikr with pictures of the library or past events that have taken place at the library. I think in the future this technology will become even more important for libraries than it already is in order to promote all that the library can do for their patrons. I think giving patrons access to different media in different formats will be extremely attractive for many people. While the technology may intimidate some who are not used to it, I think simplifying so that most people can figure out it will be the most effective.
The case studies really highlight the many ways that libraries can use different media in effective ways to promote their library and their services.
- carolyn's blog
- Login to post comments
I never really thought of it, but high speed internet does make it alot easier for people to upload and download pictures and videos and definitely has a factor in the popularity of media sharing websites. This brings up the point in my mind that librarians should be sensitive to accessibility issues when they use these technologies in their websites and remember that alot of people don't have a fast enough internet connection to watch videos in a reasonable amount of time. But, I still think that it is worthwhile for libraries to use these technologies for promotion- just not in isolation of other ways of reaching out to their patrons.
Hi Carolyn,
You and Amy are right; high speed has been a huge catalyst for media sharing. Once we have it, we tend to take it for granted, and even think that everyone else has it. Amy brings up a good point about accessibility issues.
I agree, Carolyn, that libraries should provide material in as many different formats as possible. We know so much more now about the fact that people learn in a variety of ways. A number are visual or auditory learners. Libraires have been text focused until now.
I agree with your point that high-speed can aid mediasharing - but what about patrons who still don't have access to high speed? Especially in rural areas, I wonder if this should be more of a concern for libraries searching for ways to better serve their patrons - if the patrons don't have access to regular high-speed access, is the investment in these social software tools necessary or even prudent?