Screencast speech

public library viewpoint

 

I base everything off of 2 premises
    our patrons have questions and patrons are smart - they can see how examples apply to them


don't call them screencasts
nobody knows what those are
speak your patrons language
most libraries are good at this

answer a questions
by and large people don't come to public libraries to learn how to use a database they come for a specific question
public library reference desks goal is to answer the questions, if our patrons show they want learn and some do - outstanding.... but
 people don't care about PsychInfo they want to know about the Bipolor disorder their grandson just was diagnosed with (real question!)
    they don't know that these types of resources even exist - and they don't care
    many very much don't want to learn
    don't want a tour
    would never watch something called "learn to navigate reference usa"

So...
      
I don't even mention the resource in the title  - why would I ?   they have no idea what reference usa is or does! I make  the title the question being answered:
        How to get new homeowners' adresses? (useful)
        How do I learn about recently opened businesses?
        how to find a sample contract? (a screencast about a home improvement contract, but they learn how to search)
        where do customers live? (about locating a vet, but they learn about using simplymap)
this is what people are searching for in google and interestingly enough they are coming to our site! in fact do a search in google of "how to find new homeowners" we are on the second page and the site has only been up 2 months! This depends on the titles on the website hosting the video as well of course

what questions to answer?
    ask: discussion with business community discovered sample questions
    experience at the various desks
   
The for profit sector is figuring this out
The Dex Knows - online yellow pages (explain commercial) -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRaev6FyMrE
 --- in competition with Google
 BING http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfMfek7IRWA

Tell a Story/better yet tell their story -  which I call the Patron Point of View
   Quote - steinbeck
    we identify with stories - this is what we do when we communicate - libraries are full of stories - how many stories to do we tell about our ref. desk experiences -  the absolute best how to's are  wrapped up in stories, Aesop's tales- i suggest we use this primal form of communication not just the how to part  -
    I always perk up when hearing about a librarian on jeopardy, don't you?
 
     Look at Michael Moore - he definitely has an agenda, uses stories to "help" you reach that same conclusion - he doesn't just come out and tell you what to do even though me very much would like to

    works well with answering a questions - i tell you why i need about myself and my question then i answer my question
doesn't have to be cheesy, unless you think that would help your audience
Hi, i am mick and i own mick's pizza, i want to send coupons...

   I don't agree with the entire quote...  as in it is about everyone, our stories are about the person that finds themselves clicking on the video.  Luckily while we are trying to be great and interesting, but we also not worried about our screencasts lasting the test of time either - we can redo these every year or two
 
long tail- explain what it is - market segmentation
cater to your long tail
Different databases mean different things to different people,  tell the right people the right information impossible to be everything for everybody
  boutique sites - same idea as a pathfinder- libguide - business portal for business screencasts
it is ok to only get a few hits a month... vimeo/youtube is hosting!
  how do you measure success?  Lots of use or maybe really helping a few-- would love to do both, but... depends on the goal of the screencast

speak the language of your long tail
business talk for business screencasts
be amusing a la adult swim of the cartoon network when talking about teen stuff (orange county) and zero punctuation reviews of games

screenjelly.com, ultimate long tail, designing for an audience of one

point of need/s
like david lee king
tell about librarh3lp with the catalog
different screencasts for the same resources at different places
while accessing database
embed everywhere if you store on youtube etc.

    don't make people download them!
easy to create new ones - use your web site analytic, search box queries, etc.
   
not really a point of need but cool  -  we are actually putting ours on TV! always knew i would be a star ;)...

   

be short
my patrons won't watch long ones
don't overload them
short-many tutorials to a point not one long one - don't be lazy


Library doing screencasts
Westlake Porter call them webbytes
Nashville Library
Orange County Library FL (really good/funny)
Enoch Pratt Library
Pierce County Library, WA
Franklin park
Skokie

Conclusion
Everyone of these i do I get better
i hope these tips help