Podcast

Okay. I'll be honest here. Up until about a week ago, the word "podcast" truly disturbed me. I'm not entirely sure why, they are really awesome! I think it has to do with the fact that I just could not wrap my head about what they were and why we needed them. It's probably best (for everyone's sake) if I start with an amazing breakdown of the term "podcast" from podcast.com:
POD: Portable On-Demand
This means that it's something that is portable (you can take it anywhere), and available on-demand (you can view/listen whenever).
CAST: Broadcast
In layman's terms: It is something that is broadcasted directly to you! Isn't that convenient?!
What exactly is broadcasted to you? And how? First let's look at the what. Any audio or video file that can be transmitted through the Internet directly to you. Everything from television and radio to the made-from-home video and audio files! There are so many selections for your viewing pleasure! Podcast.com's top 25 podcasts include: BBC, CNN, PBS, NPR, Discovery News, President Obama...and those are just a few of the top 25!!! You can download them directly onto your computer, or even your iPod! Simply go online and either subscribe to a podcast directly, or use one of the many online podcast finders (podcast.com, podcastalley.com, apple.com/itunes/podcasts, etc). Browse for something that catches your eye, and voila! You have your first podcast!
Why the need for podcast? It's all about convenience. When I was growing up, if I missed a radio broadcast, I was s.o.l.! Short of contacting the station and requesting the tape, there was nothing I could do. If I missed a television show, I had to wait for the rerun. With podcasts, you can catch what you've missed, and save what you will miss! Then, you have the added convenience of watching/listening to your podcast wherever and whenever you like! It sounds like a lot of fun! Almost like RSS (not entirely), but with audio and visual files!!!
Yeah but, would I ever use a library podcast?
Of course! You just need to know where to look! Libraries offer podcasts telling stories/reading books, they have historical podcasts featuring people from our nation's past, children/teen podcasts, and so much more! They also have internal podcasts discussing library-related issues, everything from merchandising to weeding! It seems like these technologies (RSS, blogs, podcasts, etc), while they have been around for a while, are beginning to be more widely used by the library community. As Internet usage increases, and with the NetGeners on the way, podcasts have a very big place in the library. They can podcast segments of GED courses, computer courses, basic ESL (all of which have been offered face-to-face in libraries I've worked for). The leap from face-to-face to podcast is not that far! Similarly, book clubs, events, and community issues can all be podcasted from a single institution...such as the library! The use of podcasts within the library is currently minimal, I think that as time progresses and a new wave of librarians enter the field, podcasts will be used with a greater frequency!
Podcast use and society
Podcasts are widely used for the entertainment industry (t.v., movies, radio shows, etc). I see a great need and use for them in society as a whole. They can be the means through which libraries reach out to the non-user community. As their usage increases, so can their purpose. Tutor briefs can be issued via podcast from a child's school; this could assist with homework, paper writing, math, and science. People (once again) have worldwide access to information, podcasts are one more way to help them get it. The next generation (NetGen) is growing up in a highly technological era. Two of the traits most commonly found in this group is their ability to multitask, and their preference for visual stimulation. Podcasts provide them with a medium that is a perfect match for their abilities!