In January I bought my first mp3 player, encouraged by a fellow librarian who whipped hers out and walked me through how it worked. My kids both have iPods, but I wanted something more generic. I wanted to be able to use Listen Up! Vermont— which was an iPod issue then though it isn’t now. Suddenly the world of podcasts was open– and after the usual struggles, I was able to listen to Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me whenever I wanted.
Follow-up story to the Listen Up! Vermont piece: I was chatting with a trustee before launching into the board orientation, my assignment that night, and it turned out that he was the only one who knew about Listen Up or mp3 players. So I pulled my techie toy out, and we passed it around the table and talked new technology for twenty minutes before we moved on to the usual. Maybe we need a 23 things for library trustees?
As a booktalker, I’m also interested in podcasts. I love the podcast link at the Springfield Town Library, which offers another way into books for the kid who likes audio. Jim Dale and his audio versions of the J.K. Rowling/ Harry Potter books has done us a huge favor. What a wonderful return to the joys of listening to a great story! Sorry– lost the podcast thread there for a moment. Although that reminds me about the Muggle podcasts my daughter enjoys– I should get that link….
LibVibe and Uncontrolled Vocabulary are new sites to me, and I’m not sure whether I want to subscribe regularly. My podcast listening is still more in the nature of the support system for a long drive– and the work commute is my chance to catch up with the radio, rather than listen to library updates. I have been on the SirsiDynix site before– since they have hosted Pat Wagner of Pattern Research, Inc. Listen to one of her podcasts if you need to be convinced of her wisdom– and don’t forget to sign up for her Vermont leadership workshop this fall.
I’m betting that we see more and more applications for visually challenged library users– and I’m thrilled that Teresa Faust in Vermont’s Special Services Unit is so quick to publicize services for these listeners. I tried one and was pleased with the technology, but a little disappointed with the choices of books available. The usual challenge with a new market, I guess– publishers and their authors making decisions on how to move forward and which technologies are worth investing in.
Still to do:
1. get better organized with a feed reader. I liked the looks of Juice, but couldn’t make it load where I am right now. I’ve been using the sync function on Windows Media Player, and fussing with how some podcasts automatically start QuickTime or other software. The computer I’m on is used by a number of listeners, and I expect they’ve set up some different paths.
2. download a book from Listen Up!
The Good Ship Beagle 