Here's a concept that I had never heard of: autocasting.
From what I gather, you can use a piece of software (AutoCast is an example) to automatically generate mp3 files from a synthesized vocalization of your RSS feeds. These files can then be included in a podcast feed. Interesting. I know there are plenty of folks in the library blogosphere who'd like a program that did the opposite, providing an automated transcript of my shows. I wonder if there is really a market for machine readings of human-generated blog posts.
Two interesting librarianly posts related to podcasting:
Michael Stephens - Implications of Podcasting in Library Land
"A podcast created by staff should probably be reviewed by the marketing point person to insure it meets the standars (sic) that SHOULD HAVE BEEN SET UP for all library promotional materials. This is not just the duty of IT staff." True, true, true.
Meredith Farkas - Podcasting in education
"While there probably isn’t much we librarians can do directly with podcasting for our patrons, I am certain that we can assist many non-traditional learners by encouraging educators to use it." I don't necessarily agree with the premise that there isn't much we can do with podcasting, but I think, more importantly, it's a mistake to limit this discussion to audio content. The possibilities become much broader when you begin to look at videocasting and screencasting as content avenues. This is noted both by Michael and by docwolf in the comment on Meredith's post.
OK, I've used my demo time to provide a very inept 3 minute explanation of how I go about recording my show. This post featuring a link to the audio file makes the audio syndication (that which is more commonly known as podcasting) happen.
Updated with one quick correction: In the audio, I equate encoding rate and sample rate. These terms do not typically refer to the same thing. The sample rate refers to the number of samples taken by the sound recorder as you are recording, as opposed to the encoding bitrate which affects the quality of the compression file put out by the sound editor. The higher both numbers are, the better quality end result and the larger the resultant files.
OK, I'm here at last. Had no problem finding the Blog People. And here's another quick test cast to make sure everything is working properly.
Lori Bell passed along a press release announcing that OPAL: Online Programming for All Libraries is now providing a podcast feed for its archived online programs.
Although I've only taken a brief sample of the offerings, the decision to offer a podcast feed means I will be taking far more advantage of this seemingly wonderful service. Excellent work!
Update: Lori gave me the go-ahead to post the entire press release, so here ya go.
OPAL BEGINS PODCASTING ITS AUDIO ARCHIVES
OPAL: Online Programming for All Libraries (http://www.opal-online.org) has begun podcasting audio recordings of archived OPAL online events. Now you can listen to OPAL events on a wide variety of portable MP3 players. You also can link to the RSS feed so that you are notified whenever a new podcast becomes available.
To experience an OPAL podcast, please visit http://feeds.feedburner.com/OpalPodcast. An RSS link also has been added to the OPAL homepage.
OPAL is a collaborative effort by libraries of all types to provide cooperative web-based programming and training for library users and library staff members. These live, online events are held in an online auditorium where participants can interact via voice-over-IP, text chatting, and synchronized browsing. Examples of OPAL public online programs include book discussion programs, interviews, library training, memoir writing workshops, and virtual tours of special digital library collections.
Digital audio recordings of OPAL programs are placed in the OPAL Archive (http://www.opal-online.org/archive.htm) so that interested patrons who missed the live online event can listen at a convenient time.
In a related development, digital audio recordings of OPAL programs will become available in the popular MP3 format. Until now, audio recordings were available only in WMA (Windows Media Audio) format. Offering both formats will extend the reach and usability of OPAL programs.
Tom Peters, OPAL Coordinator, noted, “OPAL is one of the first library programs in the nation to podcast audio content of public access programming. Individual pioneering librarians have demonstrated the value and usefulness of podcasting. OPAL is pleased to begin mainstreaming into OPAL’s overall mission this innovative method of disseminating information.â€
More About OPAL: OPAL utilizes software from Talking Communities (http://www.talkingcommunities.com/) featuring voice-over-IP, text chatting, and synchronized browsing. OPAL is administered by the Alliance Library System (http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/), the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center (http://www.mitbc.org/), and the Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service.
Libraries of all types and sizes may join OPAL. For more information, please contact Tom Peters, OPAL Coordinator, at tpeters@tapinformation.com or 1-816-228-6406.
The enclosed transmission is only a test of the equipment that's coming with me to CiL this evening. I will probably run a similar test upon arrival in D.C. The sound quality is pretty poor, but it was worse with my other mic.
Michael posted some quotes/thoughts about podcasting today that elicited some opinions of my own.
First, a reiteration of my thoughts about the term podcast. I largely dislike the widespread application of the term podcast to describe content. In my mind, podcasting is a method of distribution for media content. An audioblog is just an audioblog until I provide a RSS 2.0 feed that handles enclosures. Then and only then do I have a podcast, or as I prefer to say, I have an audioblog that I make available via podcast.
However, the possibilities that are inherent to delivery of content via podcast have inspired many (count me amongst them) to create audio content of various forms. The vast majority of these productions refer to themselves as "podcasts". This appellation, while not necessarily inaccurate, tells you nothing about the actual format of the show. Each "cast" might be a one-minute audioblogger post recorded over a cell phone or it could be a two-hour slick production with commentary, live performances, and interviews. These are not the same animals, yet they are both podcasts. Thus, for lack of a better description, I prefer to refer to my audio content as simply a "show" or "audio program", which I make available via this blog and via the podcast feed.
Now on to other thoughts.
From Weblogs in Higher Education: "Most of the talk I've seen about podcasting has focused on ways the audio can resemble blogging done in a lively new medium, sound."
To which Michael then wrote: "I posted on TTW that for some of the librarian produced podcasts I felt something was missing: chapter stops, a TOC, a way to better "mentally index" the content. Maybe the technology will improve? �How can I search it? But maybe I was thinking of them as blogging and not as a "radio" show."
Well, first, the issues of indexing apply to any audio content in any context, don't they? How do you index a recorded speech or conference presentation? Is this really a technology issue or a metadata issue?
As for the audiobloggery vs. "radio" show concept, I can only speak about my own intentions in starting an audio program. Bear in mind that while Open Stacks is still a blog, I do not think of it as an audioblog, but rather as a blog that serves primarily to support the show.
And so, the backstory: I recently received a 4th gen iPod as a birthday gift (thanks sweetie!). I commute ten hours a week and knew the iPod would be a great provider of entertainment. As I was looking for content with which to fill my player, I discovered the realm of the podcasters. There was great content out there and I started grabbing a variety of stuff. I really loved the time-shifting possibilities of selecting my own audio programming for my commute. Who needs to be subject to the whims of program directors, when I can pick what I listen to and when I listen to it? I have heard the phrase "Tivo for Radio" and, while this might be a flawed analogy, it conveys some sense of why I love receiving audio content via my podcast aggregator.
Naturally, I thought it would be great if there was something LIS-related for me to consume. Finding nothing in my initial searches, I sensed the onus was on me to create it, on the assumption that there were others like me who were looking for this kind of content (and perhaps some who didn't know they were looking for it until it existed). As it turns out, there are plenty of people interested, even though I have no clear idea in what context they actually consume the show. Starting the show has since initiated numerous discussions and attempts at creating and syndicating audio content, which is very cool (although it is no doubt overly presumptuous to claim any credit whatever for any subsequent activity). And now we have the first LIS foray into syndicating video content, courtesy of David King.
"There is a niche here: one or two practioners who produce regularly scheduled audio broadcasts concerning LIS such as Mr. Greg Schwartz at Open Stacks."
Right, one can only consume so much audio content, and, although there IS also a limit to textual consumption, there is a much lower threshold for audio due to the "one minute=one minute" issue that Jessamyn discussed. I am not looking to promote a glut of LIS audio content. I do think that there are people out there who could do this better than me, so I await the emergence of another consistent participant. Until then, I'm doing my part to fill the niche.
So here's a distillation of my opinions (finally!!!!!), rendered in the ever-popular guideline format:
1. If you provide regularly-updated textual content, provide an RSS feed.
2. If you provide regularly-updated media content, audio/video/whatever, provide a podcast feed.
3. Don't provide regularly-updated textual content if it doesn't work for you or your organization.
4. Don't provide regularly-updated audio content if it doesn't work for you or your organization.
5. Only consume as much regularly-updated textual and/or media content as works for you.
6. And most importantly, don't let a crazy, non-sensical, rambling librarian tell you what works (or doesn't) for you.
If you read LISNews, than you probably came across a post yesterday related to David Faucheux's Blind Chance audio weblog. Well, naturally, I thought podcasting would be a great additional way to distribute his content. So I passed along the suggestion and less than twelve hours later, we have a podcast. Thanks to David Rothman for his help in the implementation. Here's a link to the podcast feed.
A few weeks ago, I proclaimed that NPR would be jumping on the podcast bandwagon. Today KCRW, the flagship NPR station in Santa Monica, begins distribution of a large chunk of its programming via podcast. Check out the wide variety of offerings.
I want to take a moment to congratulate BiblioAcid both for reaching their first anniversary in the blogosphere, but more importantly, for taking that opportunity to enter the realm of the podcast. Sadly, as an ignorant American, I'll have to get someone else to listen and tell me what is being said, but maybe this would be a good excuse to pick up a little French.
On the show, I mention NPR inevitably jumping on the podcast wagon, but failed to mention that at least one show, On the Media, already offers a podcast feed. Apparently, they've doubled their online listenership since offering the feed a month ago. [Thanks to Tod Maffin for that story.] I'll also take this opportunity to point you towards the relatively new listing of public radio feeds.
For those of you wondering if podcasting is just a hyper-geeky tech trend to which you need not pay any attention, I offer this short, yet interesting statistical breakdown of a technology in its infancy, provided by the folks at Feedburner. Thanks to Steven for sharing the linkage.
Congratulations to David Free, reference librarian at the Georgia Perimeter College's Decatur Campus, for producing (what I believe to be) the first podcast that delivers library news. Here's a link to the podcast feed.
David talks about current and upcoming library events, as well as recent library acquisitions. This first cast is about 12 minutes long and worth a listen if you're interested in how syndicated audio content might be a good option for your library. Great job, David!
Updated 02/09/05: I just noticed that, by including the link to the mp3, those of you subscribed to my RSS 2.0 feed in a podcast aggregator received a download of David's cast automatically. That was not my intent, so I've removed the direct link.
First of all, check out the great review of my other podcast, Preserves, Jellies and Jams, over at podcrawl. Hilary talks about her favorite audio content and I'm honored to be considered in such elite company.
Most of you have probably already sampled the initial podcasting efforts of Karen Schneider (check our her presentation from the OLA conference) and Michael Stephens, but today David King posted his first (and what he claims will be the only) audioblogger post. I'm sure I don't have to say that I'd love to hear more. However, David, it's not truly a podcast until you podcast it, so if you're going to do more, perhaps grab yourself a Feedburner feed. Here's a quick tutorial on turning a Feedburner feed into a podcast.
Looks like the fever is catching!
It looks like Emily Alling (who's last name I sadly mangled on the last show) of Schoolhouse Rock is making the talk segments of her show (co-hosted by James Miller) available as mp3s from the blog. She's got two shows available already, dealing with the themes of plagiarism and geography. Although the music is sorely missed (I wonder if they could get away with longer sections), the banter and commentary is definitely entertaining and worthwhile. Emily, thanks for doing this for all of us out in the blogosphere!
Bob Jordan wrote to point out that if you are subscribing to the RSS 2.0 feed in a text-based aggie such as Bloglines or FeedDemon, you are only seeing one enclosure link in any given post. If there is more than one, the aggies seem to prefer the last one, which, in the case of the last post, is the podcast gif. So here's another post with the link you probably want. I don't believe this will result in a duplicate download for those of you with podcast aggregators, but let me know if I'm wrong. I strongly suggest only subscribing to the RSS 1.0 feed in your text aggie, as this will give you all of the linkage properly formatted for easy digestion. RSS 2.0, not so much.
Updated 02/08/05: I just fixed the RSS 2.0 feed, so that it displays links properly. Therefore, my last suggestion no longer applies.
Let's try this again, shall we?: Open Stacks #2
Or grab the podcast feed: 
Notes from this episode:
Intro, thank yous and feedback
Discussion of podcasting, audio syndication and libraries
Quick mentions of LibraryPOP, Metacritic's new book review section, Fimoculous Lists: 2004 and Listology (my lists)
Overview of a recently published study entitled "The Economic Impact of Public Libraries on South Carolina"
Quick Google comment
Related links:
The Distant Librarian, Paul Pival's weblog
Jenny poses the podcasting question
David King answers
David Rothman answers the question months in advance
Just over 23 minutes in all. I've had some great discussions about potential improvements to the show. My top priorities are improving the sound quality and working out how to record VoIP conversations so we can break up my monotone. Any advice is welcome on these (or any other) fronts.
And if you have a sec, click on that "Vote Now" button over on the right and give me some support over at Podcast Alley. You'll need to pop in your email, so Chris can send you a message to validate your vote. That's the only reason, I promise.
Thanks for listening!
So here I am, three months later, bored with writing and ready to try something new. With that in mind, I offer the all-new Open Stacks Podcast #1.
If you want to listen, just click on the link, save the file to your hard drive and listen to it in the media player of your choice. Don't be afraid of the word podcast; it's just an mp3 file, as normal as can be. However, if you're an iPod user or have an aggregator that downloads enclosures automatically, you might want to grab my podcast feed. If you have no idea what I'm talking about or are interested in more info about podcasting, here's the Wikipedia entry, which has a list of relevant resources. I'd be happy to try to answer any questions as well, so feel free to use the contact form.
This first show is a little rough and I already have some ideas for how to do it better next time. My real goal is to demonstrate the potential of the format and encourage others to follow suit and do it better.
Here's some show notes and related links:
Why a podcast? Why this podcast?
Greg's job description
Quick mentions of the fate of LIS Blogsource, the new and (we like to think) improved Library Stuff and the forthcoming Computers in Libraries conference
A closer look at Adam Mathes' paper on folksonomies, concluding with an incoherent thought or two of my own.
Related links: Robin Good's "synthesis-edit" of the Mathes paper
Lou Rosenfeld's thoughts on folksonomies
Clay Shirky's response to Mr. Rosenfeld (read the comments too)
Jenny's comments on making better use of folksonomies in OPACs, etc.
This show is 27 minutes long, which is a bit more than I anticipated (and something to tighten up for future episodes). My recording setup is a bit on the lo-fi side, made most noticeable when I'm too close to the mic, but I think it's serviceable. If this idea really takes off, perhaps I'll upgrade my equipment.
So take a listen and tell me what you think. You know you want to, even if it's just to count the number of times I say "um" in the course of 27 minutes of rambling. I'd love to get some feedback, whether on the concept or the content. I'm sure I say some foolish, misguided and downright erroneous things. I'm not afraid to say them, so don't be afraid to call me out on them. Your ideas and comments are always welcome.
I may as well mention that I've been podcasting for a few weeks in another context: Preserves, Jellies and Jams, which is dedicated to sharing choice cuts from concert recordings that I've accumulated over the years. I cordially invite you to give that show a listen, if you're so inclined.
Until next time...