Podcasting for the Library
Podcasts have become an increasingly popular media format and are easier than ever to create. There are endless applications of podcasting for use in the library; here are just a few examples:
- Students can create book reviews and give book recommendations
- Librarians can create a podcast of booktalks for those unable to attend.
- A summary of library events can be posted on the school or library website.
- Podcasts can be used to record instructions on how to use databases, the OPAC, or other technology tools.
- Students can discuss makerspace activities.
- Students can pretend to interview characters from a book in a podcast.
Benefits of using podcasts in the library are that it gives students a voice to be heard, it engages them in technology use, and does not require specialized equipment to produce. Some challenges or caveats that students may encounter include feeling uncomfortable about recording their voice, being criticized over their opinions on literature, or not having Internet access at home to use podcasting tools on their own time. Also, if the podcast will be posted online, digital citizenship guidelines will need to be discussed.
A wide variety of podcasting options, both free and paid, are available to create and host podcasts.
Podbean https://www.podbean.com/
Podbean is not just for podcast creators; it is also allows you to find podcasts to listen to, with over 20 different categories to choose from. It can be accessed on a mobile device app or on a computer web browser, and the free version provides generous features that are sufficient for student use, and paid plans start upwards of $9.99 per month. Podbean provides a step-by-step guide on how to start your podcast, and the interface is fairly easy to use. You are able to have guest hosts in group mode and also include video content. In addition to recorded podcasts, users can also create a live show. The downsides of Podbean is that it only allows 5 hours of audio per month with a free plan and does not offer any security features. Also, the web browser version is not as user-friendly as the mobile app, where creation options are much easier to find and the interface is more user-friendly.
Spreaker (from iHeart) https://www.spreaker.com/
Spreaker is another platform that has both free and paid versions. The free version allows you to upload up to 10 episodes, but there is no monetization option with the free plans. The paid plans are upwards of $8 per month. Spreaker allows you to publish your podcast, but the basic website does not have a recording option. You have to download a separate Spreaker Studio app or use another recording program and then upload the file to Spreaker. Spreaker allows you to create live episodes and will automatically distribute your podcast to different sites like Spotify, iHeartRadio, or Apple Podcasts. The main disadvantage is that this is not an all-in-one creation tool, and the recording has to take place elsewhere. You are also unable to access listener analytics for your podcast with the free version, but for student use this is not as important.
Anchor (from Spotify) https://anchor.fm/
Anchor is 100% free; there are no paid options. The drag-and-drop interface is incredibly simple, and you are able to record from both the website and on the mobile app. You have the ability to record audio segments separately and drag or reorder them with different sound effects and transition music into the podcast. You also can include background music with your voice recording or put songs from Spotify in your podcast. One of the downsides is that you can only have one podcast per account, but you can create an unlimited number of episodes for that podcast. Also, all episodes are published to Spotify, so that could be an issue when having students create podcasts.
Amber Neal (my partner for this project) and I chose to use Anchor because of its simplicity and because it was the easiest for us to record audio from two different locations.
If you are wanting to find an educational podcast to listen to, try searching within iHeartRadio's free app, Spotify, or Podbean. Below are links to some that looked interesting to me.
Resources used to create the podcast on banned books:
American Library Association. (2022). Challenge support. ALA. https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport
American Library Association. (2019). Library bill of rights. ALA. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill
Magi, T. & Garnar, M. (Ed.). (2015). Intellectual freedom manual. ALA Editions.