YouTube

Return to Creative Web Tools Overview ** A way for libraries to advertise and promote their services is through the use of videos. Patrons have come to expect to find information in an environment tailored to their personal needs and interests. A short online video allows for some creativity to deliver information in a way that interests patrons. YouTube is an online service where you can upload videos for free. This means libraries can use YouTube for live and recorded online training sessions, author events, and book discussions. YouTube has made it both easy and virtually free to share video content with the world. For libraries, it’s a particularly great way to promote services and events, share resources, and tell their stories. Additionally, the best ways to get people to use your services is for them to be informed. YouTube videos give librarians the opportunity to reach large audiences. Some librarians are interested in making, short, quirky spots to promote…services and resources, possibly along the lines of the ‘public service announcements.’…this is just the types of viral content people often email to others, post on their Facebook and MySpace pages. This is the library fulfilling its mission statement by providing information and instruction about information resources and services. The use of YouTube is an open environment and allows users to leave comments about suggestions for future videos. The library media specialist can post YouTube videos directly on the library’s web site using the simple embed feature, as well as create a customized and branded space in YouTube with its channel feature.  One example of a school library media specialist who has created a YouTube channel is here: []. The school library website has embedded videos as well as links to the YouTube channel, and it is located here: [].
 * YouTube