Podcasting:Yes, you can!

Michael SauersTechnology Innovation Librarian

NLC

Eastern Library SystemLibrary Media Specialist Training Day

5 May 2007

What is a podcast?“The method of distributing

multimedia files, such as audio or video programs, over the Internet using either the RSS or Atom syndication formats, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term podcast, like 'radio', can mean both the content and the method of delivery.”—Wikipedia

What isn’t a podcast?

• A Web page with links to downloadable audio or video content.

How might I use podcasts at the library?

• Booktalks (recruit patrons to write/read)

• Book reviews• “Teasers” for New books, Old

favorites, Special occasions• Library Newsletter• Tutorials • Teens’ / Students’ original work

(permissions)

How do I do a podcast?

(The “I have no budget” model)

Step 1: Record

• Onto computer or digital recorder

• Export as MP3

Step 2a: via a blog

• Upload the MP3 file to a Web server

• Link to MP3 in a blog post• Create feed for podcast

(one-time set-up through Feedburner)

Step 2b: straight to RSS

• Upload your MP3 file to your Web server

• Create the RSS file (ListGarden)

• Publish the feed file to your Web server

3. Subscribe & Listen!

• Choose an aggregator or podcasting client(Bloglines, iTunes)

• Subscribe to the feed• Listen to the downloaded

content

Getting set up: One-time tasks1. Create a blog and/or find

some space on a Web server

2. Create a Feedburner account for podcast

3. Download recording software

1. RECORD

You will need:– Computer with sound card and

a microphone to plug into mic jack, or

– A USB microphone with a built in soundcard

– Software that will record and convert to MP3 (Audacity)

Audacityhttp://audacity.sourceforge.net/http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Record with Audacity

Export as MP3 file

• File | Export as MP3• The first time you export as

MP3 it will prompt you to download a lame_enc.dll file

Download & Install LAME

Find & Open lame_enc.dll

Edit ID3 tags

• A tag edit window will pop up — add title, “artist” and choose genre (probably “other”)

Upload MP3 file to Web server

• Uploading instructions will vary from library to library– copy and paste using Front

Page; or– ftp; or– whatever method you normally

use

2a. Blog

• You will need:– Space on a Web server for your

MP3 files(provided for the class)

– A blog(to be created next)

Create a Blogger blog

http://www.blogger.com/

Create an account

Name Your Blog

Choose a template

Your blog has been created!

Link to the MP3 file on your blog

Your blog post published successfully!

Creating a podcast feed• If blog does not create enclosures for media

files (Blogger does not), use Feedburner to create feed for podcast. http://www.feedburner.com/

Choose feed version

Burn the feed

Configure podcast for iTunes

Congrats!

Customize your podcast

“And then magic happens…”

Remember, once you have set up the feed with Feedburner it automatically creates “enclosures” on the feed it creates from your blog

2b. Straight to RSS

Download and install ListGardenhttp://softwaregarden.com/products/listgarden

Create your Feed

Add your MP3 as an item

Set the browse values (once)

Publish your feed

Choose the file to enclose

3. Listen!

Users can listen to:• the MP3 file on the blog

assuming you used this method (this is not the podcast)

• the podcast in iTunes or other podcasting client

• the podcasts in Bloglines or other aggregator

iTunes

Bloglines

Publicizing your podcast?

• Register with iTunes• Post a link to your podcast on

your blog and/or website• Announce in the library

newsletter or in the local newspaper

iTunes instructions

• http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/techspecs.html

Examples of podcasts

• Penguin Podcastshttp://thepenguinpodcast.blogs.com/

• Podfeed.net—podcasts tagged with ‘reading’

http://podfeed.net/tags/reading

• SWILSA’s News & Views weekly podcast

http://www.swilsanews.blogspot.com

Thank You!

Michael Sauersmsauers@nlc.state.ne.us

http://del.icio.us/travelinlibrarian/class-

podcasting