Comments on: Screencasting Patron POVs, a TTW Guest Post by Mick Jacobsen

By: Friday Link Round Up « ellie <3 libraries

Friday Link Round Up « ellie <3 libraries — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:37:54 +0000

[...] Screencasting Patron POVs, a TTW Guest Post by Mick Jacobsen [...]

By: Mick Jacobsen

Mick Jacobsen — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:15:44 +0000

Hi Jeff,

Yes we can provide both. But will both be watched? If so, by all means do both.

Having screencasts at the point of need is a big issue. A zero return search in an OPAC could perhaps bring up a list of tutorials along with a chat widget? Databases are more difficult. We are not extensively mentioning the databases at all, just the questions the databases answer.

As I mentioned in a previous comment academic libraries may have a different view on this than public.

Thanks,
Mick

By: Jeff Karlsen

Jeff Karlsen — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:31:33 +0000

I think it’s important, though, to provide both, and there’s no reason we can’t do so. Quick screencasts demonstrating how to solve particular problems, and more methodical demonstrations of database features (as an alternative to what are usually poor materials supplied by the vendor). A key question, though, is making sure users can easily find the tutorial they need.

By: The Distant Librarian

The Distant Librarian — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:42:27 +0000

Screencasts from the Patron’s Point of View…

Over on Tame the Web, Mick Jacobsen describes how he decided to produce his screencasts not from the librarian point of view, but from the Patron Point of View (PPOV). Which video do you think would be viewed more: Learn……

By: mick

mick — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:47:56 +0000

Hi Linda,
I would ask the reference librarians what are the resources most used.

My limited experience in academic librarianship would suggest CQ Researcher. That is a perfect database to do PPOV tutorials. Instead of how to search CQ Researcher you can do a few questions such as finding information on abortion, immigration, legalization of drugs, racism, etc (the normal topics for undergrads). You could conceivable do just one tutorial and then say at the beginning/title by the way this will work for other questions too. Instead of touring your OPAC do a title search, do a keyword search, do a author search, etc.

Talk to the professors. What papers do they receive most? Talk to the students. What would help them. Do not consider these tutorials as a one semester job, but an evolving document. It would be cool if you could get students to help write/design them?

The PPOV works for me. I think it could work for you as well.

Mick

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:50:27 +0000

That’s a great idea. We definitely need to start providing tutorials on the specific aspects of our databases. Instead of saying, here is how to use Ebsco Masterfile Premier, we should be saying, here is how to find consumer reports on the library’s webpage.

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:13:22 +0000

Hi Mick,
I am happy I read this post. This summer, I will be starting a project writing tutorials. I would have given the basic “walk through” some of our databases, until I read your post. Thank you!

I am in an academic institution, a community college in eastern Iowa. Since this is my first attemp at writing tutorials, I would love to hear how you decided what the tutorials should be about and any other information and tips that would be helpful for a newbie. I have worked here since 1993, but just graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison SLIS. Thank you in advance for your advice and expertise!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:12:57 +0000

Patrons want answers at the point of need. In that respect we’re the same, academic and public.

By: Mick Jacobsen

Mick Jacobsen — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:54:07 +0000

Hi Jennifer,
Glad you liked it. You are exactly correct. Patrons generally don’t want to learn boolean logic they want to find articles about their mom’s upcoming surgery! So how can we really help?

This may be different in an academic library setting…

Mick

By: Jennifer Roach

Jennifer Roach — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:22:42 +0000

This is exactly what I have been exploring lately. Nice to see you express the concept so well. By making your screencasts answer a specific question, they are relevant to the viewer. If you need to make a few more videos, no problem. Better to make several videos that are meaningful, than to make one all encompassing video that well, gets turned off at the 3 minute mark anyway.

By: Mick Jacobsen

Mick Jacobsen — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:21:50 +0000

Some other good articles I didn’t mention.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6650840.html
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6626746.html