How to Create a Podcast for Your Library

Would you like to be able to tell your library's story? Producing a podcast is a cost-efficient way to broaden the reach of your marketing and get in front of people you may not be reaching currently. Additionally, a podcast is a way to educate people on a particular topic and be the authority of your library's brand in your own voice. Through a regularly scheduled podcast you can keep your story current as well as provide updates and new offerings in each episode.

In this 2-week course, librarian and podcaster Lorene Kennard will guide learners through the process of developing ideas and goals for their podcast as well as choosing a platform and producing a final product.

By the end of the course learners will be able to:

• Develop or expand on an idea for a podcast
• Determine the goals of their podcast
• Determine who their target audience will be
• Decide where to market the podcast
• Establish the platform on which to host the podcast
• Produce a podcast

Course Description: This two-week course will include one interactive live session:

• Wednesday, January 11th,  @ 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Pacific time)

Please make every effort to ensure that you are able to attend this meeting before enrolling in the course. If this is not possible, an archived recording will be made available.

In addition to the scheduled session, the instructor will:

Provide resources, best practices, and useful tips and techniques that can be applied immediately. During the course, you will participate in discussion forums and an online meeting. You will be able to share experiences and questions. Upon completion of the course, you will be able to apply the concepts learned to your own library and community.

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

• Week 1: Start thinking about a podcast
  • Develop an idea for a podcast
  • Determine the goals of a podcast
  • Figure out who the audience will be
  • Decide where to market the podcast
• Week 2: Create the podcast
  • Establish the platform on which to host the podcast
  • Produce a sample podcast

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2½ hours per week, for a total of five course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments and discussions. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: This course is for anyone who wants to learn the basics of creating a podcast to promote their organization and/or provide information a specific topic.

Learner Requirements:

• Access to the internet
• Access to a computer or device that can download apps and record
• Basic technology skills

After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for one more week, and the course material will stay up for an additional week after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.

Do you work in a rural or tribal library? If so, you may be eligible for a free seat in this course. Each course has up to five free seats allocated for rural or tribal libraries. Fill out a fee waiver request, and if a free seat is available you will be notified via email.

Keywords: podcasting