1. Kate Kosturski, @librarian_kate
Podcaster, The Knitting Librarian Podcast
Pratt Institute School of Information and Library Science
LIS 680, Instructional Technologies
November 8, 2010

2. What is a Podcast?
Collection of self-created files (audio, video or both)
on a host server.
How do these differ from other audio or video files?
RSS transmits new content when it is available.
You don’t have to do anything (or next to nothing) to
get the new content – it will download automatically!
As of December 2009, over 150,000 podcasts are
available in iTunes for download.

3. What is an RSS Feed?
Format (XML) used for publishing frequently updated
works
What does an RSS feed include?
Full published file
Metadata
Examples of RSS Feeds:
http://feeds.kexp.org/kexp/musicthatmatters (KEXP Music
that Matters Podcast)
http://knittinglibrarian.libsyn.com/rss (The Knitting
Librarian) (shameless self-promotion)

4. Why Do People Make
Podcasts?
Preserve content that may have historical or cultural
significance
Build speaking/presentation/technical/software skills
Gives those who may not have a voice that voice
Ex. Radio Rookies (WNYC)

5. Why Should Libraries Make Podcasts?
Teaching tool
Opportunity to participate in library instruction
without being present (distance education).
Review concepts covered in a seminar or class that may
have been difficult
Excellent marketing tool for your library
Show off new collections and services
Record library events

6. There’s a Podcast for Everything
No. Really. There Is.
Public Radio: Car Talk, This American Life
Music: KEXP Song of the Day, IndieFeed
Humor: Jay and Silent Bob Get Old, The Ricky
Gervais Podcast
Sports: ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption
Tech: This Week in Tech
Lifestyle: Various language courses, Grammar Girl,
The Splendid Table
(As of September 2010, these are all available on iTunes!)

7. You Convinced Me. Let’s Make One.
So How Do I Do It?
The stuff – what do you need to make the
podcast?
The know-how – how do I record, edit, and
upload the podcast?
The name – Marketing the Podcast

8. The Stuff – What do You Need?
Microphone
Digital Audio Recording/Editing Software
Computer
Recording Studio
Internet Connection/ISP
Server Access
Podcast Receiver
But before all this you need….

9. The Big Idea!
What’s your Podcast Going to be All About?
Develop one theme for your podcast
Have regular segments
Don’t be boring!
Keep it simple and short
Stay Consistent with Your Theme but Have Room for
Experimentation (listener feedback might be helpful!)

10. More on The Big Idea
Some questions to ask yourself when prepping
podcast content….
What aspect of my life/organization am I passionate
about?
What do family/friends/colleagues ask for help about?
What can I speak about on a expert level?
What services would my organization like to promote?

11. Exercise: Creating Promo Content
Working in your library groups, spend 10 minutes
outlining what you want in your library podcast. Use
the questions and thoughts on the previous slides as a
guide.
General or specific (i.e. specific product or service)?
Supplement to a library class or event?
How long do you want it to be?

12. 10 Minute Break

13. Questions?

14. The Details (The Other Stuff)
The Microphone
USB or line-in, desktop v. headphones.
Newer Macs also have built in microphones.
Good idea to have different mics for different purposes
The Computer
Duh. 
Digital Recording/Editing Software
Cleans up sound and saves it to the right format
GarageBand (Mac), Audacity (PC & Mac)

15. More Details
The Recording
Studi0
This can be
anywhere.
Open space, quiet,
little echo
Stable Internet
connection and
power sources
This is where I record. 

16. And Still More Details!
(Really, I Swear this is Easy Stuff.)
Internet and Server
The podcast’s home and how the podcast gets
home.
The Aggregator
How your fans will find your podcast if not on your
website
Examples: iTunes, iTunesU, Juice

17. Time to Make the Podcasts
Create Content
Edit and Save Content
Upload to a Host Server
Subscribe in iTunes with RSS Address

18. Creating Your Content
Audio
Interviews
Audiobooks
Promos
Speech
Conversation
Video
Screenshots
Live video
recording
Photo slideshow
Always remember copyright!

19. Scripts (Not the Web Kind)
It’s extremely important to have a script!
Scripts keep you on schedule
Scripts organize your content
Scripts make great show notes
Scripts will help groom your confidence as a
public speaker.

20. The Tech Side of Creating Content
Sample Rate – The speed at which your
audio comes in to your microphone and the
editing software. Measured in kb/sec.
Mono v. Stereo – how much audio info are
you collecting?

21. Tech Tips
Watch your volume – this may take trial and
error.
Keep speakers turned down to avoid
feedback
Hold your microphone about six inches from
your mouth
Remember what Mom told you – Speak
clearly and Speak up!

22. All About Audacity
Open-source, free audio recording and editing
software (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audacity)
Compatible with PC, Mac and Linux
Download from sourceforge.net:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/.
Use Version 1.2 for this class.

23. Getting Started with Audacity
(Demo)

24. The (Rather) LAME Encoder
The LAME Encoder Audacity to convert Audacity
projects to MP3 files.
Why MP3? These are small and universal.
MUST BE DOWNLOADED!
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?
s=install&item=lame-mp3

25. Next Week
Come to class with the following:
Podcast promo
Background music/sounds (resources will be on the
wiki)
Bring headphones to class
Save the pieces of the promo on a USB drive, Dropbox,
etc.
Next week…
Putting the promo pieces together
Uploading, creating the RSS feed and marketing

26. Useful Resources
“Podcasting: Making Noise The New Fashioned Way.”
Presented by Thomas Dopko and Dow Jones at the 2009
Special Libraries Association Conference, Washington,
DC: (Slides available on request.)
Cochrane, Todd. Podcasting: Do-It-Yourself Guide.
Indianapolis, IN.: Wiley Publishing Inc., 2005
Wikipedia
Podcasting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasts
RSS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS

27. Contact Info
The Knitting Librarian Podcast:
http://knittinglibrarian.libsyn.com
Email: librariankate7578@gmail.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/librarian_kate
Blog: http://www.librariankate7578.com