NCompass Live - August 3, 2022 http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/ During this program Omaha Public Library’s The Book Drop podcast team will discuss how they use podcasting as a remote readers’ advisory tool for both patrons and staff. With over 90 episodes under their belts, they’ll share the insight they’ve gained in working across departments, keeping the show fresh, and broadening the conversation around books and reading. Presenters: Michelle Carlson, Book Club Librarian; David Dick, Adult Services Specialist; Erin Duerr, Readers & Writers Librarian; and Anna Wilcoxon, Diversity & Inclusion Librarian, Omaha Public Library.

1. BUILDING A READING
COMMUNITY THROUGH
PODCASTING
BY THE BOOK DROP PODCAST TEAM
OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY

2. WHO WE ARE
ANNA WILCOXON
Diversity & Inclusion Librarian
South Omaha Library
DAVID DICK
Adult Library Specialist
Milton R. Abrahams Branch
ERIN DUERR
Readers & Writers Librarian
Benson Branch Library
MICHELLE CARLSON
Book Club Librarian
W. Clarke Swanson Branch

3. ELLY ROBERTS
Outreach Librarian
W. Dale Clark Main Library
NOT
HERE
TODAY

4. WHAT
WE'RE
TALKING
ABOUT
TODAY
HOW TO MAKE
A PODCAST IN
10 DAYS
FUTURE PLANS
ABOUT THE
PODCAST
PODCASTING
AS RA TOOL
LESSONS
LEARNED
WHERE TO
FIND US

5. 15,991
DOWNLOADS
95
EPISODES
780+
BOOKTALKS
2,679
TITLES MENTIONED
QUICK FACTS
The Book Drop is a weekly podcast
from Omaha Public Library that
explores topics related to our
community, libraries and the joy of
reading. Listen in as a team of OPL
staff offers up reading suggestions,
chats with guests and occasionally
geeks out about books, information
and pop culture.

6. DO YOUR RESEARCH FIND YOUR NICHE
GET APPROVAL
HOW TO...
MAKE A PODCAST IN
10 DAYS

7. LAUNCH
TIMELINE
MARCH 27
After OPL closed on March 15th due to safety concerns
around Covid-19 staff were not asked to report to work
remotely until March 23rd. The first week of the
pandemic closure was spent setting up remote working
and expectations.
SPRING 2020
Staff tasked
with project
creation
APRIL 6-7
Hosting site
purchased,
name set
1st
episode
recorded
APRIL 1
Podcast
proposed &
approved
Initial braining
storming
meeting
Equipment
purchased
MARCH 30
Music set
and cut
APRIL 9

8. EDITING
Free or paid?
Easy or advanced?
Who will do it?
How will you edit?
DO YOUR RESEARCH
EQUIPMENT HOSTING
Laptops
Microphones
Headphones
What technology will you
need?
RECORDING
What's your budget?
How many hours?
What analytics do you
need?
Explore your options
Can you use something
you already own?
Is there a free option?
What else is out there?
What are your options?

9. WHAT'S
YOUR
NICHE?
QUESTIONS
TO ASK
Who is the audience?
What is the vibe?
What is the format?
2
3
1

10. SERVICES MANAGER
Purchasing
Team members
Time commitment
Content
MARKETING
Logo
Name
Promotion plan
Content
ADMINISTRATION
Name
Content
Commitment
FINAL
APPROVAL

11. WHAT, LIKE IT'S HARD?
- ELLE WOODS
the lessons we've learned

12. LESSONS LEARNED
SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING TONE
Episode schedule
Planning meetings
Episode outlines
Building the team
Booktalking
Group norms
Personal vs. professional
Making it work
Technology
Support
Professional awe

13. What do you know
now that you didn't
know before?
Query of the
Presentation!

14. "SO MANY ****ING
BOOKS!"- MICHELLE
Reader's Advisory Immersion Therapy
Podcasting as a Library Commercial
Podcast vs Traditional RA
PODCASTING AS A READER'S ADVISORY TOOL

15. READER'S
ADVISORY
IMMERSION
THERAPY
GETTING TO
KNOW YOU
It's a great way to get to learn to booktalk,
as well as getting to know your own style
and approach
You will become greatly aware of when you
hit a reading slump, as well as your quirks
and habits as a reader
We all vary wildly on how in depth our
notes are. Some books you will be able to
approach more off the cuff, others you will
need to be more prepared
1
2
3

16. PODCAST AS
A LIBRARY
COMMERCIAL
FOR OPL &
LIBRARIES IN
GENERAL
06/10
Our listeners are not only in
Omaha, but all over the world. This
is a useful tool for raising visability
and promoting what a library is
and can be to a large audience. It
can really show how librarians are
reading experts, as well as cool
people to hang out with

17. LIBRARY
EVENTS &
SERVICE
WORKING
WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS
Coming Up at the Library
Omaha Reads
Behind the scenes episodes
Library news
Reading Challenge episodes
Reading Challenge Help Desk
Guests
Behind the scenes work
Marketing
Youth Services
Collection Development

18. PODCAST VS TRADTIONAL
READERS ADVISORY
AUDIO FORMAT ONE WAY
INTERACTION
PARASOCIAL
RELATIONSHIP
Can't show the cover
Learn how to talk about
illustrations
Especially challenging with
graphic novels where not only
are there illustrations, but
experiments with layout
You are talking directly to your
co-hosts, but also to people
who aren't there
This means if a book isn't
clicking, you don't know and
can't pivot
Make peace with the ums
Be wary of insider lingo
People will feel like they know
you
You will have fans and critics
Meeting fans is fun, but kind of
awkward
Unlike most parasocial
relationships, you can
reasonably expect to interact
with your target fans

19. THE FUTURE
What's next for
The Book Drop?
BEGIN
TRANSCRIPTION
+ SEO
INCREASE
LISTENER
ENGAGEMENT
CONDUCT
DIVERSITY
AUDIT

20. TRANSCRIPTION + SEO
ACCESSIBILITY MARKETING OUTSOURCING
Benefits not just people that are
deaf or hard of hearing, but also
people who do not speak
English as a first language
Transcription creates
opportunities for growing our
audience through SEO
We don't have to do it ourselves!

21. LISTENER ENGAGEMENT
TRANSCRIPTION SPECIAL EVENTS SOCIAL MEDIA
Boosts the reach of our
content
Live episodes and more
TBD
Establishing a dedicated
social media presence that
remains tied to the overall
organization

22. DIVERSITY
AUDIT
FOR A
PODCAST?
06/10
OPL began diversity audit
for physical materials and e-
books in 2021
Representation matters for
all library initiatives
Addition of genre to
standard audit process for
the podcast
Measurable, objective data

23. What would you
like to hear about
on The Book Drop
(or any other
book-centric
podcast)?
Final
Query

24. WHERE
TO FIND
US
THEBOOKDROP@OMAHALIBRARY.ORG
OMAHALIBRARY.ORG