#9 Podcasts - no iPod needed!

The word podcast is used to refer to a non-musical audio or video broadcast that is distributed over the Internet. What differentiates a podcast from regular streaming audio or video is that the delivery method for podcasts is often done automatically through RSS.

In 2005, "podcast" was named the word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary and with the growth of podcasting, it's easy to see why.

Podcasts take many forms, from short 1-10 minutes commentaries to much longer in-person interviews or panel group discussions. There’s a podcast out there for just about every interest area.

The best part about this technology is that you don’t have to have an iPod or a MP3 player to access them. Since podcasts use the MP3 file format, a popular compressed format for audio files, you can also listen using a PC with headphones or a speaker.

iTunes, the free downloadable application created by Apple is the directory finding service most associated with podcasts, but if you don’t have iTunes installed there are still plenty of options.

For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at some popular podcast directory tools. Do some exploring on your own and locate a podcast that is of interest to you. Once found, create a blog post about what you have found.

Discovery Resources:

• To find out more about podcasts, start with the What is a Podcast? information from Podcast Alley.
  
  
• There are many podcast directories and finding tools out there. Here are some that, unlike iTunes, don't require a software download:
  
  
  • Podcast.net
    
  • Podcastalley.com
    
  • Podcast Directory
  • National Public Radio Podcast Directory
    
  
  
• What? You want to learn how to be a podcaster too?
  (Optional Resources for those who want to learn how to create podcasts)
  
  
  • Odeo Studio – online recording studio.
    
  • Beginner's guide to Podcasts & Creating Podcasts
    
  • How to podcast tutorial

Discovery Exercise:

1. Take a look at one or two of the podcast directories listed above and see if you can find a podcast that interests you. See if you can find some interesting library related podcasts - like book review podcasts or library news.

2. Create a blog post about your discovery process. Did you find anything useful here?

Coming up next: Downloadable eAudiobooks from the library!