Norman High School Library
"Tiger Visits The Norman High Library" (Most Helpful)
This video is the first one I watched and is by far my FAVORITE! It really makes me want to be the librarian at a high school so I can recreate this! In this video, the school mascot visits the library and essentially delivers a light-hearted orientation! I'm sorry every sentence is ending in an exclamation point but it really is that precious! My only criticism would be that all the students featured in the library were male and I would've liked to see a few female students in there. I mean, even the mascot is male. How can I tell? Male tigers have an excess of white fur on the sides of their faces.
"Norman High School Library Rocks!" (Student Choice)
I like this one because a student made it and I think it's hilarious because it reminds me of some cheesy, local small business commercial. Plus, it features fake explosions and fire coming from books. What a fun project it would be to challenge students (in any library) to make a "commercial" advertising the library and place it on the library's webpage. You could even change it every month or every semester. I'm really excited about this idea!
The Unquiet Library
"New Arrivals, April 2012" (Student Choice)
I knew from the name that this was the library that the incomparable Buffy Hamilton built! In this video she used Animoto to put together a few photos of new book inventory to the library set to some catchy music. I think this is an excellent way to share this information with students. I could see this being shown as part of a library playlist on a workstation in the library or on the library webpage or on morning annoucements.
"Finding and Using Wikimedia Commons Images" (Most Helpful)
In this video (and many others like it on The Unquiet Library YouTube channel), Buffy Hamilton uses a screencast to show students how to access images to use for projects that don't pose a copyright concern. She delivers the information in a clear, concise manner which I find impressive because I tend to ramble when I do screencasts and they end up being WAY too long. Students can use videos like these from home when they are completing assignments or to get information if they've been absent.
Pikesville High School Library
"PikesvilleHighschool FAFSA" (Student Choice)
Even though this video isn't directly related to the library, I am assuming the library helped in its creation and I think that it has a great message for seniors and pushing them to apply for financial aid as soon as possible. Perhaps students are encouraged to use the library's computers to complete their FAFSA. Sure the video is a little corny, but for some reason, corn is what kids seem to remember. I'd be interested in some data to see how many students actually completed their FAFSA this year, compared to previous years.
"AP Physics" (Most Helpful)
Now, I'm not picking this video individually, but rather I chose it to represent a slew of videos of this nature on this library's YouTube channel. The videos consist of AP teachers discussing their classes (what the classes are like, the content, the workload). I feel like this could be a jumping off point. What if the librarian created a short video featuring each teacher or each department on the campus speaking about their classes or content? My school requires us to have Parent Night in which we discuss expectations for our pods (the four content area teachers). If we could record a video such as this, we would reach more parents since not everyone can make it to the school at that one date and time. Parents could watch the video at their convenience and even refer back to it regarding teacher or classroom policies. (PS--I chose the AP Physics video because I thought the Tesla coils in the background were cool.)
BBMS Media
"Punk Rock Etiquette Review" (Most Helpful)
We all know we can review books via video and upload them to YouTube, but I feel the manner in which this librarian does his review is a little different and more personal than just uploading from Animoto. I like that he is handling the book, showing the cover, show the author's pic, and discussing the book like he really enjoyed it. I mean, I want to read this book and I think I've outgrown my "wanna be in a band" phase. I think.
"Dr. Katherine and the Book Hoarder" (Student Choice)
So, this middle school seems to have an obsession with creating "return your books" type videos. There's probably around a dozen on their channel. Also some of the song parody varieties were funny, I think this is my favorite. Taking the talk show approach, these students encourage the turning in of library books by exploring the trouble one student has in returning her books. I don't know how, but they managed to film this in a way that captures the complete and total cheese of 90s talk shows like Sally Jessy Raphael and Phil Donahue. Bravo to these kids!
As you can see, there are a number of ways to use videos in the library. It seems the key will be to not only make them useful, but provide comic relief as well. I certainly want to make a library orientation video to place on my YouTube channel. I also think it will be helpful to post videos of the activities and learning going on in the library so that parents and community members can see the value of the school library. Additionally, I will create book reviews and book trailers to showcase what the library has to offer as far as inventory is concerned. And without a doubt, I'll hold student contests for library promotional videos. I am so excited to see what they'll create!
I think I could even advertise these videos by assigning them QR codes and printing them off on flyers and placing them around the school. Ideally, curious students would scan the QR code and be taken straight to a video. For instance if I had a QR code of a book review video, I could print it off with the title "Looking for a GREAT book to read?" and post them around the school or the library or on my webpage. I could also use QR codes to reveal the theme of a video contest or something of that nature. The QR code creator site I used Visualead which gave ideas for several different uses for QR codes including contact information, email and text messages, URLs, app links, and so many others.
I made my own QR code that links to an Animoto book trailer for a book I finished reading today. My sweet husband bought me this book pretty much the day it came out and I've only just now been able to read it. I'm so glad I did because it is so inspiring and its page now besmirched with highlighter because it just had so many thought-provoking bits. This book would be ideal for teachers. Heck, the librarian could even make QR code flyers and place them in the workroom or teachers' lounge with book suggestions. Perhaps a link to the Amazon page? Anyways, the book is The Natty Professor: A Master Class on Mentoring, Motivating, and Making it Work! written by none other than Tim Gunn, star of Lifetime TV's Project Runway and Under the Gunn.
Here's the publisher's synopsis of the book as found on Amazon:
A timeless book of lessons on mentorship, teaching, and learning from New York Times bestselling author Tim Gunn, host of the Emmy Award–nominated Project Runway and the reality show Under the Gunn.
Tim Gunn, America’s favorite reality TV cohost, is known for his kind but firm approach in providing wisdom, guidance, and support to the scores of design hopefuls on Project Runway. Having begun his fashion career as a teacher at Parsons The New School for Design, Tim knows more than a thing or two about mentorship and how to convey invaluable pearls of wisdom in an approachable, accessible manner.
While Gunn’s Golden Rules showcased Tim “as life coach,” imparting lessons based on his personal experiences, Tim Gunn: The Natty Professor will focus on Tim “as teacher.” Divided into sections on common themes—leadership, curiosity, diversity, understanding, empathy—this practical, timely book takes us on a journey through life lessons and uses Tim’s own personal experiences, from the classroom to the therapist’s office, to illustrate larger concepts. Each chapter will end with a “life assignment,” where Tim challenges you to apply the lessons you’ve learned in practical mentoring or teaching situations.
So grab a pencil and start taking notes: class is officially in session!
I've made Animoto book trailers before and my students created book trailers for their novel studies this past school year. They really enjoyed it and some of their videos were super-impressive. For theirs as well as the one I made here, the images were acquired from Creative Commons. Although, it's not quite as breath-taking as Dr. Perry's Ashfall book trailer, I think it's decent. So, without further adieu, my QR code for my book trailer:
I really do strongly recommended reading this book. Plus, as you read Tim Gunn's voice will be all you hear. BONUS!
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