Greg R. Notess, London: Facet, 2012, x+110 pp., £34.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-85604-848-4
Screencasting is another way for librarians to instruct and guide library users through the myriad of online resources. Through audio and video, screencasts can show a user the process of searching, where to click, and provide walk-throughs for tricky and unfamiliar databases. Users can access them at will, and remotely, rather than having to turn up to a session at the library. Screencasts can also be produced quickly for answering questions or to send to IT support to capture a glitch on the system.
Screencasting for Libraries is part of The Tech Set series, aimed at library professionals in providing instruction in emerging technologies. Greg R. Notess, is Reference Team Leader and professor at Montana State University and has been writing about screencasting since 2005, and about the Internet and information resources since 1991. This book is an extension of his website (http://www.notess.com/screencasting/) and brings together a range of resources, websites and tips.
While it could be argued that a tech book published in physical format may soon become obsolete due to ever-changing technology, for some people a print guide that sits beside their desktop (or on an e-book device) and can be quickly referenced thanks to an extensive index, is preferable to scrolling through reams of online text. Having been published last year, it is as current as possible, with much of what's available online written more than a few years ago.
The book offers practical tips on planning your screencasts, including developing a click path, and writing a script to make your screencast sound polished. Several different sites and software are also reviewed and discussed, from the free to the premium.
Screencasting for libraries is quite a comprehensive guide, also providing advice on hosting the completed screencasts and marketing the screencast as an information service. The use of images and screen grabs is context appropriate, but the readers is not overwhelmed by them; as interfaces can change over time, an extensive use of images would date the book considerably. The companion website offers templates and additional content.
The market for this series does seem to be primarily the academic librarian, though the technology is discussed in such a way as to be a useful aid for any librarian keen to develop new skills. You have detailed instructions, in clear language, and advice at every step of the way. It's almost as good as a reference librarian explaining what to do in person.
© 2013, Stephanie McGlinchey