Videos and QR Codes In the Library

In today's blog post I will be highlighting the use of YouTube, Animoto, and QR codes in school libraries. Teens in today's society love technology so it is important to incorporate technology into the school library program.

First I will talk about YouTube in school libraries. There are so many ways that YouTube can be incorporated into school libraries. For example, YouTube can be used to upload and view book trailers, library procedures videos, to showcase library activities, etc. As I explored YouTube and how it was used in school libraries I took a closer look at some school library YouTube channels. The first school I looked into was the Norman High School Library. A video that was posted by the library that I felt would be the most helpful to students was the NHS library orientation video.  This video is not only perfect for new students to the school, but it is an excellent resource for all students. A video that all students would like is Tigerpalooza 2015 Dark Lord Funk. This video was funny and it incorporated students and teachers. 

The next YouTube channel I looked at was The Unquiet Library. A video that I found that would be extremely helpful to students was Tillery Tutorial Video: Creative Commons 101 for Senior Project Slides. This video shares very pertinent information about creative commons and it explains creative commons in a student friendly way. A video that students would like was Creative Commons Licensing: What it is and Why Should I Care.Students will like this video because it is a short video that explains in a nutshell what students need to know about creative commons.

The next school YouTube channel was Pikesville High School Library. A helpful video for students was 2014-2015 Course advisements. It is very important for students to be well informed before registering for their classes. The video students would most likely like is Hip Hop Day at The Panthers Library. This is a fun video showcasing the activities that the library put together in an effort to celebrate Black History Month at Pikesville High School.

  

The last school library YouTube channel that I navigated through was Bonnie Branch Middle School. A helpful video for students was Online Career Resources. This video is helpful to students because it shows them how to use the library resources for their career research assignment. A video students would like is All I Do Is Read. This video would be attractive to students because they used a popular song that kids know and it is any easy way to remember that library books are due. 

Having a library YouTube channel is a great way to advertise the library. I would utilize YouTube as a way to get more students to participate and collaborate with the school library. For example, I would have students help me create the videos and/or act in the videos. I would feature school library activities, highlight student created book trailers, create screencasts that would help students with databases and research, etc. All of these videos can be used to promote the services available at the campus school library.

The next tool I want to discuss is Animoto. When I found out we had to create a book trailer I was terrified because I thought it would be a difficult task. I had always seen book trailers on YouTube and I always thought they were awesome, but figured they were difficult to make. I was wrong and I had such a great time making my book trailer. Animoto is a user friendly tool that makes creating a book trailer very easy. I signed up for a free educator account and it was as easy as adding pictures, text, and music. I found the pictures for my video at www.pixabay.com which is a free image website. After I completed my book trailer, Animoto enabled me to upload the book trailer to my YouTube channel. Then I went to www.qrstuff.com and I created a QR Code for my book trailer. It was really simple and all I had to do was select the data type, enter the video’s URL, and select the color for my QR Code and then it is ready for download. After downloading it all you need to do is save it in your files. I highly recommend using Animoto and QR Stuff  because they are both easy to use and very effective.

QR Codes are a fun way to get students engaged in the school library program. Not only will students enjoy discovering what the QR Code will lead to, but they will also enjoy scanning the code with their electronic devices. Below you will find information about the book that I selected for my book trailer and QR Code: The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John. Scan the QR Code to view my book trailer.

The night Martine Allen turns eleven years old is the night her life changes completely. Martine's parents are killed in a fire, so she must leave her home to live on an African wildlife reserve with a grandmother she never even knew she had. When Martine arrives, she hears tales of a mythical animal living there-a white giraffe. They say no one has ever seen the animal, but it does leave behind footprints. Her grandmother insists that the white giraffe is just a legend, but then, one stormy night, Martine looks out her bedroom window straight into the eyes of the tall silvery animal. Could it be just Martine's imagination, or is the white giraffe real? And if so, why is everyone keeping its existence a secret?

After learning how to create QR Codes I am very excited to incorporate them into the library. As I searched how other school libraries are implementing QR Codes I found a lot of really neat ideas. For example, some schools use them as promotion for new library books. They display QR Codes all over the library and the school hallways and when the students scan them they get information about the new library books that have just arrived. Other librarians make library orientation videos and place the QR Codes for those videos all over the library. The students then scan the codes to watch the videos. After the students watch the videos they answer questions on a worksheet pertaining to the library procedures. Another idea I found was some libraries have QR Codes displayed all over the school and when students or parents scan them they get the latest library news and announcements.  

After discovering how other school libraries are using QR Codes I am going to definitely incorporate them into my school library as a way to promote the library in order to get more students and parents to come in. I will use them as a way to advertise new library book arrivals, I will use them to guide students to databases for research projects, I will use them to promote tips for ethical internet use and research, to promote library activities, etc. There are endless possibilities on how librarians can effectively use QR Codes in their libraries. As for me I am so ecstatic and grateful that I was required to learn about Animoto and QR Codes.