I'm a bit late to the game to play with ChatGPT, only logging on for the first time this morning. I recently received an email from a faculty member asking me how his students should cite in APA format, so I figured I should take the AI out for a little chat. The AI and... Continue Reading →
A change in my video recording process
A while back I posted about how I was occasionally finding lip sync lag (ala "Kung Fu Theater" when I recorded my on-camera video introductions and conclusions using Screencast-o-matic. No matter what I did, I would still experience some lag when recording my face, and my lips and words did not quite match up in... Continue Reading →
Testing audio and video quality (and lag) with Screencast-o-matic, a Blue Yeti microphone, and Logitech C920 Webcam
I made this short video to test the audio and video quality of the Blue Yeti microphone and the Logitech C920 webcam using Screencast-o-matic. Sometimes if you use the audio from another mic like the Blue Yeti, but record your video another source, such as I do with the Logitech C920 Webcam, there can be... Continue Reading →
My new and improved setup for making instructional videos
Last summer I started using some new hardware that has made my video making a lot easier. The new setup helps me make better quality videos while reducing steps and saving a substantial amount of time. Some time ago I shared how I make my instructional videos. In that post I detailed how I recorded... Continue Reading →
How I make instructional library web videos and screencasts and how you can too
Making videos for my library patrons have saved me time, allowed me to better serve my them, and enabled them to quickly find answers to their questions. I first started using web video for library instruction over 6 years ago and have learned a lot along the way. My hope is that the information... Continue Reading →
What is a browser?
Libraries are often accused of using terms that the general public does not understand (catalog, OPAC, stacks, reserves, reference, periodicals, etc). As this video demonstrates, misunderstanding jargon goes way beyond the walls of the library. In this video, an employee from Google asks random New Yorkers, "What is a browser?". The... Continue Reading →
Implementing a text messaging reference service on the cheap
Many libraries now offer text-a-librarian services to extend reference service to patrons on their mobile phones. If your library has pondered the idea of implementing a text messaging reference service, but couldn't quite figure out a way to pay for the service, I hope you find this useful. Our library has been running... Continue Reading →
Yes, IM is still a great way for patrons to reach you
I work every Monday night. The business students all know that I work every Monday night, as my hours are posted on my Contact Page, and I tell them in every class I teach when I work. So here is what one Monday night looked like a few weeks ago, between 6:00 and 7:30. Yep,... Continue Reading →
Smartphone owners price-shop while in retail stores? Say it ain’t so!
This is likely not news to anyone who owns a smartphone such as a Palm Pre, Blackberry, Droid, or iPhone, but a recent study says that shoppers look at competitors' prices while shopping in retail stores. A survey from the researchers, covering the third quarter of 2009, suggested that 52% of smartphone owners use their... Continue Reading →