Pod People!!!

Effective podcast use by libraries presents an interesting challenge. Finding a receptive audience for podcasts seems to go against the notion popularized by campy films of the past. Good podcasts are not designed to cultivate uniformity across the demographic spectrum. Rather, they seem crafted to address a niche of uniqueness, and to carefully tend a nascent perception of privilege. Well done, they serve a concierge function for targeted library customer profile.

Podcasts produced by Johns Hopkins University's Sheridan Libraries present a nice example of niche marketing. I listened to the podcasts for alumni as well as current students, staff and faculty. A couple of features were finely tuned. The musical introduction, especially the one chosen for the alumni, eased any sense of strangeness the listener might experience in trying out the podcast tool. The tunes were a hospitable welcome, a warm or cool drink while strolling the virtual foyer. Beyond that the format was a conversational interview between two staff members. Two voices are usually more engaging than one, and pod listener can imagine himself at his own private screening of this new fangled library "show."

Not bad. Now if they could only arrange for a free gift under my seat...