Videos & QR Codes in the Library

When you think of a school library, do you think of a quiet place full of books and people reading?  Or do you think of a vibrant and cheerful room, full of people doing many different activities?  In today’s school library, all of these things happen.  One of the most important roles the school library plays in today’s environment is as a media center and technology hub.  One way that librarians promote the use of technology is by using it.  Today, we are going to look at a few different platforms that librarians can use to promote the library, support student learning, and share information using technology.

Many schools have their own Youtube channels to share content with students, faculty, and the community.  Below are several examples of school libraries that have done an excellent job of sharing usable and interesting content.  Please note that for each video, I have shared the most useful video and the most interesting video.

The Norman High School Library https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNHSLibrary/videos uses their Youtube channel to share “how to” videos and events happening on campus.  On this channel, the most helpful video is “Getting started with the NHS library website” which gives students directions for accessing and using the school library website.   



The video on this channel that students will like the best is “Tiger visits the Norman High Library”because it shows the wonderful offerings of the library using the school mascot.

The Pikesville High School Library https://www.youtube.com/user/pikesvillehslibrary/videos uses their Youtube channel to share coursework, videos from teachers of many subjects, and student videos of what they are doing.  The most useful video on this channel is”Snapshot of the Panthers Library” because it showcases the many awesome things students can do in the library and shows how doing these activities should look. 

They have several fun videos, but the funnest one is quite possibly “Panthers Library Shakes” because many students were able to participate and it is students dancing to a popular song.

The unquiet library channel https://www.youtube.com/user/theunquietlibrary/videos has many useful videos such as videos that showcase unique programs the library is running, events in the library, and examples of student projects.  The most useful video I found in all of my research into Youtube videos is “The Unquiet Library on wheels @ the Cafeteria” because it shows such a fabulous way to get books to students even when they can’t get to the library.  

The funnest video on this channel is “Scenes from the Unquiet Library” because, again, it shows students doing fabulous things in the library. 

Bbmsmedia is a channel bursting with hilarious videos https://www.youtube.com/user/bbmsmedia/videos .  The majority of their videos are parodies for turning in overdue books; some are music videos and some are movie trailers.  They are well-made, and I can’t choose just one to share.  Some of the funnest ones are: Fifth Harmony, Twilight, and Star Wars.  

While I was thinking about overdue parody videos, I looked up “overdue parody videos” to see if there were some more current ones, and found several.  My favorite one is “Bring Back Your Books” because it is very professional looking, hilarious, and includes students in the process.

If you belong to a campus or district that has blocked the use of Youtube, you can go to this website https://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/alternatives-to-youtube.html

 For a list of Youtube alternatives.

Students love technology.  They love creating.  And they love seeing themselves and people they care about on the big screen.  Try some of these out in your library! 

Animoto is a free, and easy to use program that gives teachers and educators more free videos if they register with their school account.   One fun way to use this program is to create book reviews.  I have created a book trailer for Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly.  

Synopsis of the novel: 

Emmeline has grown up with a gift. Since she was a baby, she has been able to control shadows. And her only friend and companion is her own shadow, Dar.

Disaster strikes when a noble and his family visits their home and offers to cure Emmeline of magic. Dar promises to change the noble's mind if Emmeline will help her become flesh as she once was. Emmeline agrees, and the next morning, the man is found in a coma. Frightened, Emmeline and Dar flee.

With the noble's guards on her trail, Emmeline's only hope of clearing her name is to escape capture and perform the ritual that will set Dar free. But Emmeline's not entirely sure she can trust Dar anymore, and it's hard to keep secrets from someone tethered to your feet.

QR Codes

QR Codes are those adorable little squares (that resemble bar codes) that you see on things all over the place now.  They have them in grocery stores, schools, at conferences and sporting events.  To use one, you must have an app (some newer model phones have the capability of scanning a QR code using their camera).  Once you scan the code, it takes you to a website with more information about a topic.  These are great for education and for libraries.  Some of the ways QR codes can be used in a library are:  Link to “how to” videos for things such as self-check out, logging into and using TexQuest, and using the OPAC. 

• Connect directly to the library webpage. 
• Sign in to the library 
• Use them for research topics when collaborating with teachers
•  Link to videos for book trailers
•  Links to further information on areas/ topics/ books in the library
• Connect to student projects
• Connect to teacher instructions
• 
  

In my elementary school library, I will start out with something simple and fun.  We will have QR codes by our Bluebonnet books and students can use them to link to book trailers made by other students on our campus to see which book they want to read next.  Once we get used to using those, we are going to try using QR codes for “how to” videos with the computers.

To test out my QR code making abilities, please find the QR code for my book trailer about Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly:

  

Resources:

Ziinkovich, B. (2015, January). Using QR codes to promote your library. Kids & Books.  Retrieved from https://www.ebscohost.com/novelist/novelist-special/using-qr-codes-to-promote-your-library.
Book synopsis taken from https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadow-weaver-marcykate-connolly/1126251129#/

Image 1 taken from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/65372632077818209/?lp=true.

Image 2 taken from https://www.creativebloq.com/news/youtube-launches-a-new-logo-design

Image 3 taken from https://sharpspring.com/animoto/