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Delivering the message: Disseminating information and professional development in the field of librarianship through technology

Heather Michele Moorefield-Lang (School of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA)

Library Hi Tech

ISSN: 0737-8831

Article publication date: 20 March 2017

1281

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of podcasts, online radio broadcasts, YouTube channels, and other technology medium to deliver information and professional development to peers in the field and professionals in librarianship.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores five case studies of librarians and library professionals who have created online programs specifically geared to the field using technologies such as podcasting, YouTube channels, Twitter Chats, and Google Hangouts. The case studies include librarians in the public, academic, and school settings as well as one professional from The American Library Association. Interviews via Google Hangouts took place to gather information for each narrative. NVivo 10 qualitative data analysis software was used to pull out themes and commonalities among narratives. Some examples include, intended audience, program focus, platform topics, technology, and challenges.

Findings

Face-to-face delivery of information and professional development can be difficult with librarians and professionals located across the USA and the world. These five interviewees share new opportunities and examples in the delivery of training and information in the field of librarianship without ever needing to leave an office or desk.

Originality/value

Podcasting in librarianship is a topic of modest popularity but it is typically used with students and at the academic library level where the topics of podcasts and libraries are addressed. The topics of podcasts, online radio broadcasts, and other technologies in librarian peer-to-peer instruction and professional development are uncharted territory in the field of scholarly research. This piece opens research to multiple opportunities in both practice and scholarship in how technology can aid in professional development and information delivery to peers and practitioners in the field.

Keywords

Citation

Moorefield-Lang, H.M. (2017), "Delivering the message: Disseminating information and professional development in the field of librarianship through technology", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 81-91. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-04-2016-0039

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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