YouTube

Potentially YouTube could be very useful for libraries as a teaching aid. I think we could create handy little 30 second to 5 minute how-to clips on doing all sorts of library activities, (such as how to put money on your library card, print from the internet PCs, or use the catalogues and databases to find scholarly articles). I know that for a user this library is huge, complex, overwhelming and maze-like. YouTube videos scattered appropriately on our website could really help some new library users to familiarise themselves with our systems and services. They would also be tools that people could return to when they've forgotten those confusing steps that a librarian patiently took them through, but which they can't quite recall. So, the library could also have a YouTube channel of how-to videos for visitors/users to view.

I also sometimes like it when YouTube clips are added to presentations or training sessions, (as long as the material is relevant, engaging and short).

However, I don't enjoy YouTube as a site to browse. I find it clumsy to search or navigate the site, compared to Flickr for example which I enjoy exploring, and which makes excellent use of tagging and sets to aid navigation.