The Evolution of a Law Library Radio Show

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln The Marvin and Virginia Schmid Law Library Law, College of 12-2010 Are We Recording? The evolution of a law library radio show Marcia L. Dority Baker University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/lawlibrary Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Dority Baker, Marcia L., "Are We Recording? The evolution of a law library radio show" (2010). The Marvin and Virginia Schmid Law Library. 3. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/lawlibrary/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law, College of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Marvin and Virginia Schmid Law Library by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Dority Baker in AALL Spectrum (December 2010) 15(3). Copyright American Association of Law Libraries. Used by permission. Are We Recording? The evolution of a law library radio show By Marcia Dority Baker room, or do both, and if a user misses the show is about: a law librarian on infinitely changed how humans the live show, the podcast can talk radio. Think of good book titles, exchangehe advent information.of technology There has are be downloaded from iTunes. band names, or even annoying songs or numerous ways to communicate with jingles-words or phrases that get stuck in your head and/or mean something. people: a phone call, by e-mail, at Hosting Your Own Radio Show Blog Talk Radio is a web-based, live This is your first opportunity to professional conferences, through radio internet service that includes free announce to the world what your show networking opportunities, and in or basic services for individual users; is dedicated to. publications of all types. Another premium levels of service and business Second, once you have a show to opportunity is via radio-not the old accounts are available for companies. host, set a schedule and be consistent. fashioned AM/FM kind, but online There are two types of individual In the beginning, the "Law Librarian on radio shows or podcasts. accounts---one for listeners and one for Blog Talk Radio" show was scheduled In May 2008, Richard Leiter, hosts. Users can listen to shows without for the third Friday afternoon of each director of Schmid Law Library at the registering but they will appear as guests month. This was a good time for the University of Nebraska College of Law, in the chat room instead of by their user hosts, guests, and panelists to talk, hosted the first episode of "The Law names. and the afternoon time slot benefited Librarian on Blog Talk Radio." all time zones, which is a plus when As a self-defined tech geek, guests can be on either coast Leiter wanted to experiment or somewhere in-between. with Blog Talk Radio and, at A regular schedule also retains the same time, talk about law listeners-there is nothing library issues, information, more annoying than finding a technology, and current events. new website, blog, or show and The show's original co-host, never seeing new content. Brian Striman of Schmid Law Finally, promote the show. Library, "manned" the chat This is your new baby, so blog room, took questions from the about it, tell your library audience for Leiter and/or coworkers about it, e-mail show guests, and assisted with professional online discussion the show. lists, etc. Blog Talk Radio When I took over as co- provides buttons and flair for host in the summer of 2009, your website, or you can use my new responsibilities a Facebook fan page, Twitter included leading the chat room account, or other social media discussion, helping with the sites to share information about show, promoting each episode, the show. Most social media organizing show topics, sites are free, so take advantage helping to schedule guests, of connecting with listeners, and offering general tech Richard Leiter and Marcia Dority Baker's new show, "Law sharing content, and providing another avenue for audience assistance. Basically, the co- Libraria n Conversations," is hosted by the Center for Comp host keeps things moving 'uter- feedback and suggestions. Aided Legal Instruction (CALl). along while the host interviews guests. One of the most active parts of the The concept is user-friendly-you Changes for -Fhe Law radio show is making sure all websites can sign up for a host account that Librarian" Show or people mentioned during a show are allows you broadcast time ranging from While Blog Talk Radio is a great included in the chat room discussion. 60 to 90 minutes. The only technology provider for online radio, it has created As a show progresses, I try to include necessary is a computer and telephone, some issues for "The Law Librarian" website URLs, guest webpages, and other though Skype can be substituted for a radio show. First was the strict start topics discussed on the show within the phone line. time for the show and the allotted show chat room. Following each show, a chat Before setting up a radio show, length. The show host cannot log on to room transcript is made available to there are a few things to think about. Blog Talk Radio until 15 minutes prior listeners. The great thing about Blog First, find a good name for the show, to the show's start time, which often Talk Radio is the audio and visual something that gets the point across and doesn't allow adequate prep time for component to the podcast. Users can is easy to remember. "The Law Librarian guests calling in from cell phones, Skype, listen to the show, participate in the chat on Blog Talk Radio" says exactly what or through the show's switchboard. The © 2010 Marcia Doriy Bake (continued on page 15) * AALL Spectrum - December 2010 Dority Baker in AALL Spectrum (December 2010) 15(3). Copyright American Association of Law Libraries. Used by permission. are we recording? continued from page 14 leaders of the pack continued from page 9 Friday afternoon slot at 2 p.m. central information on Twitter and Facebook. Law Librarians Take the Lead standard time also confused the audience Once someone has participated in a So what role do law librarians play in and guests, sometimes causing people to show (either as an attendee or panelist), these developments? At the 2010 AALL call in an hour early or late. his or her contact information is saved, Annual Meeting in Denver, a group The most annoying aspect, however, and an e-mail promoting the show is of librarians from firm, public, and was the advertising. While Blog Talk generated each time another "Law academic libraries met to discuss their Radio did a great job with the radio Librarian Conversations" show is involvement in animal law. The meeting show itself, it was the ads that listeners scheduled. was organized by Marie Erickson, head and guests had to suffer through that One challenge presented by the of public services at the State Law became the last straw. Even with an GoToWebinar software, however, is Library of Louisiana. Having given upgrade to the premium service, there the lack of a robust chat room. The continuing legal education presentations would still be ads. program's stock chat room allows for on the subject for the Louisiana State We made the decision to migrate chat between the attendees and presenter Bar Association, Erickson has first-hand from Blog Talk Radio to the Center for or organizer, but does not allow for experience with the growing interest Computer-Aided Legal Instruction effective back-and-forth conversation among practitioners. (CALl) in February 2010 after Leiter between attendees. In response, CALI It quickly became clear that those in contacted CALI Director John Mayer has provided an alternative chat room attendance not only have a professional about hosting a live radio show. CALI for the show, which is located on the connection to animal law through their uses GoToWebinar for its regularly show's website. Listeners can participate respective institutions, but also almost scheduled webinars, a format that would and be identified by their names by unanimously volunteer for animal also work for a radio show. After a logging in with their CALl credentials or welfare causes. The gathering created an number of e-mails, phone calls, and a as a guest. After the show, the chat room initiative to formalize the group as the few test shows, "Law Librarian transcript is saved and posted. official AALL Animal Law Caucus. The Conversations," hosted by CALL, went As long as "Law Librarian caucus is in the process of developing its live March 2010. Conversations" has listeners and is fun own online discussion list, website, and to all who are While the new radio show format to do, we will continue to broadcast the guidelines, and is open experienced some growing pains, it is show. I have enjoyed this experience, and active in or have an interest in welfare law. currently working well. It allows for it has given me the chance to play with promoting animal Responses to a short survey on the flexible show times, so we can start a bit new and fun technology. We have had Law-Lib online discussion list following earlier or later on Fridays or even change an interesting list of guests, from the guy the meeting revealed the wide range of the day to accommodate special guests. behind Google Scholar to a group of activities librarians participate in at their While being consistent is important, so firm librarians discussing what new institutions.

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