This is National Library Week here in the U.S., and this year, the week comes as libraries are in desperate need of support – funding is under attack, hours are being cut, schools are dismissing media specialists in droves… all while library usage appears to be going up.
Throughout social media, libraries, librarians, and other communities are doing their best to rally to libraries’ aid. I highlighted an earlier comment-fund raising initiative, and today, many bloggers teamed up for Library Appreciation Day (with many links collected at Sheli Johannes-Wells’ blog).
While each small effort might not yield big results, the more people think about libraries, the more chance they’ll speak out and offer support. Social media is a way to get that message out – for everyone to help spread the word that libraries need us.
I took advantage of the new, free Search Stories on YouTube to create a video to, I hope, 
help spread the word in another way. It was also an experiment with a new tool – admittedly content for Google/YouTube – to see if it could be useful in any way.
I think people will tell some clever stories with Search Stories. Could you do a book trailer? Sure! Promote a blog event? Why not! Help libraries? I hope so. For me, it was fun and felt good. Sometimes, that alone can be enough.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Been part of community events? Helped spread the word with a video? Tips and stories are always welcome! (And hey… support your library!)
If you cannot see the video above, you can click here to see it on YouTube.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
What a fantastic tool! Thanks for sharing this.
.-= Beverley BevenFlorez´s last blog ..What the Dystopian & Western Genres have in Common =-.
I didn’t make a video, but I wrote a post from my heart, trying to share my concern about budget cuts and dwindling staff in Australian school libraries. http://www.thebookchook.com/2010/04/for-love-of-libraries.html
.-= Book Chook´s last blog ..Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? =-.
Greg, your video is awesome, a great example of a new google tool and a perfect example of why google alone is not enough. We still need libraries! Hope your video goes viral!
.-= Jane Heitman Healy´s last blog ..Sensational Census–National Poetry Month =-.
fun and quick. Nicely done, Greg!
Namaste,
Lee
.-= Lee Wind´s last blog ..So the High School And Parents Staged a FAKE Prom to keep Constance McMillen and Her Girlfriend from the REAL Prom! =-.
Very cool … and very effective!
Thanks, y’all. Spreading the word is step one, of course, because we really need people to take action beyond watching a video. That’s true in this case – they need to call, write, and email the people in charge of funding decisions – or if we’re selling a book via a trailer.
As for the Search Stories tool, it’s quite fun, and I think there are interesting ways to tell compelling stories with it. And it was fast and easy, too.
.-= Greg Pincus´s last blog ..The Search is Over =-.
Great video, Greg! Truly important message, too.
I posted it to Mixx (not entirely selflessly, since I’m doing a social bookmarking-related freelance project) and hopefully it’ll get a few more views that way.
.-= aquafortis´s last blog ..Yes, yes, yes. We all know: =-.
That was inspiring. You made it sound so simple and so fun (and it was) that even I had a go! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0LOEn2Zm2A