Develop a Media Production Program

Libraries are developing media centers and makerspaces as part of the services they provide to communities since people are eager to "see themselves" in the library.

Learn how media creation projects are a growing part of the K-12 curriculum and how school librarians facilitate student creativity.

Online learning tools now offer opportunities to enable anyone to easily and simply create images, videos, podcasts, infographics, memes and more. Learn about the many academic library spaces which are helping students to create media

In Chapter 3, we look at the different types of videos created by librarians and learn about BookTubers, exploring how their community functions in people's lives.

We consider the significant effort involved in sustaining a community-based media production project and discover

what happens when patrons create promotional videos for a library.

Finally, we show how librarian-created music -videos can express the deepest values of librarianship.

Best Practices of Media Production Programs in Libraries

Becoming a media creator is a transformative experience. Are patrons getting the support they need to become digital authors, not just readers or viewers?

Planning

Have a purposeful goal for the assignment or project

Help learners conceptualize an authentic target audience for their work
Encourage the use of planning tools like mind maps and storyboards
Develop intermediate deadlines for different phases of the project to help learners manage time

Cultivating Creativity

Encourage learners to collaborate with a partner using “the power of two” principle to promote creativity
Time for play and other breaks during production supports the creative process
Take advantage of deadline pressure to create positive stress
Don’t over-structure or establish too many expectations

Digital Skills Development

Encourage trial-and-error exploration and independent learning with one or more digital platforms and tools
Support changes in creative plans that evolve during the production process
Model the practice of just-in-time learning to support skill development
Invite peers to help each other

Feedback and Revision

Help learners to discover creative ideas during the process of making media
Use questions to gently encourage learners to think in new ways about their work

Making Work Visible

Create ways to showcase creative work through screenings, gallery walks and other events
Support the learning experience by asking authors to reflect on their production process
Demonstrate respect for people’s emotional investment in their creative work

Learn more about other best practices of media production programs and media centers in libraries:

Hobbs, R., Deslauriers, L. & Steager, P. (2019). The Library Screen Scene: Film and Media Literacy in Schools, Colleges and Communities. New York: Oxford University Press.

Sometimes a parody music video can address the deepest values of librarianship. LIbrarians at the Homewood (IL) Public Library celebrated Banned Books Week in 2017 by collaborating to create a parody music video entitled Leer Despacito - Banned Book Week Parody of Despacito by Luis Fonsi w/ Justin Bieber.

They adapted the visual look and music of Luis Fonsi’s Spanish-language dancehall song “Despacito,” (which means Slowly). In this black-and-white film, we see young readers who encounter banned books by Hispanic authors. Captioning in English and Spanish makes this film a treat for a wide range of viewers!

Banned Book Week Music Video Parody