Ever since my Library Automation course in 2008, I've been honking the iTunes U horn. With the latest Apple update, I was once again drawn to checking out new content on iTunes U and catching a few lectures. In case you're not familiar with iTunes U, it is a fantastic platform for quality content sharing. It is built into the iTunes Store in the iTunes client (available for free for Mac and PC) and allows for free educational materials to be downloaded by the masses. Designed to originally target educational content from colleges and universities, it has grown to include museums, libraries, media groups, and even state governments. You can download (for free!) lectures from Harvard, a library's read-aloud podcast, Supreme Court case summaries, and a virtual art exhibition and take them along with you on your iPhone or iPod. As its slogan says, with iTunes U, you can "learn anything, anytime, anywhere."
There are so many ways to use iTunes U since it can offer a variety of formats: video, audio, text, slideshows... It's almost hard to find a way NOT to use it. With so many people connecting to iTunes every day with their iPods and iPhones, it just makes sense to meet your audience. Here are just a few ways that you can give your organization a presence on iTunes U and start creating more access points into your collection:
PODCASTS This is a very simple way to keep featuring pieces in your collection or news about your institution. So many organizations blog or update a group Facebook page anyway, why not turn it into a podcast too? Go Daddy offers blogcasting software, but I've never used it. Why? Because I am committed to free and open-source software. Grab a webcam or video camera (give yourself an excuse to get a Flip!) and create your own video blog files! Use YouTube to double your exposure! Or, just record your voice and use a screen capture software to record a PowerPoint or Web Demo (I'm a fan of Jing). My only warning is to ensure that you regularly update your podcast (unlike how I've waited 3 weeks to update this blog!). Users who frequently update their podcasts generally won't continue subscribing if it hasn't updated in 20 days.
VIRTUAL TOURS It's within an archive's nature to keep things hidden. Let's be honest- stacks aren't very exciting. But how will people ever know what cool stuff is your collection if they can't see them?? Chances are, you probably have to pull materials out every so often for a tour group coming by (students, other staff, bosses, etc...). While it's out and you have your 10 minute speech ready, why not record it? Not only will it give some attention to these materials, but it will also draw more attention to other materials in your collections. "Wow, look at this fantastic little video on this vintage typewriter! I wonder if they have any others!"
PROFESSOR COLLABORATION Now this may only apply to those special collections that are within an academic setting, but I bet if you thought hard enough about it, you could translate this approach to other environments as well. Some professors (especially those historian ones!) like to encourage students to use primary sources. What better way than to offer your own collection? iTunes U allows you to group together information, almost like a course management software. By uploading some pieces from the collection, such as audio recordings, photographs, and/or documents, you can allow the students to download these materials at their leisure. Another way to look at this outside of a University setting may be to hold contests for your organization- for instance, the best poster designed from uploaded materials by a 6th grader gets a family pass to your museum!
Take a look at iTunes U if you're not familiar with it (you can download iTunes 10 by visiting http://www.apple.com/itunes/). There are so many ways that it can be used to benefit an archives, special collection, and library organization. On the iTunes U Profiles page, there are some great examples of how universities are using it to their advantage. As the Arizona State University's Adrian Sannier puts it: "It's not just books and chalkboards."
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