1. Are You Ready for Your Close-up?
Creating Online Videos
Jody Wurl, Hennepin County Library
on Twitter

2. Why Online Videos? Provide 24/7 service
Promote your library to a broad audience
Use a format that reinforces the library’s relevance in the 21st Century

3. Moviemaking Basics Write a script or outline Storyboard your shots
Set up a microphone, camera, lights
Film your feature, plus some b-roll footage
Edit the video
Host the video online, using consistent tags

4. Important Production Values
Clear audio
Stable picture
Short viewing time

5. General Best Practices
Reflect the mission of your organization
Identify your audience
Check for accuracy in your script
Develop good production values
Get permission to use people who are recognizable, especially minors
Make videos as accessible as possible

6. Screencasting Best Practices
Set up a standard template in your software
Write a script outline and storyboard it
Practice navigating your script until you can do it smoothly
Consider adding an audio track or music if possible

7. Traditional Filmmaking Best Practices
Design a standard intro and outro for your videos using your brand
Write a script outline and storyboard it
Audition for your spokesperson
Give the script to your spokesperson to practice with well before filming
Make sure you have permission to post anyone recognizable in your video

8. Questions You Need to Answer
Who will make your videos?
What do you need to make videos?
Where do you film videos?
How will you share your videos?

9. Who Will Make Them? Library staff Affiliated staff
Volunteers or interns
Community partners or professionals
If using traditional filmmaking try for
one person on camera
one as director/producer
one as assistant
and whomever you need in front of camera

10. What Do You Need? Screencasting software Camera with tripod
Microphone and/or digital recorder
Computer with traditional editing software
Optional: lights, backdrop
Support from library management

11. Where Do You Film?
Be aware of ambient noise: Does it get picked up on the audio track?
Be aware of what’s behind your subject: Is the background distracting? Boring? Will you be filming people without their permission?
Be aware of lighting: Are there shadows? Reflections on eye glasses?

12. How Will You Share Them? Host them on YouTube and/or Vimeo
Link to them on your website and social media channels
Try to make them accessible through closed captioning for the hearing impaired, and sharing transcripts or using audio captioning for the visually impaired
Create a plan to maintain this collection online

13. Resources
MCTC Interns: contact Mary Ahmann at
WebJunction:
YouTube’s Creator Hub
Me: contact Jody Wurl at (612) on Twitter