This document discusses the Sound of the Archives podcast created by Prairie Hady, Laura Farley, and Dana Gerber. It provides an overview of the podcast's creation, challenges faced, and future plans. The podcast's mission is to foster greater understanding of how archives function in society and inspire appreciation for archival materials. Challenges included allocating resources and maintaining collaboration. These were overcome through utilizing others' input, delegating tasks, and focusing on familiar topics. The future of the podcast may include expanding the audience and collaborating with institutions from a physical distance. Podcasting is seen as a way to engage patrons and increase institutional visibility.

1. Sound of the Archives
Midwest Archives Conference
Prairie Hady
Laura M. Farley
Dana E. Gerber
April 20, 2013

2. RICK PIFER’S INTRODUCTION
Presenter biographies
The role of social media in archives

3. CREATION, CHALLENGES &
THE FUTURE
Prairie Hady

4. A clip, from us to you
 7th episode
 World War II
 Love letters
 Jim and Ruthie

5. The Vision...
• Share in an accessible, fun and thoughtful way:
1. Knowledge and experience of practitioners
2. Insights and inspirations of students
3. Perspectives and ideas of archives users
• Foster a greater understanding of how archives
function within society in hopes that it would inspire
an appreciation for true value of the materials that
archives hold.

6. The Mission...
• Produce a forum for discussion about theory
and practice in the archival profession
• Change peoples’ perception of archives

7. The First Episode:
Prairie, Laura and Dana Recording "Social Justice in the Archives"

8. Challenges
• Resource Allocation
• Committed Collaboration

9. Overcoming Challenges
• Utilizing the input of others
• Delegating tasks
• Working with what we were interested
in or familiar with

10. At Your Institution
• Incorporating work already being done on a
daily basis
• Re-using previously created materials
• Creativity, flexibility, passion, drive

11. Reaching a Broad Audience
• Start Small
o Relatives
o Friends
o Co-Workers
o Classmates
• Maintain a Core Following
• Use that Foundation to Build a Solid Support
Network
• Expand Audience...Slowly, but Surely

12. The Future of Sound of the
Archives
• Physically separated
after graduating in
May
• Opportunity to
broaden our reach
and expand our
audience
• Ability to maintain
communication
Copyright © 1999-2012, USA Corporate Services Inc.

13. WHY PODCASTS MATTER
Laura Farley

14. Using Podcasts to Increase Visibility
• Direct Ways to Increase Institutional Visibility:
– Website, iTunes, and Social Media

15. Using Podcasts to Increase Visibility:
iTunes Store
“history” 100s of podcasts “Minnesota history” 22 podcasts

16. Using Podcasts to Increase Visibility:
• Link to your podcast in:
– Finding aids
– Staff email signatures
– Related Wikipedia articles

17. Using Podcasts to Increase Visibility:
Indirect Exposure through Collaboration
Links to archival institutions discussed in the episode:
Archives as… Irish For a Day: March 17, 2012

18. Using Podcasts to Increase Visibility:
Increased Searchability
Search terms used to find Sound of the Archives taken from
our WordPress Dashboard statistics:

19. Positive Outcomes of Collaboration
• Increased institutional visibility and
searchability
• Honor the story of your donors and patrons
• Partner with institutions near or far to
increase awareness of collections

20. Engage Patrons in a New Way
• Who is alienated by blogs and social media?
– Visually impaired
– Patrons with low literacy levels and learning
disabilities
– Children
– Those without a reliable internet connection
– Anyone without time to dedicate to reading

21. Engage Patrons in a New Way
• Edutainment: providing education in an
entertaining format

22. Engage Patrons in a New Way
• Institutional Episodes: podcasts that inform
patrons about the policies, services, and staff
at your archive
– What is a finding aid?
– How do you search the archive catalog?
– How should you prepare for a visit to the archive?
– What projects are staff working on?

23. Why Your Archive Can Create a
Successful Podcast
• 45% of Americans Are Familiar With Podcasts
• 25% of Americans Listen to Podcasts on a
Regular Basis

24. Why Your Archive Can Create a
Successful Podcast
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-
57460633-37/apple-spins-out-podcasts-app-
ahead-of-ios-6/
http://android.appstorm.net/roundups/lifestyle-
roundups/great-podcasting-apps-to-replace-
google-listen/
Kindle Fire on Amazon.com
• Capitalize
on mobile
technology
• Meet your
patrons
where
they’re
already at

25. This American Life
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/
Podcast access on This
American Life’s website
Podcast access on iTunes

26. Stuff You Missed in History Class
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/hsw-shows/stuff-you-
missed-in-history-class-podcast.htm
Podcast access on the
How Stuff Works
website
Podcast access on iTunes

27. Documents that Changed the World
http://ischool.uw.edu/audio-video
Podcast access on the University
of Washington Information
School website
Podcast access on iTunes

28. Characteristics of Successful Podcasts
• Podcast and episode themes
• Storytelling to convey information
• iTunes

29. PODCASTING IS POSSIBLE
Dana Gerber

30. How Much Time Does Creating a
Podcast Take?
Four parts of producing a podcast:
1. Research and writing
2. Recording
3. Editing
4. Marketing

31. Saving Time
• Recording for efficient editing

32. Equipment

34. Open Source Editing: Audacity

35. Audacity: Amplify

36. Audacity: Timeshift
• Brian Miller and Chris Wright Interview

37. Free Music Archive

38. Audacity: Fade In and Out

39. Liberated Syndication

40. Hootsuite

42. THANK YOU
Prairie Hady
phady@wisc.edu
Laura M. Farley
laura.marie.farley@gmail.com
Dana E. Gerber
danaegerber@gmail.com