Live streaming isn’t something I’ve experienced in the various libraries I’ve worked in so I did a little internet exploring to see how it has been or could be used in a library setting. The first library live-streaming event that jumped out at me was D.C public library’s 11-hour reading of George Orwell’s 1984 in January 2015. It was broadcast as part of their Orwellian America? series of events and the library invited well-known guests and members of the public to read from Orwell’s classic dystopian novel. Audiences attended the readings in the library and the various events were live-streamed, highlighting issues surrounding government transparency and personal privacy in the digital age. D.C. library then hosted videos of the various events and speakers on their Youtube channel.
The second set of live-streamed events inspired by an
equally brilliant writer are the Roald Dahl Day interactive webcasts broadcast
by Puffin Virtually Live each year. According to the Puffin books website, over a quarter of a million students tuned in to last year's webcasts. Broadcasts have featured readings, a drawing lesson from Quentin Blake and an appearance from David Walliams as the BFG - brilliant! In the context of the public libraries I work in, some of the
branches have organised Roald Dahl Day events during September but in these particular
cases the branches are small local libraries and events involve the participation of young
children. In terms of child protection issues live streaming probably wouldn’t be advisable in their situation but bigger branches would have the capacity to stage events without filming young audience members. A successful event like this would be a great way to raise the profile of the public library.
The academic library I work in is hosting Culture Night this
year for the first time and if they were to do this going forward I think live
streaming would be an ideal way to make the event visible to a wider audience. Using
the right equipment along with staff who are capable of putting together a
professional looking broadcast would be important, however, especially if we
planned to host the video on the library’s Youtube channel.

Great point about live streaming a Culture Night event Eilis. Maybe you could do a test recording this year and then do a live stream next year... #rudai23
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