Presentation Tools - Presentation Tools in Libraries

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A Look at Presentation Tools Used by Librarians

By Amber Scroggy

        Librarians use a multitude of presentation tools to develop engaging presentations. Various programs enable the creation of engaging and memorable lessons, helping students better understand and connect with the content and concepts presented. Choosing the right tool for a presentation depends on the creator’s needs and desired visual attributes. Additionally, there are presentation tools that are integrative, allowing students to actively participate in the presentation, (Whicker et al., 2012).

        There are numerous presentation tools available to meet those needs, and luckily some of them are free, or low cost. Here is list curated in an article by Jennifer Resor Whicker, Kathy Shields and Amy Chadwella that briefly looks at some of the presentation tools used by librarians to enhance library instruction:

•  Prezi - Online tool used to create multimedia presentations and favored for its infinite canvas. https://prezi.com

•  Mindomo - A customizable online mind-mapping tool that allows real-time collaboration. https://www.mindomo.com 

•  Bubbl.us - An online brainstorming tool for creating basic mind maps. https://bubbl.us

•  Lino - Online canvas tool for posting sticky notes, including multimedia stickers. https://en.linoit.com 

•  Poll Everywhere - An Audience response tool for real-time polling via the web, twitter or text. https://www.polleverywhere.com 

•  Google forms - Online form creation tool for collecting response in Google Spreadsheets. https://docs.google.com/forms

•  Evernote - A note-taking program that syncs across internet accessible devices. https://www.evernote.com ​

•  TechSmith Capture - (Previously Jing) A free screencasting tool for capturing images and videos from a computer screen. https://www.techsmith.com/jing.html

•  Join.Me - A screen-sharing and teleconferencing tool

Another screencasting tool that has a free option and multiple pay options depending on your budget and needs is:

•  Screen-o-Matic, (Glusker, 2021). https://screencast-o-matic.com ​

        It is obvious to see that there are numerous options to pick and choose from. Perhaps using one of the brainstorming programs listed above can help choose the right presentation tools to design and enrich your next presentation!
 
        Here is a list of additional presentation tools that may prove useful in creating visually appealing and engaging presentations:

• Microsoft PowerPoint - https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/powerpoint

• Google Slides - https://www.google.com/slides

• Canva - https://www.canva.com

• Keynote (for Mac users) - https://www.apple.com/keynote

• Visme - https://www.visme.co

• Zoho Show - https://www.zoho.com/show

• Slidebean - https://slidebean.com

• Haiku Deck - https://www.haikudeck.com

• Powtoon - https://www.powtoon.com

• Kahoot! - A game-based learning platform for quizzes, polls, and interactive activities. https://kahoot.com

• Mentimeter - A tool for creating live polls, quizzes, word clouds, and Q&A sessions. https://www.mentimeter.com 

• Padlet - A collaborative platform for creating shared boards, timelines, and maps. https://padlet.com

Check out this video that provides a little more information about a few of the tool listed and mentions a few more.

If you made it all the way here....

Thank you for reading!😁

References:

Whicker, J. R., Shields, K., & Chadwell, A. (2012). Free Tech

Tools That Enhance Library Instruction. Virginia Libraries, 58(1). https://doi.org/10.21061/valib.v58i1.1192

Glusker, A. (2021). Screencast-o-Matic. Journal of the Medical 

Library Association, 109(2), 355–358. https://doi-org.palomar.idm.oclc.org/10.5195/jmla.2021.1207

I do not receive any compensation from any party or company listed above. 

Presentation Tools - Libraries in the Digital Age

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Rethinking the Library: How Libraries Use Digital Tools and Technology in the Digital Age

By Amber Scroggy

    Libraries have evolved, they are institutions that are adapting to the Digital Age through the use of various digital tools designed to curate, catalogue, share, and circulate multiple forms of mass media. 
    What? Oh yeah, I said mass media. In order to get to the digital age, there had to be a need for communication and a tool to present it. The beginnings of mass media started when humans began drawing and writing on walls in caves and on stone. Let’s take a look at a timeline of the tools used since those distant ancestors I previously mentioned:

During the Pre-Industrial Age, the first printing press was invented. During the Industrial Age the telegraph, typewriter, telephone, camera, record player, and radio were all invented, all necessary to the Golden Age of television, radio, and cinema. Between 1930 and 1990 was the Electronic Age when Cable TV, FM Radio, cassette tapes, VCR, the first email, cellular phone, and personal computers emerged along with their operating systems, and various programs for those computers. However, the end of the 20th Century and the start of the 21st Century saw the biggest spike in the evolution of mass media, and the beginning of the Digital Age or the “Evolution of New Media” (NIMCJ, 2024). It began in 1991 with the invention of the World Wide Web (WWW) and in 1995 Microsoft’s Internet Explorer made the WWW accessible to anyone with the means to access it, (NIMCJ, 2024). 

Since 1995, the Digital Age has made leaps and bounds. It seems, that most forms of mass media have been digitized. As the world has become increasingly reliant on digital access, libraries have stepped up to make accessing the vast repositories of digital knowledge more accessible for their patrons and the librarians that support them.

    Digital Age libraries have adopted the use of technologies such as presentation tools, often cloud based, to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, visualize data, and improve library collection management and operations (Kipps, K. L., & Jones, A. K., (2020). The article, Things Are Looking Up: Using Cloud-Based Technology Tools in Collection Management Workflows, by Kayla L. Kipps and Allison K. Jones discusses how the College of Charleston Libraries integrated various cloud-based tools for collection management workflow and highlighted the practical applications and pros and cons of cloud-based tools. A few of the tools discussed include Google Drive and Spreadsheets, Tableau Public, Microsoft Project 2000, LibGuides, Alma and Koha, EBSCO Discovery Service, Citation Management Software, Eprints, and more, (Kipps & Jones, 2020) .

    Keeping up with the times, libraries have evolved to embrace technology in an effort to enhance services which better serve the increasing community of digital users. The evolution has led to hybrid institutions that combine traditional resources, books, newspapers, magazines, and more with those same resource stored as digitized materials in various forms for use on various devices. Presentation tools have enabled libraries to continue providing vital services to the community and the means to access these new services including access to computers and other computing devices for those in the communities who would be lost to the digital divide.

Check out this TEDx Talk: Are Libraries Still Relevant? with Liz Bartlett

If you made it all the way here....

Thank you for reading!😁

References:

Kipps, K. L., & Jones, A. K. (2020). Things are looking up: Using cloud-based technology tools in collection management workflows. Serials Review, 46(3), 215–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/00987913.2020.1806646

NIMCJ. (2024, July 22). Timeline of the evolution of Mass Media. Timeline of the Evolution of Mass Media. https://www.nimcj.org/blog-detail/timeline-of-the-evolution-of-mass-media.html

Digital Storytelling

The library's digital storytelling approach merges classic narrative techniques with contemporary multimedia capabilities to produce interactive and interactive stories that boost literacy and creativity while encouraging community participation. Through multimedia elements like audio and video together with images and text libraries enable patrons, particularly young people, to create self-expression and share personal narratives while exploring literature through dynamic methods. Digital book trailers and multimedia journals along with oral history projects teach patrons both reading and writing skills while providing digital literacy education through the use of tools such as Canva, iMovie and Book Creator. Through these initiatives libraries promote inclusive storytelling which enables them to engage diverse audiences and conserve local voices while also stimulating creativity and lifelong education. The ACRL publication Keeping Up With… Digital Storytelling demonstrates how libraries integrate classic storytelling methods with multimedia technology to build interactive narratives which enhance literacy, creativity and community participation. Through multimedia elements including audio, video, images and text libraries enable patrons especially young individuals to express their creativity share their stories and engage with literature in innovative ways. 

Here is an example of digital storytelling.

This video explains how Powerpoint is used for digital storytelling

Work Cited

"Keeping Up With… Digital Storytelling", American Library Association, February 14, 2018

https://www.ala.org/acrl/publications/keeping_up_with/storytelling (Accessed May 13, 2025)

Document ID: 742e0eb9-6534-425a-b33e-6de302a1d385

"Digital Storytelling using Animation & Drawing" YouTube, uploaded by Doing in the Classroom, 10 May 2025

"Digital Storytelling with PowerPoint" YouTube, uploaded by Grady Megan, 10 Mat 2025

 

Presentation Tools

Presentation tools in the library- By: Marquita Jackson 

Libraries have evolved beyond silent study environments and now serve as dynamic hubs for educational activities and creative collaboration.Modern presentation tools serve as one method to promote this vibrant energy. The use of digital tools by libraries to improve their information sharing methods has grown across all types of programs such as public workshops and teen programs as well as staff training. PowerPoint, Google Slides and Canva stand out as popular tools that enable staff members to produce compelling visual presentations suitable for events and storytimes as well as digital display purposes. Certain libraries utilize Prezi and Mentimeter platforms to enhance audience interaction in their events. Zoom along with Microsoft Teams and Google Meet provide functionality that enables virtual programs and remote education delivery.Patrons working on multimedia presentations or school projects at makerspaces and digital media labs within libraries can utilize video editing software such as Adobe Premiere or iMovie. Certain libraries provide patrons with the ability to borrow projectors and document cameras or interactive whiteboards to facilitate educational sessions and community gatherings. These tools enable library staff and patrons to share ideas in creative ways which transforms learning into an accessible and enjoyable modern experience.

This video talks about the top presentation tools used by library professionals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI5p4BOHvWY

Work Cited

"Top Presentation Tools for Library Professional" YouTube, uploaded by Library Facts, 10 May 2025

Libraries in the Digital Age

 Libraries in the Digital Age  By Marquita Jackson

A library typically brings to mind multiple rows of bookshelves with a tranquil reading area accompanied by the smell of antiquated paper. Your local library now likely offers more than just books because it includes computer labs, digital media stations, online databases, and potentially even a 3D printer or virtual reality headset. This is what a library looks like in the digital era. Modern libraries have integrated technology into their services to remain relevant and address their community members' changing requirements. Libraries have evolved into future-oriented institutions by providing services like free Wi-Fi and eBooks along with coding workshops and tech training rather than simply lending books.The library provides options to stream movies or take online courses and offer help in researching genealogy and job applications in a single location. The primary focus of modern libraries includes their significant efforts to eliminate the digital divide. Libraries function as essential resources for residents who lack internet connectivity or digital capabilities in their homes. They help people develop digital skills while making sure individuals of all backgrounds can succeed in our technology-centered society. If someone tells you libraries are outdated you can tell them they need to investigate further. Modern libraries are vibrant centers where continuous innovation meets inclusive opportunities and limitless potential.

Check out these articles about libraries moving to the Digital Age.

https://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/digital-revolution-and-transformation-libraries

https://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/academic-library-building-digital-age

Interested in 3-D Printing? Here's how the staff at Fairfax County Public Library use the technology

Presentation Tools in Libraries

Presentation Tools in Libraries

By Delyssa Story

As an information-dense society, libraries provide a dynamic space for collaboration, learning and engagement. One important service libraries provide is programming to communities through workshops and classes. Libraries can use presentation tools to enhance their own programs or can teach patrons to use tools. In libraries, presentation tools can help in sharing information, supporting community needs, and improving the digital literacy of patrons.

Presentation tools can include a wide range of technologies, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi, and Canva. With many of these tools web-based, they are available to use from any location (Dietz and Sinkinson). To learn more about using each of these tools, please watch these videos or visit the links below:

How to make a presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint:

1. Watch here for a quick guide - www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Ij7nUy9UQ
2. Quick guide to creating effective PowerPoint presentation - https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/visual_rhetoric/designing_effective_powerpoint_presentations/index.html
3. Visit here for a more in-depth tutorial - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/powerpoint-for-windows-training-40e8c930-cb0b-40d8-82c4-bd53d3398787

How to make a presentation in Google Slides:

1. Watch here for a help using Google Slides - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYA6GLAzz9A
2. Read here for more help - https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282488#/list

How to make a presentation in Prezi:

1. Watch here for a quick guide - www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT5uz8nxKvQ
2. Visit here for more help - https://support.prezi.com/hc/en-us

How to make a presentation in Canva:

1. Watch here for a quick guide - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8prJ61D_el0
2. Read here for more help - https://www.canva.com/learn/an-easy-guide-to-creating-a-presentation-in-canva/

Works Cited

Dietz, Brad, and Caroline Sinkinson. “Online Presentation Creation Tools.” Association of College and Research Libraries and American Library Association, 2015, https://acrl.ala.org/IS/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/fall2014.pdf

Virtual Reality and Libraries

Virtual Reality and Libraries

By Delyssa Story

    Libraries are continuously evolving beyond traditional spaces, and one of the most exciting developments is the incorporation of virtual reality into library services. Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology where a headset worn by an individual can simulate a three dimensional environment, and allow a user to explore and interact with the virtual surrounding. VR is a useful tool to transport patrons beyond the walls of the library, and into places far in both space and time. “One of the most prominent applications of VR and AR in libraries is the creation of immersive learning experiences. Through VR headsets, patrons can embark on virtual tours of historical sites, wander through ancient libraries, or explore distant galaxies. These experiences transport users to different times and places, allowing for deeper understanding and engagement with historical events and cultural artifacts” (Augmented Reality). Libraries can also use VR tools for immersive storytelling, to share important news events or share stories (Virtual Reality). 

    Public and academic libraries have incorporated VR into programming as an immersive learning tool, that can promote engagement and digital equity for the community. Want to learn more about how libraries are using Visual Reality? Watch these videos to see how VR can be used in a library setting:

• Check out how the San Jose Public Library is using virtual reality with its library patrons for both recreational and educational uses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riEK3vaLGFU

• This YouTube discusses how an academic library, the University of Oklahoma, is using virtual reality to provide students with a in depth experience on academic topics and research using VR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmL3T28Ud1k

Works Cited

“Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Libraries.” Pacific University, Oregon, 16 Feb 2024. https://www.lib.pacificu.edu/augmented-reality-and-virtual-reality-in-libraries

“Virtual Reality.” American Library Association. https://www.ala.org/future/trends/virtualreality. Accessed 9 May 2025.