The document provides guidance for creating video summaries of public domain works by having community members read passages aloud, including preparing texts and equipment, filming readings over multiple sessions, editing recordings, adding music, and posting the final videos online and displaying in the library. It estimates the time commitment is around 24 hours total and costs range from $0 if using an existing phone to $350 for a camera and editing software.

1. “I’m Gonna Make You Famous”: Raising Consciousness and Building Community on a 3-inch Screen
Bob Barringer barringer@blissfieldlibrary.org
Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library, Blissfield, MI www.blissfieldlibrary.org
TIME
I. Prepare: 4-5 hours
Decide on text: 1 hour to 15 years, give or take.
Is it in the public domain? Do you care?
Find electronic copy: 15 minutes to 1 hour.
Project Gutenberg www.gutenberg.org
Google Books books.google.com
Poetry.com www.poetry.com
Google Search www.google.org
Make Cue Cards: 1 hour or less, if you know how to type or can paste in an e-copy.
Announce filming by writing a press release, mass email, facebook post, and making posters: 2 hours.
(Optional . Necessary if you want to bring people into the library for filming but contra-indicated for
ambush filming.]
Get everything ready: 30 minutes to 2 hours
Phone/Camera: Batteries, SD card, tripod. Turn off phone and wireless if using phone or tablet.
Script—gather cue cards in a folder, including a copy of the original for context. Take book.
Pens for autographs. Make sure they work.
Backdrop and props (in the library): Keep it simple. Keep it a library.
Game Face. Virtual Disguise.
II. Record: More time than you think. 8-10 minutes per reader, not including travel time.
Blissfield Reads “The Raven” (108 lines, 54 readers) took two 8-hour days to film in the field.
Blissfield in Love (28 readers) took 4 hours over two days, mostly in the library.
Blissfield Reads “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” (29 readers) took 8 hours over two days in the field
and at the library.
Allow time for “settling in,” rehearsal, re-takes, playback, autographs.
Allow more time for children. Get permission.
Allow no time for second guessing.
III. Edit: Less time than you think. 3-4 hours.
5 hours for The Raven (and teaching myself to use Windows Movie Maker).
2 hours for the others.
Time does not include choosing music but does include laying the music in.
IV. Choose Music: 1-2 hours, 2 Excedrin:
Incompetech.com incompetech.com
Partners in Rhyme www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/free_music_loops.shtml
www.partnersinrhyme.com/midi/index.shtml
V. Post to facebook and Send individual mass e-mail: 1 hour (plus email pilfering).
VI. Put up still image and autograph display in the library: 2 hours.
Total: 24 hours

2. MONEY
I. Recording Device (Phone/Camera/Camcorder):
Your Phone:
Free (at least for the library if you don’t use it as an excuse to have the library buy you a phone).
Advantages: Free. Only expense is for batteries and perhaps an SD card. Can use wireless or
mobile broadband to connect directly to Facebook or your computer.
Disadvantages: possibly a lower-end camera, no zoom, limited focus or lighting adjustments,
poor sound recording.
Digital Camera or Camcorder:
$100 (and even cheaper but you may as well use your phone, at that point) up to very expensive for
near- professional models.
Advantages: Actually intended to be a camera. (Even better when it is actually intended to
record video). No competition for resources from other functions. Better video and
audio. Not all that expensive, relatively-speaking, when compared to expenses for large
print books or decaffeinated coffee or printer cartridges. Good camcorder models
available for $200. You can also get tripods, external microphones, and other
accessories that will help improve quality and extend capability, but, of course, at
additional expense.
Disadvantages: Any additional expense may be hard to justify, although you would be able to
record all library programs and post the videos to facebook and the library website, so it
wouldn’t be a one-trick pony. Must use cords or memory cards to transfer images.
I don’t pretend to be an expert. Here are links to a couple of recent reviews from folks who do:
PC Magazine www.pcmag.com/reviews/camcorders
Consumer Reports www.consumerreports.org/cro/camcorders.htm
II. Editing Software:
Windows Live Movie Maker:
Free. Comes standard with many computers these days and a free download, otherwise (check to
make sure your computer meets the specifications required). Very easy to learn and use.
Adobe Production Premium:
Creative Suite 6, the latest version, available through Tech Soup for $150. List price is over $1400.
Whiz-Bang stuff that presents a relatively steep learning curve. Uses more computer resources
than Movie Maker.
Total: $0-350
III. Incidentals:
Even if you spend money on the camera and the software, these would be one-time (or, at least,
infrequent) expenses. If we assume you have the necessary computers, printers, and internet
connections and don’t count those, you’ll incur continuing expense for your (and other staff’s) time, as
well as nominal expenses for printing costs for cue cards and displays, camera batteries, memory cards
and other accessories (most of which are optional), and any travel-related costs.

3. [Permission List for Minors]
By signing this list, you are affirming:
 that you have the authority to grant permission for the filming of the listed child
 that you understand the video will be posted to the library’s Facebook page
 that you understand the video is the property of the Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library
 that you understand technical difficulties or other issues may result in the child’s not appearing
in the final, posted film
 that you give permission for the filming.
Child’s Name (Printed for the credits) Parent or Guardian’s signature
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________

4. [Cue card A: 1 person reads—when the punctuation results in obvious stopping (or, at least, pausing) points]
Once upon a midnight dreary,
while I pondered weak and
weary,
Over many a quaint and curious
volume of forgotten lore,

5. [Cue card B: 3 people read the same sentence: When sentences run multiple lines without clear pauses render them as prose. Edit
afterward.]
I love thee to the depth and
breadth and height my soul can
reach, when feeling out of sight
for the ends of being and ideal
grace.
[Original:
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.]