The contest is in progress.  Click here to enjoy our Favorite Books and Community Favorites and don't forget to vote!

 

We love stories at the library and have discovered a wonderful new way to tell them.  Millions of others have discovered it too:  YouTube.   YouTube

hosts videos from throughout the world…at no charge. 

 

At the library web site www.gailborden.info/videoextras.html, we are using YouTube to help us tell stories about the library and reading. 

 

This January and February, with sponsorship from First Community Bank, we're asking everybody in our library community to pick up their cameras and join the visual storytelling fun. People of all ages are invited to upload a 4-minute (or shorter) video to YouTube.  Then send a link to us, for entry into one of two categories:  “My Favorite Book,” will be for those who want to tell about their favorite book;  or “Community Favorites,” about supporting the art of verbal storytelling.  This should involve filming a short, uplifting piece about a person, organization or event that has made a difference in the community.  Videos can be funny, poignant, clever or cool, and they must be library-appropriate. 

 

First, we will link contestant videos to the library web site, then we will have a no-holds-barred, website voting contest, similar to that we held for the 2005 Dinos-on-Parade.   Dino voting went international! Winners in each category and a grand-prize winner will be announced in March. 

 

For tips about making your digital pictures into a slideshow that can be up-loaded to YouTube, how to make copyright-free music to accompany your show and other details, see below. 

 

Key dates -  January 19 - start accepting entries by email

                    February 19, midnight - end date for acceptance of entries

                    February 22 - Voting begins at this web site

                    March 12, 5 p.m. - Voting officially ends

 

Storypalooza Tips

 

Tips
1. How do I get video or pictures to make into a video?

You make get video or make video for digital video or picture files.  You can get these files in variety of ways.  Many digital cameras have movie functions.  You can make nice videos from picture files.  Even photos from your photo albums can be digitized by using a scanner.

2. How do I make a video?

Windows Movie Maker is software that is bundled with Windows XP. It has simple import pictures or import video function. Then you can save your movie in a number of different formats, most of which are compatible with YouTube.

Apple iMovie is a free video tool for Macs.

To read more about free video editing software, click here.

3. How do I make pictures into a video?

Windows Movie Maker has an import pictures function. Photo Story 3 is a great tool for windows users for compiling picture videos. It allows you to create non-copyrighted music to go along with your pictures and add titles and credits.

Apple iMovie allows users to upload photos.

Please keep your stories under 4 minutes. Our videos for Favorite Books are under a minute and yours can be too.

4. What format should I save my video or picture story in?

When you want to save your video, most video editing programs will ask how to save them. You pick the format by choosing the file extension name. The YouTube site recommends saving as … "QuickTime .MOV, Windows .AVI, or .MPG files- these are the most common formats and they work well within our system. We specifically recommend the MPEG4 (Divx, Xvid) format at 320x240 resolution with MP3 audio. Resizing your video to these specifications before uploading will help your clips look better on YouTube." We understand that .wmv works on YouTube too.

5. How do I upload my video?
You go to YouTube and register. After registering, click on upload "Upload New Video." Please make sure that your video is for "public" viewing. Just follow the prompts. You can decide whether you want other viewers to rate or comment on your video.

6. How do I enter my video into Storypalooza?

Starting on January 19, visit your video on YouTube and click on "share." Share it to draleigh@gailborden.info and indicate whether your video is for "Favorite Book" or "Community Favorite." Or you can send the url of your video to draleigh@gailborden.info.

 

7.  Will there be prizes?

 

Yes.  First Community Bank is sponsoring the Storypalooza prizes. There will be a grand prize winner and others.  Click here for details.