May 04, 2006

Freedman Center - More Information

I have received several comments and questions about my original post that introduced my library's Freedman Center. Let may share some more information.

Let me introduce the facility by sharing the mission:

The Mission of the Samuel B. and Marian K. Freedman Digital Library, Language Learning and Multimedia Services Center is to bring together
in one place a variety of technological resources in order that these
resources support and sustain learners and create new ways of teaching
and learning. The Freedman Center will be an innovative partner with
faculty, students, and staff in providing full-service digital library, language learning and multimedia services so that members of the Case community can achieve their research, scholarly, and artistic goals.

I hope you noticed the full name as used in the mission statement. Something I did not mention before was the language learning component. Students have access to an online language learning website or can use Pimsleur Bookchips in the Freedman Center with materials for 14 languages. In addition, 16 computers have been equipped with Logitech Quickcam Webcams, instant messaging applications, and Skype to promote international videoconferencing to supplement classroom language instruction.

The Center offers plenty of equipment to be used in-house or for lending. Faculty, staff, or students can borrow digital voice recorders, miniDV video cameras, 5MP digital cameras, Apple iBooks, Garmin eTrex GPS Units, and jump drives.

Earlier I had mentioned the new podcasting studio, and Michael had asked for some more information. The Freedman Center was completed last summer and a studio was not in the original plans. As voice recordings were being made for podcasts and other presentations, it became apparent very quickly that some privacy was needed to produce high quality materials. A storage room was sacrificed and the podcasting studio was born.

The recording equipment includes a Alesis Multimix 8USB Mixer, 3 MXL-990 microphones, and a Heil PR-40 microphone. The mixer is great in that by allowing USB interface with a laptop and not being much bigger than a laptop, it allows for some portability. I shared a booth with the Freedman Center staff and a recent Research ShowCASE across campus. They conducted interviews from the booth and demonstrated the equipment and resources to faculty and students.

I will get some better pictures of the Freedman Center and the new podcasting studio, and share them here on my blog. I will also have a discussion about the new studio, how it is being used, and related policies. I will try to even record the discussion as a podcast and share it.

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