Librarian Introduction Video (less than one minute)
Outline
Having an introduction video on your profile creates a more personal connection right away and it is a great way to build rapport with students looking for a librarian. A video provides a preview of your unique characteristics and what it’ll be like to work with you. Students are attracted to librarians who are easy to speak with and are passionate about their subject. Videos enable you to quickly build a bond that can set the stage for that perfect librarian-student match.
Here are some points to include in your script:
- Your name
- Where you are from
- What subjects you specialize in (If you are a language librarian you might say a few words in the language you are specialized in)
- Your teaching experience and/or librarianship experience
- Why you love librarianship
- In conclusion offer a Call to Action: “Book a research lesson” or “Schedule a consultation”
Sample Scripts
You can adapt these two examples to make your own, always taking in mind that your speech should not last longer than a minute. It is a good idea to write down your librarian self-introduction text and practice reading it many times in order to memorize it before you shoot your video.
Sample Script 1: (Sarah Dunaway)
Hello, my name is Sarah! I was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, but I’m still somewhat new to the Nashville area. I obtained my J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida, where I then practiced Immigration Law. I then moved to Seattle, Washington and obtained my Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, with a specialization in law librarianship, from the University of Washington. I then worked in the Public Law Library of King County in Seattle for several years before I joined the Vanderbilt Massey Law Library in the summer of 2018. I have a genuine passion for law librarianship, legal research, and the legal system and I love to share my passion and knowledge with our law students in fun and creative ways. Schedule a research consultation with me to see if I can help you with your research needs. Thanks!
Sample Script 2: (Rachel Lavenda)
Hi, my name is Rachel Lavenda and I'm the curator of special collections who focuses on rare books. I received my Master's in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, focusing on rare books and special collections. Before coming to Vanderbilt in 2018, I was the Special Collections Librarian at Colgate University. My favorite centuries for books would probably be the 15th or 16th since my background is in Italian Renaissance literature. However, there is something captivating in any century as far as books are concerned and my favorite thing, really, is to give you the opportunity to experience these old and/or unique items yourself. So whether you need a book for research or are just curious about our collections, please contact me and let's see what we can find!
Sample Librarian Introduction Video: Sarah Dunaway
