Library Everywhere

I think YouTube is icky and creepy and commercial-y. I think the site is ugly and their compression is for crap and I try to avoid it at all costs. But when I started my position doing media production, it was the only video sharing site I really knew about, so I started uploading our videos there. However, after a little research, I came across Vimeo. Right from the welcome page, the look and feel of Vimeo is completely different from YouTube. The site’s design is thoughtful, sleek, and very user-friendly.

Despite it’s rapidly expanding size (280,000 users and growing strong), Vimeo manages to cultivate a tightly knit community feel. Vimeo was created by people who make videos and who were not satisfied with the existing video sharing sites. They have a real presence on the site and I think that really contributes to the sense of community.

After signing up for a free account, you can create groups based around certain subjects and participate in all kinds of ongoing discussions and forums. You can also make contacts and subscribe to other user’s videos. You’re allowed to upload 500 MB per week. Uploading is easy, and the image quality far outshines YouTube and Google Video. Vimeo has higher bitrates and better resolution than either of those sites, and it shows. Vimeo also offers HD support, which neither of those sites do (yet. I’m sure they will and I’m sure it won’t look as nice and shiny).

I emailed Vimeo with a technical question when I was getting started, and I heard back from Mr. dalas verdugo (he insists on using those lower case letters), Vimeo Community Director, literally within five minutes. (Side note: I have a kind of internet crush on dalas- it might have something to do with his unruly facial hair. Check out his site here, if you want to care about my internet crushes.)

So, in summation, Vimeo is the best. You should use it. I set up an account for library videos, plus I have my own personal account. I also recently (yesterday) started a lovely group on Vimeo called “Vid4Libs,” or “Video for Libraries”. I thought it would be nice to kind of round up all the video-producing library folks out there and create a place for us to share videos and exchange ideas. Come hang out with us at vimeo.com/groups/vid4libs.

P.S. Here’s a good picture of dalas: