LibeCast, Cornell University Library's new webcasting initiative, will debut a series of podcast tours of Uris Library June 7, the opening day of Reunion Weekend.

LibeCast offers video and audio programs about one of the nation's best research libraries with features about the library and its many exhibitions, events, lectures and services.

The new offering will enable visitors to the site to hear the Cornell University Library Historical Tours, a series of audio files developed for self-guided tours of the libraries. The series kicks off with an introduction to Uris Library, Cornell's oldest library. Visitors to the library during Reunion Weekend can check out mp3 players and listen to the audio as they walk through the library.

Separate chapters will highlight the Dean Room, the Kinkeldey Room, the Andrew Dickson White Library and "The Song of the Vowels," the Jacques Lipchitz sculpture currently being reinstalled between Olin and Uris libraries. Future chapters will focus on noteworthy architecture, collections and artwork in the library.

Listeners can subscribe to the Cornell University Library Historical Tours through iTunes or Juice or go directly to LibeCast and listen to the audio tours while viewing historic photographs.

"Those who can't visit the libraries in person and take the tours can still experience them online [through LibeCast]," explained Suzette Newberry, outreach coordinator for Olin and Uris libraries. "This is a very long-term project," she added. "We are inviting other libraries on campus to create podcast episodes about their historic features."

Mann Library's Chats in the Stacks series and select library-specific webcasts from CornellCast also will be available on LibeCast, along with instructional or how-to webcasts about library services.

For more information about LibeCast, contact Library Communications at libcomm@cornell.edu.

Chris Philipp is a writer and editor for Library Communications.