blogs

1
blogs blogging for your library

• oalt/abo 32nd annual conference
• 12 may 2004
• marian doucette, information services coordinator
• huron county library

2
whats it all about?

• what are blogs
• why bother with blogs
• when should libraries use blogs
• how can I blog

3
what are blogs?

• defining blogs
• think online journal about a subject
• arranged in reverse chronological order
• updated daily or more often
• short posts, usually containing links and
  commentary

4
what are blogs?

• the blog concept is about three things
  Frequency, Brevity, and Personality
• evan williams
• creator, Blogger software

5
what are blogs?

• web sites organized chronologically by date
  (newest entries are usually at the top)
• self-archived by date (done by software)
• updated somewhat regularly with relatively short
  entries
• include links, links, and more links
• use unique URLs (called permalinks) for each
  individual post
• created using blogging software

6
the realm of the blog

• Enter the Web log.
• Quickly conjugated to Weblog,
• the shift of a space makes we blog,
• and the shortened version is blog.
• It has become the in technology of the moment on
  the Net.
• Greg R. Notess, Reference Librarian,Montana State
  University

7
blogging lingo

• blog short for weblog
• blogger a person who maintains a blog by
  creating entries which they post to their blog
• post/posting individual chucks of content
• permalink permanent link, each post has one

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blogging lingo

• categories subject headings
• blogroll list of favourite blogs
• comments readers can append their comments to
  the end of the post
• RSS Rich Site Summary or Really Simple
  Syndication

9
blogging content

• varies considerably
• whats new listings
• links and commentary
• journal or diary
• sophisticated web sites with site search
  capabilities, topical categories, daily, weekly
  or monthly archives, built-in mailing list
  management functions and RSS headline syndication

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blogging content

• by the end of 2004 blogs had established
  themselves as a key part of online culture
• 27 of internet users say they read blogs, a 58
  jump in 2004
• 5 of internet users get news information fed
  to them through RSS aggregators

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blogging content

• only 38 of all internet users know what a blog
  is. The rest are not sure what the term blog
  means.
• blog readers are more likely to be young, male,
  well educated, internet veterans
• The Pew Internet American Life Project, January
  2005

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why all the fuss?

• blogs make it easy to publish content online
• no new skills or technical troubleshooting
  required
• no knowledge of HTML or editing programs, linking
  or FTP required
• publishing content online is as easy as writing a
  post-it note for your fridge

13
why all the fuss?

• blogs make it easy to publish content online
• site can be updated from anywhere
• you can concentrate on content, not process
• make your site dynamic
• can distribute the workload

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why all the fuss?

• main page content is always fresh
• automatic archiving of older content when main
  page content refreshed
• reader comments published instantly, turning
  entries into dynamic multi-contributor
  conversations
• latest headlines, with hyperlinks summaries
  offered in RSS XML format

15
why all the fuss?

• blogs can be used to
• keep current
• develop community
• network
• publish without being dependent on trade
  publications

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why bother with blogs?

• the pluses
• timely content
• get to the point
• quick to skim
• human filter
• Contextualized
• whats hot

• the minuses
• ROT
• redundant all posting the same stuff
• obsolete links expire, watch the best before
  date
• trivia my cat coughed up a fluff ball!
• misinformation
• rumours abound not all content is validated
• bias

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i blogu blog reasons 2 blog
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new stuff to share

• recommend internet sites tools
• promote your new resources, acquisitions, library
  staff accomplishments
• St. Joseph County Public Library uses their Book
  Blog to focus on upcoming releases in publishing
  and entertainment

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joseph county book blog
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marketing

• promote it!
• advertise library events programmes
• let visitors subscribe via email
• distribute headlines (RSS)
• support your dedicated users/readers by setting
  up topics on your blog for each genre mysteries,
  horror, science fiction, etc.

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get interactive

• talk back!
• share lists titles of books you like, or have
  just acquired
• let users post reviews comments
• create online book discussion area ask readers
  to recommend books to others

22
staff development

• distribute or post fact sheets on new electronic
  resources
• share tips tricks
• announce training opportunities
• let your colleagues know what you do all day
  blog your challenges achievements

23
library staff web log
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share knowledge

• post best practices know-how
• develop share FARQs (answers to frequently
  asked reference questions)
• use as a communication method for committees
  enable the comment feature

25
help IT with link rot

• track web site links under review for adding to
  your library catalogue, best sites, or links
  pages
• tip
• enable the comment button so others can
  contribute, post comments
• choose a blog that archives by topic use this
  for organizing your links

26
professional development

• promote yourself, your career
• post your resume, keep a professional blog with
  your articles, workshops, presentations

27
personal development

• develop your writing skills by writing about your
  interests what you find interesting
• dont be afraid to treat blogs as your personal
  journal be reflective, it adds focus

28
project tracking/management

• solve email overload!
• a single source record for team decisions, next
  steps
• vehicle for posting points for discussion and
  comment

29
sallows project blog
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community information

• be THE community leader!
• collect and syndicate local (city, regional) news
  and events or happenings
• be everywhere!

31
when libraries should blog

• ask not what you can do for blogs, but what blogs
  can do for you
• how much of your web site changes frequently?
  10?
• do you want a section of your site to be more
  dynamic?
• is there information you would post to your site
  if it was easier?
• do you want to distribute the workload for adding
  content?

32
when librarians do blog
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when librarians do blog

• The ResourceShelf
• authored by gary price
• use this weblog to keep a running account of new
  and useful web sites, industry news, full-text
  docs of interest to the Info professional
• check it out daily or subscribe to the weekly
  email updates
• http//www.resourceshelf.com

34
when librarians do blog
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when librarians do blog

• Sitelines ideas about web searching
• available online, by e-mail subscription,
  through RSS feed at http//www.workingfaster.com/
  sitelines
• author rita vine is a professional librarian,
  co-founder of Workingfaster.com, internet trainer
  search guru

36
when librarians do blog

• keeping up-to-date with news within the
  professional community manitoba library
  association
• http//mla.blogspot.com/
• conference comments computers in libraries

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mla newsline blog
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when libraries do blog

• libraries use blogs in a number of ways
• posting new resources, research tips, or events
  calanders
• allowing library users to use the comment option
  to provide feedback

39
when public libraries do blog

• parents advisory weblogs
• advise parents of additions to the childrens
  library, along with reviews, news, etc.
• comment option lets parents provide feedback and
  opinions on new acquisitions along with purchase
  suggestions

40
when public libraries do blog

• childrens book review weblogs
• allows children to post reviews of picture books,
  stories novels theyve read
• safe place for young readers to share ideas
  develop writing skills while becoming familiar
  with library resources
• Roselle Library Blogger Book Club

41
when public libraries do blog

• virtual book club/readers advisory weblogs
• provide news of the latest books, CDs, DVDs, etc.
• some provide opportunities to post reviews,
  comments suggestions for the collection
• Waterboro Public Library h20boro lib blog
• Alexandrian Public Library

42
h20boro lib blog
43
alexandrian public library
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when academic libraries blog

• faculty/departmental advisory weblogs
• facilitate communication with instructors,
  researchers and grad students with customized
  content on acquisitions, library news and current
  information about their area of specialty or the
  library in general
• University of Winnipeg Library and Information
  Services web feed
• University of Windsor Leddy Library

45
Univ. of Winnipeg - infoshare
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leddy library news blog
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when technical services blog

• departmental/services weblogs
• Weblog versions of FAQs and calendars can be
  updated easily with news about reference
  services, cataloguing changes, etc.
• our journey to a new automation system
• construction news Urbana Free Library
• catalogablog

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journey to a new automation system
49
urbana library building blog
50
catalogablog
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how many libraries blog

• There are currently 245 libraries blogging, of
  which
• 107 are academic libraries
• 86 are public libraries (15 of which have
  multiple blogs)
• 12 are school libraries
• 12 are special libraries
• 11 are library associations
• remaining 17 are library consortia, government
  libraries or corporate libraries
• blogwithoutalibrary.net, april 14, 2005

52
how to find library blogs

• Peter Scotts list http//www.libdex.com/weblogs
  .html
• LIS Blogsource http//www.librarystuff.net/libra
  ryblogs

53
how to start a blog

• there are lots of blogging options out there!
• solo blogs, community blogs
• hosted locally (on your server)
• PMachine, Movable Type, Grey Matter
• hosted remotely
• Antville, Blogger, LiveJournal, Onclave

54
how to start a blog

• try one of the free blogging tools available
• set up an account at
• http//www.blogger.com
• take a test drive post some sample entries

55
how to start a library blog

• what type of blog do you want to set up?
• consider your marketing strategy
• make sure a blog is the right tool for the job
• who are you trying to reach?
• what are the key messages you want to send?
• what is the purpose of your blog?

56
how to start a library blog

• audience analysis
• is your target audience online, and in sufficient
  numbers to make blogging worthwhile?
• what are their characteristics? Do they like
  short, newsy updates or long articles?
• do they like to be in-the-know about new
  developments, tools resources?

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how to start a library blog

• content scope
• what are your key messages?
• are you promoting awareness of services
  resources to bring them to the library, or
  encourage use of virtual services?
• are you serving avid readers or researchers?
• are you trying to connect to an online audience
  only?

58
how to start a library blog

• the big 3 technical questions!
• will your library want to install blogging
  software locally on a desktop or web server?
• what type of security is necessary? is the blog
  available to anyone, or password protected? are
  there content guidelines?
• what special features do you need?
• archives, categories, search features, etc.

59
questions

• If I can blog, you can blog, we all can blog
• Contact
• marian doucette
• information services coodinator
• huron county library
• mdoucette AT huroncounty DOT ca
• 519.482.5457x2294