Transcript Blogging and Libraries

Blogging and Libraries
By Jenny Lynne Semenza
and
Annie Smith
Introduction to blogging.
Blogs in the library.
Introduction to Blogging
What is it?
Who blogs?
What do people blog about?
What is blogging?
“A "blog"—a contraction of "web log"—is
a periodically updated personal journal that
is published to a public web site1.”
Anatomy of a Blog
A blog has several traits that distinguish it
from other web pages. These include:
Time stamps and signatures.
Archives.
Permalinks.
Calendar
Content
Time stamp
Archives
Permalink
Other Features
Comments
Blogrolls and Links.
RSS, XML, Feeds.
Threaded Comments
Blogroll
RSS Feed
Who blogs?
Individuals.
As of January 2005, about 8 million people
have blogs.
57% of bloggers are male.
48% are under 30.
Well educated, high-earners2.
Blogging communities.
Library blogs.
What are they blogging about?
Local news and commentary.
Personal life, hobbies and interests.
Jobs.
Blogging Concerns
No codes of ethics or governing bodies.
Bloggers have the freedom to post whatever they
want, to plagiarize or to present shoddily
researched material as fact.
Few workplace policies about blogging.
Abandoned blogs.
Why use blogs?
Inexpensive, non-techie, easy/quick to launch.
No knowledge of HTML, Javascript or Cascading
Style Sheets needed.
WYSIWYG editors3.
Content is searchable, browsable, archived.
Valuable database is created and expanded
continuously4.
Why use blogs?
Alternative to e-mails, listservs.
Features.
Blogs in the Library
Blogs as a new source of information.
Blogs as a new communication tool.
Blogs in the Library
New source of information.
Up-to-the-minute news and commentary.
Educational blogs.
• History News Network Blogs
Technology Blogs.
• Google blog.
Blogs in the Library
New, versatile means of communication for
librarians.
Disseminating library news.
• PLA Blog.
Communicating with colleagues.
• Catalogablog
Communicate and inform patrons.
• Moraine Valley Library
Should your library blog?
Who are you trying to serve, and why?
Do you have specific goals for your blog?
Who will be responsible for updating the blog?
Who is responsible for the content? Factchecking?
Do you need multiple blogs?
Address usability, functionality, and value for time
spent.
Suggestions for library blogging
New or ongoing projects.
New services, or services that need
advertising.
Group and departmental tasks.
Topical or subject-specific research.
Endnotes
1. Ahmed, Manan. (2005). Blogging: It's Easier Than You Think! Perspectives 43.
Retrieved August 29, 2005, from
http://www.historians.org/Perspectives/Issues/2005/0505/0505tec2.cfm.
2. Rainie, Lee. (2005). Data Memo. Re: The state of blogging. (Pew Internet and
American Life Project.) Retrieved August 29, 2005, from
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_blogging_data.pdf.
3. Semenza, Jenny Lynne. (2005). Blog, Weblog, Blogging. Unpublished
PowerPoint presentation.
4 Ibid.