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. Blogging communities. 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? Fact-checking? 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.