Blogging in Academic Libraries Susan Herzog Eastern Connecticut State University June 29, 2006

What is a Blog? Blog is short for weblog, a term coined by Jorn Barger in 1997 and popularized by Cameron Barrett in Peter Merholz decided to pronounce the term wee-blog, which was eventually shortened to just blog.

Blogging Terms Blogging: when somebody uploads information to the Blog the person doing this is known as the Blogger Blogosphere: the blogging world Blogroll: a list of recommended blogs or blogs read by the Blogger

What Makes it a Blog? All blogs are a type of web page can be easily & instantly updated (feature of blog software)

What Makes it a Blog? Most blogs have frequently updated posts have relatively short entries are organized chronologically by date have newest entries at the top link to other web content

What Makes it a Blog? Most blogs include Comments (feature of blog software) include Archives (feature of blog software) include a unique URL for each individual post (Permalink) (feature of blog software)

What Makes it a Blog? Most blogs are primarily textual Experimentation with sound, images & videos, has resulted in related genres: photoblogs videoblogs audioblogs

Anatomy of a Typical Blog Post Anton Zuiker

Blogs have been described as a kind of continual tour, with a human guide, whom you get to know (Winer, 2002). a live, online journal one of the most popular modes of communication on the Internet a place on the Net where you write and publish at the near-same moment to a few million of your closest friends, except only about 20 people actually read what you write (Suitt, 2002).

Blogs have been described as an easy, quick way to create a web site a place to share thoughts & ideas a way to connect with others a way to keep up with family a way to collaborate social networking

Blogs have been described as new media citizens media participatory media grassroots publishing

The Blog Question Is blogging merely a form of exhibitionism or a compelling new form of journalism? There is evidence to conclude that it is probably both. (Conhaim, 2002).

Advantages of Blogs instant publishing to the Internet cost little or nothing provide a comment feature that allows interaction from others dynamic & empowering allow interchange of thoughts & ideas exciting: instant feedback

Blog Diffusion Bloggers read & link to other blogs Bloggers read old media, AKA Mainstream media (MSM), and include information & links in their blogs Old Media reporters read blogs, then include information in their own stories

Blog History Tim Berners-Lee's What's New? pageWhat's New? Blogger 9/11 Blogs

Blog History Following 9/11 blogs were identified & collected in lists patterns emerged the number of blogs increased significantly

Blog History 2002: Trent Lotts Strom Thurmond remarks 2004: Howard Dean & Meetup.com 2004: Democratic & Republican conventions

Blog History 2004: RatherGate 2004: Tsunami BlogsTsunami Blogs 2004: Year of the Blog

Why Read Blogs? Personal & professional Keep current No spam! (hopefully)

Go to blogger.com http :// http :// Lets start blogging….

Select Create Your Blog Now Fill in your information Read terms of service Password should be simple easy to remember no spaces Click on continue

Name Your Blog Name should be identifiable Information Literacy Blog Write down your Blog address (URL) Continue

Choose a Template Select a template (just pick one…you can change templates later) Continue

Blogger Tools

Create Posts Formatting Compose Edit HTML Preview Block comments on posts Notice of successful posting

Your Blog

Posting Options Edit posts delete View the blog can open in new window

Settings Choices Publishing Formatting Comments Show/hide Archiving Frequency Site Feed Save settings Delete this blog

Settings Choices: Publishing On Blogger or your own site Blog address Save settings

Publishing

Settings Choices: Formatting Show Number Days/Posts Convert Line Breaks Show Title Field Show Link Field Post Template Save settings

Formatting

Settings Choices: Comments Show/Hide Permission to comment notification Save settings

Comments

Settings Choices: Archiving Daily Weekly Monthly Post Pages each post has its own unique web page, in addition to appearing on your blog's front page Save settings

Archiving

Settings Choices: Site Feed RSS Allows others to be notified when you update your blog Save settings Feed URL:

Site Feed

Settings

Template Edit template Pick new one Save changes

Posting

Posting to your blog New blog Start posting Existing blog, log in Your username Password

For more information… The eLit Blog: Blogging in Academic Libraries libraries.blogspot.com/ BlogBib

Need Help? Bloggers Help is excellent and updated often:

References Barger, J. (1999). Weblog resources FAQ. Retrieved June 11, 2006 from Berners-Lee, T. (1992). Whats new in 92. Retrieved June 11, 2006 from hypertext/hypertext/WWW/News/9201.html Blood, R. (2000). weblogs: a history and perspective. Retrieved June 11, 2006 from story.html Conhaim, W. (2002, May/June ). Blogging – What is it? Link-Up 19 (3). Retrieved June 11, 2006 from ttp:// m

References Paquet, S. (2002). Personal knowledge publishing and its uses in research. Retrieved June 11, 2006 from /10/03/personalKnowledgePublishingAndItsUses InResearch.html Suitt, H. (2002). Halleys comment. Retrieved June 11, 2006 from 4_halleyscomment_archive.html# Winer, D. (2002). The history of weblogs. Retrieved June 11, 2006 from