Are You a Blog Luddite? (…that rhymes with troglodyte) SLA ~ Iowa Chapter November 5, 2004 Laura L. Leavitt Business Reference Librarian University of Iowa

Today’s Agenda What’s a Blog? …an RSS Feed? Implementations - Real and Imagined Advantages Disadvantages Demo –How to Publish a Blog –How to Set Up an Aggregator & Read Feeds

What’s a Blog (Web Log)? Webopedia definition Webopedia Marketing terms definition Marketing terms Website Contains ongoing series of dated entries Chronologically ordered Frequently updated (usually)

What’s a Blog (Web Log)? Usually contain list of links with commentary Can be highly specialized, personal Collaborative / Interactive Example of a beginner’s blog and a simple entry –Laura’s PonderingsLaura’s Ponderings

Blogs – A Few Examples The Shifted Librarian (Jenny Levine) The Shifted Librarian Resource Shelf (Gary Price) Resource Shelf BeSpacific (Sabrina P. – LLRX) BeSpacific Jonathan Schwartz (Sun) Jonathan Schwartz Charlene Li (Forrester Research) Charlene Li Library Stuff (Steven Cohen) Library Stuff

Finding Blogs Search Engines –Feedster – –Technorati – Most Popular –DayPop – By Subject Matter –Business– –Eaton Web – –LibDex –

Tracking the Blog Buzz Blogpulse – Blabble – Blogdex –

What’s an RSS Feed? A way in which to syndicate or share content from websites and blogs An XML file that can be used at other sites or in an aggregator Sample Feed Aggregators: Bloglines, NewsIsFree, Rocket Info, AmphetaDesk, FeedReader

Implementations Current Awareness Tool Networking / Building a Community of Practice Project Management – Internal Communication / KM –

Implementations - continued Publication avenue for academics, experts Classrooms Marketing Tool – Connect w/ target audience –Provide library news –Announce new acquisitions –Promote services –Subject specialists can develop topical Publication avenue for academics, experts

The Pros & Cons PROs: –Easy –Timely –Clear presentation –Increase library’s exposure –Can enhance communication & info sharing CONs: –Not yet widely accepted / used –Public forum –Authority – who are these people? –Accuracy

Demonstrations How to Begin Blogging – How to Set Up an Aggregator and Add Feeds –

Additional Resources Blogs & the Library World: A Bibliography (blogwithoutalibrary.net) Corporate Blogging Primer (Business Blog Consulting) Rich Site Services General Bibliography (Gerry McKiernan – Iowa State Univ.) Webfeeds, Blogs & More ( Teri Vogel – Georgia State )

Questions? Thank you very much!