So You Want to Blog: The Hows, Whats, and Whys of Creating Your Own Space on the Internet

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So You Want to BlogThe Hows, Whats, and Whys of Creating Your

Own Space on the Internet

Sarah Bean Thompson,

Amy Koester,

Why Blog?

● Maintain a record of your programs,

reading, etc.

● Professional portfolio

● Work through your library thoughts

● Participate in a community of sharing

● Blog for you

● Your audience will come

● Be wary of too much self-promotion

● Don’t be greedy

● Don’t stress

● Have fun!

A Few Tips

1. Choose your platform

2. Create your site name

3. Choose your content

focus

4. Know your employer’s

policies

5. Create an “About Me”

section

First-Time Blogging in 10 Steps

6. Write, edit, write, edit…

7. Think visually

8. Give yourself a schedule

9. Use

labels/tags/categories

10.Promote & share

● Wordpress

● Blogger

● Tumblr

● Free vs. Paid

1.Choose Your Platform

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

● Make it personal

● Make it relevant

● Beware the really long

name

● Paid domain or not

2.Create Your Site Name

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

● Reviews

● Program Recaps

● Thoughts & Issues

● Combination

● Collaboration vs. Guest

Posts

3.Choose Your Content Focus

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

● Can you name your

library?

● Do you need a

disclaimer?

● Can you blog at work?

● Are there photo rules?

4.Know Your Employer’s Policies

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

● Your name & job

● Type of library

● Reading and/or

professional interests

● Professional

accomplishments

● Review/Blog policy

5.Create an “About Me” Section

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

● Start building your

content

● Always proofread

● Update & correct if

necessary

6.Write, Edit, Write, Edit...

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

● Always try to include

at least one image

● Use your own photos

● Search the Creative

Commons

7.Think Visually

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

● Be realistic

● Be flexible

● Take advantage of the

“schedule” function

8.Give Yourself a Schedule

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

● Consider how you want

to organize your

content

● Consider how you want

others to use your site

9.Use Labels/Tags/Categories

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

● Have a blog roll

● Read & comment on

other blogs

● Participate in blog hops

● Share on social media

● DON’T be obnoxious

10.Promote & Share

image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

Great Review Blogs:

● Abby the Librarian

● Book Smugglers

● A Fuse #8 Production

● The Nonfiction Detectives

● Sense and Sensibility and

Stories

Resources

Great Programming Blogs:

● Bryce Don’t Play

● Future Librarian Superhero

● Jbrary

● Reading with Red

● Storytime Katie

Resources

Great Issues Blogs:

● Hi, Miss Julie!

● Inclusive Early Literacy

● Latin@s in Kid Lit

● Mel’s Desk

Resources

Great “Kitchen Sink” Blogs:

● Fat Girl, Reading

● Sturdy for Common Things

● Teen Librarian Toolbox

● Tiny Tips for Library Fun

Resources

Great Collaborative Blogs:

● ALSC Blog

● Library as Incubator Project

● Little eLit

● Nerdy Book Club

● Storytime Underground

Resources

Blog Hops to Check Out:

● Nonfiction Monday

● Tune In Tuesday

● Thrive Thursday

● Flannel Friday

Resources

Questions?image from “Red - Query Icon” from openclipart user ryanlerch, Creative Commons licensed

Sarah Bean ThompsonSpringfield-Greene County Library District

http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com/

sarahbean@thelibrary.org

Amy KoesterSkokie Public Library

http://showmelibrarian.blogspot.com

akoester@skokielibrary.info

Contact Info

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