incomplete network

• YOUR SUBTITLE GOES HERE

What is a Blog?

• A blog (short for web log) is “a website that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer.”-Merriam-Webster

• Characteristics of blogs– Organized in a reverse-chronological order – Archived by date – Updated with relatively short entries– They include links, links, and more links– They have unique URLs and RSS feeds are provided– Readers can leave comments

Types of Blogs

There are many different types on blogs such as:– Personal Blogs are written by an individual and is

the most common type of blogs.– Professional Blogs can be used either internally or

externally.– Some blogs focus on a single subject (e.g. travelogs) – While other blogs can be classified by the media

that they use (e.g. linklog or tumblelog)

Blog Community

• The collective community of all blogs is known as the blogosphere.

• BlogDay (August 31) a day that been dedicated to bloggers.

• When it comes to the community of library blogs called Biblioblogosphere there are two types of blogs– Those intended for other library staff – Those intended for the public.

Pros to Blogging

• Puts your name out on the internet, spreads the word you want spread.

• Helps people connect, by being able to comment on a post.

• Meet like minded people.• To inform the general public and to teach.

Cons to Blogging

• New technology. Eek scary. • Ethical considerations of blogging. • What will you blog about? Does your blog have a

purpose? • Training time and costs.

Software

• Programming your own vs. Using pre-made software

• Online servers vs. Owned server space

Programming

• Pros:• Customizable• Able to match current

website

• Cons:• Requires

professionals to create and install

• Higher costs, more support needed

• Must be self-hosted

Pre-Made

• Pros:• More options for hosting• Easier to use for beginners• Varying levels of support• Free or pay service

• Cons:• Less customizable• Free service has

shortcomings

• Examples:• Blogger• Wordpress• Livejournal

Server Space

• Online– Requires less technical

knowledge– Free!– Has the potential to

become unstable– Unpredictable

downtime

• Self Hosted– More stable– Easier to preserve– Higher costs– More technical

support

Wordpress.com

Blogging between Library Staff

• Numerous blogs for library staff. • Some are good

http://www.onlinedegrees.org/the-top-25-librarian-blogs/

• Some blogs: Not surprising, most Canadian blogs were for law librarians specifically, which makes sense because legal documents are not fun.

• Joke – What do you get when you cross a library technician and a lawyer?

All the information you need but can’t understand.

Blogging for Patrons

• To inform the Public of changes coming to the library.

• To promote programs.• Interaction between the public and the library via

comments and posts.• To help teach patrons.

Blogs in Special Libraries

• Special libraries are starting to embrace blogging

• Professional blogs are intended almost solely for other library professionals

• Taking a look at the Canadian Health Libraries Association : http://www.chla-absc.ca/

A Few Special Library Blogs to Check Out

• ELLA (Edmonton Law Libraries Association): http://apps.edmontonlawlibraries.ca/blog/– Has been running since September 2007 and won the

Canadian Law Blog Award in 2008• SLA (Special Libraries Association) :

http://www.sla.org/content/community/blogs/index.cfm– Created several blogs to help their members catch up

on what is going on

Academic Library

• Grant MacEwan library has a blog named Bezenarm’s blog.

• This blog can be easily missed. • To get to the blog you have to go to the library tab on

www.mymacewan.ca once there the heading Library news sends you to the blog.

• The main purpose of an academic library blog is to help the patrons.

Academic Library Part 2

• The U of A has many different library blogs. • The main blog is

www.blogs.library.ualberta.ca/libnews/ . • On the right hand side you have links to the other

libraries blogs. • This blog is updated frequently and has been around for

a long time.

Blogging in Public Libraries

• Public Libraries use blogs as instructional material, and to gather and give information to/from the public.

• Teen Techie Boot Camp @ EPL : I was in charge of making a Blog to instruct and provide link to the material we were teaching to teens.

• At Strathcona Public Library during the summer they had teens post their book reviews on SCL’s teen blog for SCL’s summer game.

• Manchester’s Public Library uses their blog like a Website, informing the public of the times they are open, and what programs are coming up. www.manchesterlitlist.blogspot.com

Blogging in Elementary and Secondary Schools

• Increase student awareness• Comfortable format for students• Aids in collection development• Online booktalks

Examples

Less than good:• Richard Secord:

http://www.richardsecordlibrary.blogspot.com/

• Poor choice of template makes uneven formatting

Good!• Harry Ainlay High School:

http://ainlaybookreviews.blogspot.com/

Book talk:• J Percy Page:

http://www.jpercypage.com/library-blog-page

• Library news, collection updates, videos

Information Literacy

• Blogs as an instructional tool• Helps develop writing, reviewing, and peer-

editing skills• Teaches information literacy and computer

literacy concurrently

Blogs Can Be Funny Too!