UKOLN is supported by:

Using Blogs, Micro-blogs and Social Networks

Effectively Within Your Library: Introduction

Brian Kelly / Marieke Guy

UKOLN

University of Bath

Bath, UK

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/events/ili-2009-workshop/http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/events/ili-2009-workshop/

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Acceptable Use PolicyRecording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, Twitter, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised.

Acceptable Use PolicyRecording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, Twitter, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised.

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ContentsIntroduction

• About the Workshop Facilitators• About the Workshop• About You [exercise]• Overview of Key Blogging Concepts

Case Studies

Reasons For Having a Library Blog

Beyond Blogs: Micro-blogs and Social Networks

What are the Barriers? [exercise]

Addressing the Barriers

Sharing Best Practices

What Next?

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About The Workshop Facilitators

Brian Kelly:• UK Web Focus: a national advisory post• Long-standing Web evangelist

(since Jan 1993)• Based at UKOLN, University of Bath• Author of the UK Web Focus blog & contributor to

several other blogs

Marieke Guy:• Research Officer in UKOLN’s

Community and Outreach Team• Remote worker and author of

Rambling of a Remote Worker blog & contributor to several other blogs

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About The Workshop

By the end of the workshop you should:• Be aware of key blogging concepts and tool• Have learnt about ways in which blogs can be used

within a library environment • Have learnt about the potential role of micro-blogs and

social networks• Have identified potential barriers to the deployment of

blogs within an institution • Have discussed strategies for overcoming barriers• Have learnt about tools and techniques for measuring

a blog’s impact and success. • Have heard about and discussed best practices for

developing a sustainable blogging service• Have had the opportunity to make plans for launching

or enhancing your blog service

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About You

Please:• Introduce yourself (your name, who you

work for and what you do)• Describe your interests and experiences

in blogging• Say what you hope to gain from the

workshop

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Key Blog Concepts (1 of 4)What Is A Blog?A blog (a portmanteau of web log) is a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. Blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs.

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Wikipedia definitionWikipedia definition

Note that blog software can be used for other purposes (including building conventional Web sites). We will focus on conventional understanding of a blog.

Note that blog software can be used for other purposes (including building conventional Web sites). We will focus on conventional understanding of a blog.

See also handoutSee also handout

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Key Blog Concepts (2 of 4)

Providing a Blog

Blogs can be provided by:• Installing software locally (open source or

licensed)• Using an externally hosted service (Blogger.com

and Wordpress.com are popular)• Using existing systems (e.g. a VLE, a CMS, etc.)

which has blog functionality provided• Using social networking services (e.g. Facebook,

MySpace) which providing blogging or similar functionality

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Key Blog Concepts (3 of 4)

Reading Blogs

Blog readers can:• Visit a blog site (conventional approach)• Use an RSS reader, which can be web-based

(e.g. Bloglines, Google Reader, etc.) or a desktop RSS reader (e.g. FeedDemon)

• Via a blog aggregator – view posts from lots of blogs

• Use a mobile device (e.g.mobile phone, PDA, etc.)

• Have blog posts delivered using email

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Key Blog Concepts (4 of 4)

Finding Blogs

I find blog posts (including links to my posts) using:

• Technorati • Google blogger web

comments• Blog directories• …

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Technorati is to the blogosphere what Google is to Web spaceTechnorati is to the blogosphere what Google is to Web space

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Questions

Any questions or comments:• About the workshop?• About what a blog is and how blogs ‘work’?