LIBRARY BLOGS IN THEORY AND

PRACTICEHelen Nneka Okpala [www.helenokpala.com]

Presentation done at University of Abuja Library Staff Training, 3rd May – 6th May, 2016.

BREAKDOWNWhat is a blog?

Types of blogs

Library Blogs

What is a blog?

Types of blogs

Blogs in Libraries

WHAT IS A BLOG?Blog = Weblog = a website or webpage that is regularly updated by one or more persons or a small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

Blog =a discussion or informational site published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete entries ("posts") typically displayed in reverse chronological order (the most recent post appears first)….Wikipedia

WHAT ABOUT BLOGS?• Blogs are not difficult to set up• No need for web design expertise• Gives room for collaboration and participation• Blogs can be official or unofficial, personal or

organizational• Little or No money is involved in setting up a blog.

BLOGS VERSUS WEBSITES•Blogs Give The Library A Human Face Than Websites.

•Websites Are Static; Blogs Are Dynamic

•Blogs are easier to set up than websites

•Blog posts can easily be shared than website posts and pages

TYPES OF BLOGS• Filters - These are blog posts that

essentially filter the web by providing links to and commentary on interesting websites.

• Personal journals: are diary-like blogs with postings about the author’s everyday life

• Knowledge logs – are blogs used to create original knowledge online ….Meredith Farkas, 2007

BLOG POSTSLinks only – Link + TitleLink blurb – Linke + CommentaryList – Several links are grouped together in one post on a particular topicShort article Long article

WHY DO LIBRARIES NEED BLOGS?•To Inform People

•To Become Relevant

•To Market Their Services

•To easily reach out to their clients and interact with them

•To share their success stories

CREATING A BLOG FOR YOUR LIBRARY: CONSIDERATIONSFocus of Blog- know your audience Hardware & Software needed - Security issuesLevel of interactivityBlog marketing

FHSLB

FOCUS• Determine the scope, audience and focus of your library blog.• Are you creating the blog for your university audience only or for all?• What category of patron are you writing for? • A blog trying to be all things to all people usually ends up being useful

to no one (Farkas, 2007).• Think about what information your patrons need. Is it technology,

training/scholarship opportunities, new arrival of books, etc?• You can build your library’s online presence by knowing your patrons

well enough to tailor your blog to their needs.

HARDWARE & SOFTWARE• Computer, Tablet, Mobile• HTML – Hypertext MarkUp Language• Mobile App• Server• Hosting service• Blogging Platforms

FREE BLOGGING PLATFORMS/SERVICES• The two most popular Free Blogging Platforms are: WORDPRESS and

BLOGGER

• Wordpress: -• Blogger – Powered by Google

WORDPRESS VS BLOGGERWordpress BloggerHas Free and Secured Version FreeMore technical Easier to navigateMany plugins to suit your need Not much but enough

Google features eg. Adwords, Adsense and Analytics.

Access to unique domain name Customised Templates can be lostMore difficult to embbed Live traffic feed

Easier to embbed Live traffic feed

GOOD BLOGGING PRACTICES• Post regularly• Be interested in your posts• Consider the interests of your intended audience• Always check your facts before you write• Keep comments open eg. Image comments, anonymous,

open comments, moderated comments. • Make sure your blog is linking to your website, to itself, other

useful links (See Fig)• Find ways to access your blog. Eg. Installation of hits tracker. • Market your blog. Eg. E-mail announcement, link to your blog

from your library website, newsletter, flyers and posters, workshops, a bookmark with the name and URL of your blog.

To re

stor

e th

e di

gnity

of m

an v

ia re

adin

g. V

isit

our

Libr

ary

blog

@ w

ww

.libr

aryu

nn.b

logs

pot.c

om

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF BLOGS IN LIBRARIESSharing of News – News BlogSubject Blogs – Offers information on a single subjectBlogs to Supplement Workshops: Information on Library Orientation, Use of databases, Tutorials on Institutional Repository and Library OPACs, etc. Reference Blogs – Provides links to interesting articles and web resourcesBook Club BlogsFaculty Library Blogs –

BASIC REQUIREMENTS TO SET UP A BLOG• Time

• Energy

• Internet

• Ideas

• Dedication

• Staff Training And Self-training

• Connection With The Audience

• MARKETING SKILLS – Technical EG. Seo Skills And Real Marketing Skills

• Branding Techniques

PRACTICALS- BLOGGING WITH BLOGGER!First, create a personal gmail account…www.gmail.comGo to www.blogger.comClick on ‘Create a limited blogger profile’Type in a display nameClick on ‘New Blog’Choose your blog title, address and select a templateClick on ‘Create Blog’Click on ‘View Blog’You can always edit. Now that you have created a blog, you need to make a post. Click on ‘New Post’ on the top right menu.You can add pictures, videos and links to your post.

RSS FEEDS • Really Simply Syndication (RSS) – helps to automate the

process of keeping up with news and information online.• A format for syndicating content on the web• Instead of checking on a website daily for updates, people

can subscribe to the site’s RSS feed (the method by which RSS is delivered)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!