1. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk UKOLN is supported by: Using blogs to enhance library services Ann Chapman, UKOLN Using Blogs Effectively Within Your Library – ILI Workshop 15th October 2008

2. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Communicating with Users The print era –posters, flyers, print newsletter The replicate print age –e-newsletters, static web pages The interactive age –Push information out –Gather feedback –Build a community All without having a lot of technical know-how

3. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Types of Blogs Personal or professional? –Depends on what your aim is Private or public? –Seen only by (some) colleagues –Seen by anyone Individual, group or subject? –Individual: reflects one persons thoughts –Group: collective effort –Subject: any number of people but is focused on a single topic

4. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk A News Blog What might it cover? –New branches, stock areas, user services –Service changes – mobile library routes, opening hours, fines –Event information What goes out? –Keep it concise –Keep items separate –Small snippets of information

5. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk North Lincolnshire Libraries

6. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk From the Librarians Desk Blogging about your daily work –Gives users an insight into your role(s) and responsibilities –Helps provide transparency and openness –Information about library news and events –Sets news in context of whole service or a specific area (e.g. local studies)

7. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum

8. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Community Building Community of library professionals Long tradition of sharing experiences and knowledge New issues – need to find new communities Blogs can be a timely way to Offer advice and commentary Make new connections Record discussion over time Also provide a different view to email discussion threads

9. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk CILIP Cataloguing & Indexing Group

10. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Library Resources Blog Use it to Raise your profile Advertise resources Build online communities with user input Focus on areas specific to your service and community Non-English speakers Local choirs and orchestras Childrens work: homework groups, Stories from the Web sessions, holiday schemes Family history Accessible materials for visually impaired

11. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Sutton Libraries

12. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Special Projects Blog Are you Building a new library? Refurbishing a library / section? Changing mobile library services? Benefits Allows users to engage with project User involvement with decision making Easy way for regular progress bulletins Keeping interest through photos and videos

13. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk British Library

14. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Task Groups Blog Management Tool –Captures thoughts of group members –Tagging to categorise sections Administration tool –Built in archive features – capture record of work done

15. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk RIN Team blog

16. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Reflective Blogs Dont have to be public … but think about sharing it with colleagues Use as a try it out experience Professional development –Chronicle your daily activities –Identify progression, achievements –Use it for annual appraisal

17. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Remixing Libraries

18. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Getting started Blogs can be As resource and time intensive as you want Creative or serious – depending on who its aimed at Help and advice UKOLN IntroBytes papers on blogging http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/ Mailing lists e.g. lis-bloggers http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/lis-bloggers.html/

19. A centre of expertise in digital information management www.ukoln.ac.uk www.bath.ac.uk Any questions?