Liblogarian Annual LIS symposium 2008 Annette le Roux

What is a blog?

Definition: Blog? Short form of web log, also weblog ‘a webpage containing brief, chronologically arranged items of information’ – Canadian weblog expert Peter Scott ‘a cross between a diary, a website and an online community’ - Theresa Ross Embrey

Laurel Clyde is of the opinion that to try and define a blog is “an exercise in futility.. as the weblog scene is changing all the time”

History 1994 – Justin Hall - student 17 December 1997 – Jorn Barger coined “weblog” Peter Merholtz created “blog” first librarian to operate own blog Jenny Levine – Site Du Jour first librarian to operate own blog Jenny Levine – Site Du Jour

What is the purpose of a blog?

Purpose of a blog purely personal publishing diaries, personal thoughts “self-obsessed ramblings of people who have little to say” Giles Turnbull

Now personal journal community space for learners or... any community with a shared interest business use - advertising can contain text, videos, music, art

Why are blogs popular?

Reasons software & blogging tools – – simplifies the process of writing & publishing – – creating and editing blog entries is no more difficult than sending an ! chronological arrangement of items – most recent first blog archives, grouping permalinks

Reasons (2) reaction and comments of other bloggers linking to other blogs webs of communication networks of dynamic communities socialising - fellowship feeling therapeutic benefits

Dangers of blogging political dangers – Jan Pronk (UN) in the Sudan personal safety – Kathy Sierra defamation law suits

How do you create a blog?

Creating a blog many different software packages available various free templates on the internet – –... Blogger, Wordpress, Movable Type, etc register as a user and start blogging

Why blogs in a library?

Public library blogs devoted to children and teenagers often described as “teen pages” or “teen news” – linked to reading activities new books arrival events at the library

Client preferences more clients start to prefer this way of communicating – lecturers as well as students generation X; Y, millennials interactivity

Creative librarians librarians continuously look for innovative ways to reach patrons librarians continuously look for innovative ways to reach patrons provide quick information to patrons provide quick information to patrons often librarians are unable to update their library web sites often librarians are unable to update their library web sites without IT department

Easy communication publish instantly to the internet from any internet connection publish instantly to the internet from any internet connection moblogging

Subject librarian & blogs additional way of reaching academic staff links to other sites – of interest to academic staff links to other sites – of interest to academic staff collection development – new books – reviews, discussions collection development – new books – reviews, discussions RSS feeds (readers) – quick alerts RSS feeds (readers) – quick alerts

Some examples

To blog or not to blog?

A blog can be a very useful tool for communicating new ideas and thoughts to a large number of people quickly

From a LIS perspective a blog can be used to broadcast useful info to clients in any specific subject area or it can be geared towards a general audience within the community

Aspects to keep in mind hosting of site & cost of software one person or a group? training of staff frequency of updating – time consuming one way communication or interactive? what do users want of a library blog? policies

Thank you Any questions? Annette le Roux