Blogs in a Library EnvironmentBlogs in a Library Environment

Kathy Petlewski

Plymouth District Library

mkp@plymouthlibrary.org

What Is a Blog?What Is a Blog?

“A Weblog is a hierarchy of text, images, media objects and data, arranged chronologically, that can be viewed in an HTML browser.”

Dave Winer “Weblogs at Harvard Law” http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/whatMakesAWeblogAWeblog

accessed 8/23/2005

Easier Definition From Easier Definition From WebopediaWebopedia

Short for Web log, a blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

Characteristics of a BlogCharacteristics of a Blog

Tend to have short entries Updated on a regular basis Fewer “bells and whistles” than web pages Displayed in reverse chronological order, with

the newest coming up first

Components of a Typical BlogComponents of a Typical Blog

Title of Blog – Unique Name for your blog Title of Individual Entry or Posting Date Stamp for each entry – This is the time

the entry is posted to the blog. Main Body of individual entry - Sentence,

paragraph or essay with links and names and current news

Components of a Typical BlogComponents of a Typical Blog Cont.Cont.

Author - Often a nickname or pen name is used

Archives – Listing of past posts either by category or date

Permalink – Reference link to a permanent page just for one post.

Comments Tag (optional) – Allows readers to react to post

Components of a Typical Blog Components of a Typical Blog Cont.Cont.

Other Links (optional) – Links to related pages, author’s favorite pages etc. 

RSS/XML Tag (optional but highly desirable) TrackBack (optional) – A way for one blog post

to link to the post of another blog.

Blog Page ExampleBlog Page Example

Blogging BackgroundBlogging Background

1996 - Marc Andreessen's ‘What's New?’ page at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications

1997 – Dave Winer starts Scripting News, currently the longest running weblog on the Internet: http://www.scripting.com/

Technical Blogs – Help and advice for techies Slashdot: news for nerds - http://slashdot.org/ (1997)

In 1998, Jorn Barger coined the term “weblog”

Blogger and Pitas started offering blogging services in 1999.

Typical Kinds of BlogsTypical Kinds of Blogs

Political Blogs – Bloggers were allowed in 2004 National Conventions with press credentials.

Personal Diaries of life-changing experiences “Baghdad Burning” http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/ or “View from the Sidewalk” http://view-sidewalk.blogspot.com

“Citizen Journalism” – CBS/George Bush National Guard Story in the 2004 campaign

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita blogs from reporters from The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/ (2005)

Why Should My Library or Media Center Have a Blog?

Marketing: Promote Library events and programs, list new movies, books and links to their reviews.

News: Keep students informed of new collections, building expansions, new personnel – “telling our story”

Online Book Discussions: Let readers post comments

Community Information: collect and post local news and events

Homework Alerts: Have a central place for student to check to find out about resources to help with current assignments.

Why Should Why Should MyMy Library or Media Library or Media Center Have a Blog?Center Have a Blog?

Staff Development: Share tips and tricks with software, search engines etc.

Knowledge Sharing: Post difficult reference questions and resources used to answer them.

Database for Web Site Resources: As new, worthwhile sites are created, add to the blog archives.

Project Tracking and Management: Post updates and timelines for building expansions, new circulation systems etc.

Professional/personal Development: post a resume with links to projects, papers, articles done by you.

Staff Picks: Great for community building, share music, books, movies that are favorites. This is also a great help for Reader’s Advisory.

PausePause Before You BlogBefore You Blogto consider…to consider…

Purpose of the blog Who will be in charge of setting up and maintaining

the blog? How will you train your staff to post/use blog? Technical support and equipment needed Ease of use Features needed/required on blog Cost considerations

To Host or Not to Host…To Host or Not to Host…

Do you have the necessary hardware?

Do you have technical support and expertise with programming software?

Is it easy for staff to use?

Can you afford it?

Blogging Software:Blogging Software: Hosted ServicesHosted Services

Blogger: http://www.blogger.com Library Blogs.net: http://library-blogs.net TypePad: http://www.typepad.com Live Journal: http://www.livejournal.com WordPress: http://wordpress.com Easy Journal: http://easyjournal.com/

Things to Look for in Things to Look for in Hosted ServicesHosted Services::

How many authors/contributors are allowed on each blog?

How many blogs are allowed for the price? Are they strictly for personal use or may they

be used by organizations? Is there good documentation and support? Do they include all of the features you

need/desire? (RSS, comments, graphics etc.)

Blogging Software:Blogging Software:Resides on Library ServerResides on Library Server

Movable Type 3.1:http://moveabletype.org pMachine Pro: http://www.pmachine.com/

pmachinepro Greymatter 1.3: http://greymatterforums.com Textpattern: http://www.textpattern.com/ BLOG:CMS :http://blogcms.com/ Blosxom: http://blosxom.com/

Things to look for in Things to look for in Client-basedClient-based blogging softwareblogging software

Make sure you check with your IT person/department to make sure your server will support it.

Also make sure your IT person/department is familiar with the necessary programming languages to be installed with software.

Is it simple enough for you and your staff to use? Is there sufficient documentation available for changing

the configuration?

A Word About Yahoo 360 and A Word About Yahoo 360 and MySpaceMySpace

Yahoo 360 Blogs: http://360.yahoo.com/  MySpace.com: http://login.myspace.com/

Hot places for kids to journal and share personal thoughts with others. Teachers and librarians need to alert students to potential dangers.

Individual Library BlogsIndividual Library Blogs

Li-blog-ary Gargoyles loose in the Library Mrs. Dudiak’s Class Web Site Mabry Middle School Media Center – Coventry Christian Schools NMH Reading Room Tech News and Book Views

Finding Blogs on the InternetFinding Blogs on the Internet

Blogwithoutalibrary: - This site lists library blogs by type of library.

Peter Scott’s List of Library Weblogs: International in scope, this list is broken down by country -

Google Blogsearch – now in Beta version:

Technorati Blog Finder

IceRocket Blog Search

Feedster Blog Search

Creating a Blog Using BloggerCreating a Blog Using Blogger

Go to http://blogger.com

Set up an account with username and password

Select a name for your blog

Select a template (Can be changed later)

Current Blogger Staff BlogCurrent Blogger Staff Blog

Editing Window on BloggerEditing Window on Blogger

Default Template - Movable TypeDefault Template - Movable Type

Blog Configured Using CSSBlog Configured Using CSS

Books on Blogs & BloggingBooks on Blogs & Blogging

Gosney, John W. Blogging for Teens. 2004 Holzschlag, Molly E. Sams teach yourself Movable Type in 24

hours. 2004 Doctorow, Cory. Essential Blogging. 2002 Bausch, Paul. We Blog: Publishing online with weblogs. 2002 Blood, Rebecca. The Weblog Handbook. 2002 Warlick, David. Classroom Blogging: A Teacher's Guide to the

Blogosphere. C2005 Castro, Elizabeth. Publishing a Blog with Blogger. 2005

Ethics of BloggingEthics of Blogging (5 Rules to Blog by)

Transparency: For most blogs, we want to know what the writer’s starting point is.

Cite your Source: Link to and name your source. Get it Right- “There is nothing more pathetic

than a librarian who gets facts wrong.” Be Fair – Don’t present opinion as fact. Admit Mistakes whether they are errors of

judgment or fact.

Wrapping It Up….Wrapping It Up….

Make sure you/your media center really want(s) a blog.

Settle on the purpose or focus of the blog.

Use short and informal posts to keep it interesting and timely.

Staff needs to “buy into” ownership of blog .

Involve key staff members & decide who will be in charge of maintaining the blog.

Start simple and then consider upgrading if necessary.

If it is a blog for patrons, publicize it .

Keep it current or else remove it!