creating and maintaining a blog: the archives hub blog
DESCRIPTION
An introduction to blogging for archivists, presented at the Sharing Made Simple training course, 5 June 2007TRANSCRIPT
Creating and maintaining Creating and maintaining a bloga blog- and -- and -
the Archives Hub the Archives Hub experienceexperience
Jane Stevenson & Amanda HillJane Stevenson & Amanda Hill
What is a blog?What is a blog? Short for WeblogShort for Weblog Diary-type commentaryDiary-type commentary Individual / topic basedIndividual / topic based Personal reflections, news, events, Personal reflections, news, events,
reviews, analysisreviews, analysis Typical blog: text, images, comments, Typical blog: text, images, comments,
archive, links to other related sites, archive, links to other related sites, feedfeed
Part of Web 2.0 – social, collaborativePart of Web 2.0 – social, collaborative
First thoughtsFirst thoughts
It is easy to set a blog up…It is easy to set a blog up…
but:but: What is its purpose?What is its purpose? What are the advantages of doing it?What are the advantages of doing it? Will you make regular entries?Will you make regular entries? Over 70 million blogs; large number Over 70 million blogs; large number
not usednot used
Why create a blog?Why create a blog?
Raise awarenessRaise awareness Build connectionsBuild connections Articulate your thoughtsArticulate your thoughts Enable feedback (comment)Enable feedback (comment) An accessible means of communication An accessible means of communication
that takes very little time to set upthat takes very little time to set up Keep in tune with current technologiesKeep in tune with current technologies
Why not create a blogWhy not create a blog
Nobody will read it…?Nobody will read it…? Pressure to blogPressure to blog Need to keep up with…everythingNeed to keep up with…everything Danger of indiscretion Danger of indiscretion Other avenues of communication are Other avenues of communication are
more effectivemore effective Better not to have a blog than one you Better not to have a blog than one you
hardly usehardly use
Blog approachesBlog approaches
FormalFormal– repository news; organised events; repository news; organised events;
announcements; critiqueannouncements; critique
InformalInformal– general news; comments; anecdotes; general news; comments; anecdotes;
humour; discussion; personal humour; discussion; personal experiences; raise ideasexperiences; raise ideas
Setting up a blogSetting up a blog
Easy to create, edit and publishEasy to create, edit and publish Use of blog hosting serviceUse of blog hosting service Keep blog files on own system (FTP) Keep blog files on own system (FTP) Maintenance usually through browser-based Maintenance usually through browser-based
interfaceinterface Set up: register; choose template; a few Set up: register; choose template; a few
settingssettings …that’s about it for a basic …that’s about it for a basic blogblog
Proofread, spell check, cite sources, add Proofread, spell check, cite sources, add plenty of linksplenty of links
Blogs and RSSBlogs and RSS
RSS/Atom feed for your blog RSS/Atom feed for your blog Syndication (process)Syndication (process) RSS/Atom (technology)RSS/Atom (technology) Feed readers display new postsFeed readers display new posts New items automatically discovered New items automatically discovered
and downloadedand downloaded Many feed readers (Netvibes)Many feed readers (Netvibes)
Maintaining a blogMaintaining a blog
Group blog Group blog
(works well with more informal blog)(works well with more informal blog) Guest bloggersGuest bloggers Blog entries that encourage Blog entries that encourage
comments (may increase motivation!)comments (may increase motivation!) Visit and comment on other blogsVisit and comment on other blogs Check reactions to your blog Check reactions to your blog
(Technorati)(Technorati)
Archives Hub BlogArchives Hub Blog
Why?Why? Part of Hub mission is to act as a centre of Part of Hub mission is to act as a centre of
expertise on electronic cataloguingexpertise on electronic cataloguing
Pride ourselves on being quick to react to new Pride ourselves on being quick to react to new developments in technology within the servicedevelopments in technology within the service
Means we keep an eye on interoperability issues, Means we keep an eye on interoperability issues, new reports etc.new reports etc.
Mechanism for updating each other and Hub Mechanism for updating each other and Hub contributors on items of interestcontributors on items of interest
How?How?
Set up blog using Blogger in February Set up blog using Blogger in February 20062006
Very easy to doVery easy to do
Blogger offers option of hosting blog Blogger offers option of hosting blog on our own website:on our own website:– www.archiveshub.ac.uk/blog/www.archiveshub.ac.uk/blog/
What happened next…What happened next…
Experimental serviceExperimental service
Announcements about Hub developmentsAnnouncements about Hub developments
Reports on conferences attended, reviews Reports on conferences attended, reviews of publicationsof publications
Special featuresSpecial features
BenefitsBenefits
Helps to build team spirit – a joint Helps to build team spirit – a joint efforteffort
RSS/Atom feeds of posts come as RSS/Atom feeds of posts come as standard – content can be presented standard – content can be presented in ways that best suit the usersin ways that best suit the users
SometimesSometimes get conversations going get conversations going
More benefitsMore benefits
Raises awareness of Archives Hub Raises awareness of Archives Hub beyond our usual constituencybeyond our usual constituency
Starts up new dialoguesStarts up new dialogues
Makes us more thoughtful about Makes us more thoughtful about what we’re doing and whywhat we’re doing and why
Own hosting has some issuesOwn hosting has some issues
Control freakeryControl freakery
See who is linking to your blogSee who is linking to your blog See how authoritative your blog isSee how authoritative your blog is Even see how much it’s worth!Even see how much it’s worth!