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Title UCD Library science blog : 5 years from innovation tomainstream

Author(s) Clark, Josh; Ladisch, Michael; Stokes, Diarmuid

PublicationDate 2010-03-29

This item'srecord/moreinformation

http://hdl.handle.net/10197/2781

Visits per Week 2006-2009(Icons indicating when features were added)

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Josh Clark, Michael Ladisch, Diarmuid Stokes – University College Dublin Library

RATIONALE• To inform academic staff and students

of developments in Library services

and resources

• To explore Web 2.0 technologies for

enhanced communication with target

audience

• To connect with academics and

students in a digital environment

SUSTAINABILITY• Team approach to posting reduces

pressure on individuals

• No central administrator, content

posted at discretion of each librarian

• Three-pronged approach for content:

Internal library developments, e.g.

Endnote training sessions

Resource news, e.g. new databases

External news, e.g. Ignoble Awards

UCD Library Science Blog: 5 Years From Innovation To Mainstream

2006 2007 2008 2009

CREATION• Support from Library management to

investigate blogging

• Blogger chosen as platform because of

high profile and shallow learning curve

• Banner created to establish identity

• Focus on science, agriculture and

engineering subjects

• All science liaison librarians to

contribute

DEVELOPMENT• Marketing strategy included use of emails,

posters, library displays

• New features added over time, e.g.

FeedBlitz (email), FeedBurner (RSS),

Sitemeter (visitor tracking), Feedjit (live

traffic)

• Reader feedback used to enhance the blog

• Creation of centralised Library blog page

helped raise blog’s profile

FUTURE• Expand scope to include all science,

technology and health sciences subjects

• Include all STM liaison librarians

• Investigate other Web platforms to

complement/replace blog, e.g. Facebook,

Twitter

• Redesign/redevelop blog to refresh online

experience

• Rethink role of the blog

INFLUENCE• Catalyst for development of other

blogs within UCD Library

• Shared experiences of blogging at

national and international conferences

• Referred to in other blogs

• Advised librarians in other institutions

on blog creation* Trendline

http://ucdscience.blogspot.com

*

Contact: joshua.clark@ucd.ie

In April 2005, UCD science librarians decided to experiment

by creating a blog to be used as a vehicle for

communicating and re-engaging with the academic

community. The focus of the blog is to promote and

highlight science related information and events and library

related activities.

This poster examines factors in the creation and

development of the Science@UCD Library blog, including

choice of platform, promotion, impact and future plans. We

also explore the blog’s sustainability as a communication

tool, and look at its influence on the subsequent growth of

blogging within UCD Library.