I was interested in the public library blogs in the case studies and see them as great way to reach out to the community with the latest activities and news about the library and other related subjects. In the case of the Ann Arbor library the director is responsible for the posting to the blog. People will enjoy reading small snippets of information such as is normal for a blog and often don't want to get too involved in the smaller details. By providing just the basics to the reader, this will encourage more readers and a following of existing readers.
The blog for libraries can be likened to a continuous newsletter for anyone who is interested in the latest aquisitions, book news, programming and associated fundraising activities.
In the case of the Madison-Jefferson county library there are many links to anything that is related to the item within certain parameters. It is knowing where to draw these parameters that must be remembered and maintained otherwise users can go off on a tangent and get easily side tracked. In some cases this is good, but if the purpose of the blog is to inform about library activities, then there must be limitations.
The 'Buzz' blog from the Madison-Jefferson county library is very attractive with many colourful graphics and would attract users of all ages to read the posts. There is also a youth and kids 'Buzz' with relevant information for those groups.
Librarians are gradually taking over from the IT department and reclaiming some ares of influence and expertise and making themselves more indispensible than they have possibly been perceived in the recent past. Librarians also need to demonstrate their value to the organisation and need to develop skills to manipulate the social software tools available to them.
Blogs in libraries can also be used for communication inside the library with staff members in any location in the system. Where a library is spread geographically a blog can be a central place for staff to check on any new activity, training or ideas that need to be exchanged.
The Ann Arbor District Library provides numerous links from it's blog to not just the library catalogue, but also people, such as authors and illustrators, publishing companies, local government websites, bands and musicians who will be performing as a library sponsored activity.
In this way the library is giving the users the 'whole picture' with relevant links and allowing the user to go as far as he or she wishes for total information. The blog also provides numerous RSS feeds under a variety of subjects for the users to obtain up to the minute information on new posts.
As for any library procedureI would imagine that there is a policy on the kind of information that is posted to each individual library blog. The staff in charge of the blog need to maintain a certain level of professionalism in the eyes of the users and readers as this form of communication can now be seen as the gateway to the library and as such it must maintain its reputation as a pillar in the community.
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2 comments:
Hi Jane
Very neat inventive titles to your posts! I like your evaluation of these week's cases - I think you raise some interesting points. What stands out for me in your comments is two-fold:
1) The blog has multiple users - it can serve both as a way to communicate with the public community. However, it can also serve as a way of the library's internal staff to keep up-to-date on what is happening, and peruse topics of interest.
2)The shift from an IT tool to a librarian tool. A blog is not about the technology, but providing a service from and within the library. The librarian is paramount in this role, and as a result, should be very active and involved in blog and similar forums of communication and news.
Hi Jane,
It is hard to imagine a world without blogs, eh? Every organization seems to have a link to their blog. Though we trace the evolution of blogs over these short years, has it really changed? Our blogs are pretty much the same as the ones outlined by Blood; commentary and links. I think the changes lies in what you said "their level of confidence and self esteem increased as they saw readers agreeing with their comments and taking them seriously". I wonder if people, aside from our 757 class, started reading our blogs if that would change how we write? As you said, the difference rests with the knowledge (or lack there of) of HTML. Blogs are not 'exclusive' anymore, rather inclusive. Everyone can read them, everyone can create one.
I like your comments about the
'warblog'. Isn't it interesting that there are grave consequences to blogging. One of the articles traced a few cases where people were punished for expressing their opinion. It makes me wonder if legislation will be passed in Canada restricting blogging.
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