Blogs as information tools: scientists and science libraries

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Blogs as information toolsscientists and
science libraries

• Garrett Eastman
• December 9, 2005

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Overview

• Science blogs
• Science libraries and blogs
• Rowland Institute Library Blog

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Why this topic

• Searching for scientific information
• Blogs relatively new information tools

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Blogs in science

• Relatively few
• Disseminate results
• Comment on others work
• Resource / gateway for a particular topic
• Hot topics (intelligent design, string theory)

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Who blogs

• Organizations (e.g.Bioinformatics.org)
• Individual scientists
• In the Pipeline(www.corante.com/pipeline)
• Science journalists
• Chris C. Mooney (www.chriscmooney.com)
• Groups/labs
• http//tangledbank.net/

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Organizational blog
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Journal blogs

• Provide links to latest articles
• Comment on articles in journal and elsewhere
• News stories

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http//blogs.nature.com/nn/actionpotential
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Arxiv.org links to blogs
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• Group blog
• Tangled Bank
• http//tangledbank.net/
• Wiki
• OpenWetWare
• http//openwetware.org/wiki/Main_Page

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Directories

• SciencePORT.org
• http//phdweblogs.net/
• Syndic8 http//www.syndic8.com
• NewsisFree http//www.newsisfree.com

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Search Engines

• Feedster http//www.feedster.com
• Technorati http//www.technorati.com
• Google Blog Search http//blogsearch.google.com/

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http//www.connotea.org
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Readings

• Joint Efforts, Nature, November 30, 2005
• http//www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7068/fu
  ll/438548a.html
• Blogs a New Force in Physics?, Seed
• http//www.seedmagazine.com/news/2005/10/a_new_for
  ce.php
• The Power of the Blog, The Scientist
• http//www.the-scientist.com/login?url/2005/8/1/3
  7/1

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What are science libraries doing with blogs?

• New resources, new books
• Information on particular topics
• Links to articles and other reference items
• Information about the library

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Science library blogs

• SciTech Library Question http//stlq.info
• Englib http//englib.info
• Confessions of a Science Librarian
  http//jdupuis.blogspot.com/
• Science Library Pad http//scilib.typepad.com/scie
  nce_library_pad/
• Science Library Update http//scilibupdate.blogspo
  t.com/
• SLA PAM Division Blog http//dpam.blogspot.com/

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http//blogs.law.harvard.edu/rihlib
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What goes into RIH blog

• Links to and commentary about scientific
  resources
• Links to articles (news, reviews, special issues)
• News and info about Rowland research groups
• Harvard community news

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From the Harvard University Gazette, March 11,
2004
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Rowland news
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New Rowland publication
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Funding award announcement
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Summary

• Present complementary information in blog
  postings
• Build on news items and other information
• Link to related papers, web sites, other sources

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Finally

• Blogs an evolving form of communication in
  science
• Libraries can take advantage of blogs as a
  reference and communication tool

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• Thank you
• eastman_at_rowland.harvard.edu