To blog or not to blog

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To blog or not to blog?

• Sue Manuel
• s.manuel_at_lboro.ac.uk

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Session overview

• Introduction to weblogs
• weblog systems, RSS (Rich Site Summary) and news
  feeds.
• Loughborough University Library staff weblog use
• work of the team
• why a weblog format
• team experience and views
• weblog review future developments.

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Definition

• "Blog/WebLog a web page containing brief,
  chronologically arranged items of information. A
  blog can take the form of a diary, journal,
  what's new page, or links to other web sites."
• Peter Scott - http//library.usask.ca/scottp/il20
  01/definitions.html
• Peter Scotts weblog compendium is a useful
  resource
• http//www.lights.com/weblogs/

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Weblog systems

• hosted or installed - availability of technical
  support
• depends on your needs features list
• installed Movable Type, WordPress
• hosted Typepad, LiveJournal
• iBlog desktop software for MAC OS X.

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Resources

• Have a go with Blogger http//www.blogger.com/
• Biz Stones blogging software comparison -
  http//safari.peachpit.com/?xmlid0-73571-299-9/ap
  p01
• And Blog software breakdown - http//www.asymptoma
  tic.net/blogbreakdown.htm.

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RSS (Rich Site Summary)

• text file (XML format) summary of weblog post
• look out for the orange buttons
• feed into news aggregator services
• benefit all sources available in one place
• Web based services Bloglines or, News Is Free
• download to desktop
• Amphetadesk - http//www.disobey.com/amphetadesk/
  
• Feedreader - http//www.feedreader.com/
• NewzCrawler - http//www.newzcrawler.com/.

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Resources

• Have a go with Bloglines - http//www.bloglines.co
  m/
• Library RSS feeds - http//www.lisfeeds.com/.

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Weblog uses in libraries

• Communication of information
• news page
• new books list
• project management tool
• knowledge sharing..

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Library case study

• Could a weblog be used to assist staff at
• Loughborough with Information Enquiries work?
• Capture tacit knowledge word-of-mouth
• clear theme or purpose
• create an information centre.

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Information enquiries at Loughborough

• The makeup of the team
• virtual team
• mixture of staff grades and specialisations.
• What do we need for the Enquiries Service
• differing demands for content
• communication issues.

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Information alerting systems

• What we had in place
• central email list
• ad-hoc current notices folder
• word-of-mouth.

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Weblogs an alternative system

• Online system - information repository
• quick and easy-to-use
• regular updates
• collaborative
• available to all
• index content
• search facility.
• Facilitate the sharing of information.

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The blog tool selected

• Movable Type
• popular system
• maintained and developed by its creators
• search facility
• categories indexing of content.

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Posting tool

• Web based
• easy to use
• text formatting options
• preview entry
• email notifications.

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Administrators privileges

• system configuration
• ban IP addresses
• access and create templates
• add users allocate permissions
• View activity log records entries and searches.

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Staff weblog access habits

• some open the weblog at the beginning of a desk
  session to
• read contents and/or
• access links.
• some also refer to it from their office and home
• others use the weblog occasionally or not at all.

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Comparison usage statistics

• Entries - 9
• Accesses 250
• Searches 3
• Estimated weekly averages for Oct 03 - Mar 04.

• Entries - 12
• Accesses 434
• Searches 12
• Weekly averages for Oct 04 - Mar 05.

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Staff early weblog usage

• Content of entries
• links secondary feature.
• Benefits to weblog use
• presentation assists information discovery
• easier than email
• content management features a bonus.

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Staff comments - positive

• Good as a reminder, also for searching and
  links.
• Easy to track a particular issue or thread, this
  is a lot more difficult with email.
• As a part-timer it is an excellent means of
  accessing developments whilst off-campus.

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Staff comments - negative

• Why cant I put anything on it?
• Nothing new on the weblog.
• Regular use would add to my workload.
• I make use of other sources to get information
  and updates.

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Weblog Vs. email (1)

• Opinion divided between the merits of the weblog
  and email.
• The only way the weblog will work is if current
• emails cease and people have to go to the
• weblog for information.

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Weblog Vs. email (2)

• Information Enquiries messages can be separated -
  a dedicated source has benefits
• weblog can be consulted before a duty
• current information is in place
• check weblog at intervals during duty
• reduce information overload.

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Retaining visitors

• Keeping the weblog up to date
• accuracy of information
• currency.
• Variety of content
• team participation
• some reluctant to participate.

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Recent developments

• Extended coverage - staff inclusion
• single source of information for the team.

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Weblog review

• The focus of the weblog was considered.
• Searching is on the increase
• greater numbers accessing
• more information on the weblog
• does a larger repository makes information
  difficult to locate?
• Comments facility remains underused.

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The focus of the weblog

• retain as a dedicated Information and Enquiries
  tool
• question and answer forum
• training tool
• links to general Library documents.

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Summary

• The answer to my original question Yes
• weblog use is part of our daily routine
• primary source of information alerts for the
  team
• room for improvement.