Blogging the Library

1
Blogging the Library
2
Library 2.0 Spectrum
3
Information r/evolution

• Check out this YouTube Video about the changes in
  information today.
• Lets discuss it!

4
My Blogs

• KidsLit kidslit.menashalibrary.org
• Sites Soundbytes sites.menashalibrary.org
• Menasha Mail Internal blog for entire staff
• DBlog Internal blog for Dept Heads
• Each department has own blog
• Website is blog-based

5
Your professional library blog
6
First DecisionS!

• What do I write about?
• Make it something you are passionate about
• Have plenty to say
• Subject must have enough depth to post about for
  a length of time.
• Is this specific to your library? Libraries in
  general?
• Will you have a mix of personal and professional
  content?
• What is your tone/demeanor going to be?
• Will you be anonymous?
• Consistency is key.

7
Range of Library Blogs

• Librarian.net
• Librarian In Black
• LISNews
• Annoyed Librarian
• Ref Grunt
• Feel-Good Librarian
• Catalogablog

8
Dont Read Only Library Blogs!

• Church of the Customer Blog
• Slow Leadership
• Think Differently!

9
Any other recommendations?

• Do you have any favorite library blogs that I
  havent mentioned?

10
Brainstorming time!

• What are you passionate about in libraries?
• What do you have a lot to say about?
• What suits your job/mission at the library you
  work at?

11
Second Vital Decision!

• TITLE!
• Should give a cute insight into your perspective
  and tone.
• Make sure no one else is already using it.
• Can do without the cute title if it is solely for
  your library patrons and will function more as an
  extension of your site.

12
Different Platforms

• Blogger Free, Easy but Not Clean
• Moveable Type Free to Winnefox Libraries, Easy
  and Clean
• Drupal Website based on blogging

13
Join the Conversation (Already in Progress)

• Read Other Blogs
• Post comments on posts that interest you
• Build from other peoples posts and write the
  content on your site pointing them to the
  original post
• Make online friends
• Meet online friends

14
Tools of the trade

• ScribeFire www.scribefire.com
• Stock.xchng www.sxc.hu
• Screengrab www.screengrab.org
• Del.icio.us http//del.icio.us/
• LibX http//info.winnefox.org/libx/
• WorldCat http//worldcat.org/

15
RSS
16
RSS Really simple Syndication

• RSS is hard to explain, but easy to use
• Trick is finding the right aggregator
• RSS Video

17
RSS Feed Reading

• Use online readers
• Google Reader
• Bloglines Beta
• Outlook

18
Tough talk about blogs
19
Spam

• When is a compliment, not a compliment?
• Figuring out if a comment is legitimate.
• Your own servers vs. commercial sites
• How much spam is too much spam?

20
My Blog Lessons

• Taken (blatantly stolen) from a meme
• Blogging is addictive
• Blogging is easy to start but hard to maintain
• Dont expect to make money or gain fame
• Blogging takes effort and time
• Dont fret about the number of readers you have
  it can drive you crazy
• Memes can be good or bad do you follow the herd
  or head out on your own?
• Think of your readers always

21
Hard truths about blogging

• Easy?
• Are you going to be paid for your time?
• Are you going to involve staff?
• Do you need library policies that address
  blogging?

22
What do you get out of blogging?

• Chance to join the conversation and sometimes
  lead it
• Chance to give voice to a previously unheard
  opinion
• Chance to practice your writing skills and get
  more comfortable online
• ARCs
• You will not get famous, rich or more interesting!

23
Secret to Longevity?

• Start with a subject you love
• Join the gang
• Post, post, post
• Fearlessly refocus
• Dont fret about the number of people who read
  your blog
• Dont compare your numbers to those of other
  blogs
• Focus on your audience
• Share your ideas, passion, thoughts, sweat and
  tears
• Be yourself

24
Blog as website
25
Blogging Your website

• Decentralized Content Creation
• On-the-fly Changes
• Constant Updates
• Radical Trust of Users
• Rich User Experience

26
Getting started

• New Materials Blogs
• Think about the functionality you want before the
  design
• The design should echo your library

27
Menashas Site

• www.menashalibrary.org
• Many (any) staff have input
• I do the front page
• Focus on images/graphics
• Content is King
• Our canned content Bestseller Lists
• Effort to promote our collection

28
Features on the site

• Comments turned ON
• Calendar and Events
• Sign-up for Events online
• Patrons can write reviews of materials
• Integrated search box
• Childrens and Teens have distinct feel
• Meebo

29
Coming soon

• Fill out meeting room forms online
• Fill out library card form online
• Scrolling events no longer limited to 3
• Automated New Arrivals?
• New Arrangement for Online Research Section

30
Staff response

• Mixed
• Colors on the site
• Contact Us
• Terminology/Lingo
• Recommended Websites
• Graphics
• Theory of Library 2.0 site

31
What to watch out for!

• Who is going to be ultimately responsible?
• What can and cannot be posted?
• What do you do with comments that have profanity
  or spam?

32
Library blogs needed!

• Book reviews
• Volunteer relations, serving seniors
• Reference
• Tech Services
• Childrens Services (not book reviews)
• Management
• Small libraries

33
Questions?

• Thank you!
• Tasha Saecker
• Elisha D. Smith Public Library, Menasha
• 967-3661
• AIM TashRow
• tasha_at_menashalibrary.org