Blogs in a Library Environment Kathy Petlewski [email_address] 2009

Class Goal The Goal of this class is to provide the information and skills necessary for the student to create a hosted weblog using Blogger or Wordpress software.

The Goal of this class is to provide the information and skills necessary for the student to create a hosted weblog using Blogger or Wordpress software.

What Is a Blog? “ A Weblog is a hierarchy of text, images, media objects and data, arranged chronologically, that can be viewed in an HTML browser.” Dave Winer “Weblogs at Harvard Law” accessed 8/23/2005 http:// blogs.law.harvard.edu/whatMakesAWeblogAWeblog Short for web log, a blog is a web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author. (from Webopedia, Sept. 22, 2005 http:// www.webopedia.com/TERM/b/blog.html )

“ A Weblog is a hierarchy of text, images, media objects and data, arranged chronologically, that can be viewed in an HTML browser.”

Dave Winer “Weblogs at Harvard Law” accessed 8/23/2005

http:// blogs.law.harvard.edu/whatMakesAWeblogAWeblog

Short for web log, a blog is a web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

(from Webopedia, Sept. 22, 2005

http:// www.webopedia.com/TERM/b/blog.html )

Characteristics of a Blog Tend to have short entries Updated on a regular basis Fewer “bells and whistles” than web pages Displayed in reverse chronological order, with the newest coming up first Personal, informal writing style Quickly come online - and then die

Tend to have short entries

Updated on a regular basis

Fewer “bells and whistles” than web pages

Displayed in reverse chronological order, with the newest coming up first

Personal, informal writing style

Quickly come online - and then die

Some Blogs Have a Planned Lifespan.

Components of a Typical Blog Title of Blog – Unique Name for your blog Title of Individual Entry or Posting Date Stamp for each entry – This is the time the entry is posted to the blog. Main Body of individual entry - Sentence, paragraph or essay with links & names Author - Often a nickname or pen name is used

Title of Blog – Unique Name for your blog

Title of Individual Entry or Posting

Date Stamp for each entry – This is the time the entry is posted to the blog.

Main Body of individual entry - Sentence, paragraph or essay with links & names

Author - Often a nickname or pen name is used

Additional Components of a Blog Archives – Listing of past posts either by category or date Permalink – Reference link to a permanent page just for one post. Comments Tag (optional b ut desirable ) – Allows readers to react to post Other Links – blogroll (optional) – Links to related pages, author’s favorite pages etc. RSS/XML Tag (optional but highly desirable) TrackBack (optional) – A system that allows a blogger to see who has seen the original post and has written another entry concerning it. (wikipedia 11/6/07) .

Archives – Listing of past posts either by category or date

Permalink – Reference link to a permanent page just for one post.

Comments Tag (optional b ut desirable ) – Allows readers to react to post

Other Links – blogroll (optional) – Links to related pages, author’s favorite pages etc.

RSS/XML Tag (optional but highly desirable)

TrackBack (optional) – A system that allows a blogger to see who has seen the original post and has written another entry concerning it. (wikipedia 11/6/07) .

Blog Page Example

Blogging Background 1996 - Marc Andreessen's ‘What's New?’ page at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications 1997 – Dave Winer starts Scripting News , currently the longest running weblog on the Internet: http://www.scripting.com/ Technical Blogs – Help and advice for techies Slashdot: news for nerds - http:// slashdot.org / (1997) In 1998, Jorn Barger coined the term “weblog” Blogger and Pitas started offering blogging services in 1999.

1996 - Marc Andreessen's ‘What's New?’ page at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications

1997 – Dave Winer starts Scripting News , currently the longest running weblog on the Internet: http://www.scripting.com/

Technical Blogs – Help and advice for techies Slashdot: news for nerds - http:// slashdot.org / (1997)

In 1998, Jorn Barger coined the term “weblog”

Blogger and Pitas started offering blogging services in 1999.

Statistics on Blogging 33% of college students keep blogs & regularly post. 54% of them read blogs. 12% of online adults keep blogs, and 35% of them read them. (Pew Internet Report, May 2007) 65% of the new blogs created are abandoned within a month of the first post. (World Blogging Association, 11/6/2007)

33% of college students keep blogs & regularly post. 54% of them read blogs. 12% of online adults keep blogs, and 35% of them read them. (Pew Internet Report, May 2007)

65% of the new blogs created are abandoned within a month of the first post. (World Blogging Association, 11/6/2007)

Statistics on Blogging 33% of college students keep blogs & regularly post. 54% of them read blogs. 12% of online adults keep blogs, and 35% of them read them. (Pew Internet Report, May 2007) 65% of the new blogs created are abandoned within a month of the first post. (World Blogging Association, 11/6/2007)

33% of college students keep blogs & regularly post. 54% of them read blogs. 12% of online adults keep blogs, and 35% of them read them. (Pew Internet Report, May 2007)

65% of the new blogs created are abandoned within a month of the first post. (World Blogging Association, 11/6/2007)

Statistics on Blogging Technorati currently states it is tracking over 112.8 million blogs, a number which obviously does not include all the 72.82 million Chinese blogs as counted by The China Internet Network Information Center . Blog statistics often concern the English language blogosphere but we should not forget about the millions of other blogs that are not always included in estimations. The Blog Herald, Feb. 11, 2008 http://www.blogherald.com/2008/02/11/how-many-blogs-are-there-is-someone-still-counting/ accessed on Feb. 11, 2009

Technorati currently states it is tracking over 112.8 million blogs, a number which obviously does not include all the 72.82 million Chinese blogs as counted by The China Internet Network Information Center . Blog statistics often concern the English language blogosphere but we should not forget about the millions of other blogs that are not always included in estimations. The Blog Herald, Feb. 11, 2008 http://www.blogherald.com/2008/02/11/how-many-blogs-are-there-is-someone-still-counting/ accessed on Feb. 11, 2009

Typical Kinds of Blogs Political Blogs –Moveon.org - http:// pol.moveon.org/obama/hp/home.html or the Huffington Post - http:// www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog / Personal Diaries of life-changing experiences (2003 started)“Baghdad Burning” http:// riverbendblog.blogspot.com / or “View from the Sidewalk” http://view- sidewalk.blogspot.com Hobbys or Crafts – Yarn Harlot http:// www.yarnharlot.ca /blog/ Hurricanes Katrina from reporters from The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/ (2005) 888 blogs on California Fires (11/6/07) according to Technorati.

Political Blogs –Moveon.org - http:// pol.moveon.org/obama/hp/home.html or the Huffington Post - http:// www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog /

Personal Diaries of life-changing experiences (2003 started)“Baghdad Burning” http:// riverbendblog.blogspot.com / or “View from the Sidewalk” http://view- sidewalk.blogspot.com

Hobbys or Crafts – Yarn Harlot http:// www.yarnharlot.ca /blog/

Hurricanes Katrina from reporters from The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/ (2005)

888 blogs on California Fires (11/6/07) according to Technorati.

Why Should My Library Have a Blog? Marketing: Promote Library events and programs, list new movies, books and links to their reviews. News: Keep patrons informed of new collections, building expansions, new personnel – “telling our story” Online Book Discussions: Let readers post comments Community Information: collect and post local news and events Homework Alerts: Have a central place for student to check to find out about resources to help with current assignments.

Marketing: Promote Library events and programs, list new movies, books and links to their reviews.

News: Keep patrons informed of new collections, building expansions, new personnel – “telling our story”

Online Book Discussions: Let readers post comments

Community Information: collect and post local news and events

Homework Alerts: Have a central place for student to check to find out about resources to help with current assignments.

Why Should My Library Staff Have a Blog? Staff Development: Share tips and tricks with software, search engines etc. Knowledge Sharing: Post difficult reference questions and resources used to answer them. Project Tracking and Management: Updates and timelines for building expansions, new ILS etc. Professional/personal Development: post a resume with links to projects, papers, articles done by you. Staff Picks: Great for community building, share music, books, movies that are favorites. This is also a great help for Reader’s Advisory.

Staff Development: Share tips and tricks with software, search engines etc.

Knowledge Sharing: Post difficult reference questions and resources used to answer them.

Project Tracking and Management: Updates and timelines for building expansions, new ILS etc.

Professional/personal Development: post a resume with links to projects, papers, articles done by you.

Staff Picks: Great for community building, share music, books, movies that are favorites. This is also a great help for Reader’s Advisory.

Pause Before You Blog to consider Purpose of the blog Who will be in charge of setting up and maintaining the blog? How will you train your staff to post/use blog? Technical support and equipment needed Ease of use Features needed/required on blog Cost considerations

Purpose of the blog

Who will be in charge of setting up and maintaining the blog?

How will you train your staff to post/use blog?

Technical support and equipment needed

Ease of use

Features needed/required on blog

Cost considerations

To Host or Not to Host… Do you have the necessary hardware? Do you have technical support and expertise with programming software? Is it easy for staff to use? Can you afford it?

Do you have the necessary hardware?

Do you have technical support and expertise with programming software?

Is it easy for staff to use?

Can you afford it?

Plymouth’s Staff Blog on Blogger

My Personal Blog on Wordpress.com

Blogger.com – http:// www.blogger.com

Now Let’s Take a Look at WordPress.com !

Blogging Software: Hosted Services Blogger: http:// www.blogger.com Word Press: http:// wordpress.com TypePad: http:// www.typepad.com Live Journal: http:// www.livejournal.com Manila (also available as non-hosted): http:// manila.userland.com/hostedManila

Blogger: http:// www.blogger.com

Word Press: http:// wordpress.com

TypePad: http:// www.typepad.com

Live Journal: http:// www.livejournal.com

Manila (also available as non-hosted): http:// manila.userland.com/hostedManila

Things to Look for in Hosted Services: How many authors/contributors are allowed on each blog? How many blogs are allowed for the price? Are they strictly for personal use or may they be used by organizations? Is there good documentation and support? Do they include all of the features you need/desire? (RSS, comments, graphics etc.)

How many authors/contributors are allowed on each blog?

How many blogs are allowed for the price?

Are they strictly for personal use or may they be used by organizations?

Is there good documentation and support?

Do they include all of the features you need/desire? (RSS, comments, graphics etc.)

How Do I Decide Which One to Use? BLOGGER – Good Points: Well-known, Strong support Owned by Google (stable) Has its own blog to post news and announcements & Updated on a regular basis Very user-friendly & Moderate comments New additions include ability to change fonts/colors as well as adding page elements. CON: Sometimes too busy to allow you to edit posts Does not have a good search box within the page Must use 3 rd party stats program.

BLOGGER – Good Points: Well-known, Strong support Owned by Google (stable)

Has its own blog to post news and announcements & Updated on a regular basis

Very user-friendly & Moderate comments

New additions include ability to change fonts/colors as well as adding page elements.

CON:

Sometimes too busy to allow you to edit posts

Does not have a good search box within the page

Must use 3 rd party stats program.

How Do I Decide Which One to Use? WORDPRESS – Good Points: Well-respected – web version of the client-based program Most templates have a search box included on the page Strong support with a user forum User-friendly – easy to add Meebo, Flickr, LinkedIn Ability to add widgets to select templates Moderates comments and has spam protection Easy to use blog statistics CON: Not as many formatting options as Blogger No commercial books for support Slightly harder to use than Blogger.

WORDPRESS – Good Points:

Well-respected – web version of the client-based program

Most templates have a search box included on the page

Strong support with a user forum

User-friendly – easy to add Meebo, Flickr, LinkedIn

Ability to add widgets to select templates

Moderates comments and has spam protection

Easy to use blog statistics

CON:

Not as many formatting options as Blogger

No commercial books for support

Slightly harder to use than Blogger.

Blogging Software: Client-Based Movable Type 4.23: http://www. Movabletype.com / WordPress 2.7.1: http:// wordpress.org / Thingamablog: http:// thingamablog.sourceforge.net / BLOG:CMS : http:// blogcms.com / Blosxom: http:// blosxom.com / iBlog: http:// www.iblog.com/home.php for Mac

Movable Type 4.23: http://www. Movabletype.com /

WordPress 2.7.1: http:// wordpress.org /

Thingamablog: http:// thingamablog.sourceforge.net /

BLOG:CMS : http:// blogcms.com /

Blosxom: http:// blosxom.com /

iBlog: http:// www.iblog.com/home.php for Mac

Things to look for in Client-based blogging software Make sure you check with your IT person/department to make sure your server will support it. Also make sure your IT person/department is familiar with the necessary programming languages to be installed with software. Is it simple enough for you and your staff to use? Is there sufficient documentation available for changing the configuration?

Make sure you check with your IT person/department to make sure your server will support it.

Also make sure your IT person/department is familiar with the necessary programming languages to be installed with software.

Is it simple enough for you and your staff to use?

Is there sufficient documentation available for changing the configuration?

What about Twitter? Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter accessed 2/16/2009 Why Do Libraries Use Twitter? Connect with those using Social Networking Software. Promote Library Events. Answer Reference Questions.

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter accessed 2/16/2009

Why Do Libraries Use Twitter?

Connect with those using Social Networking Software.

Promote Library Events.

Answer Reference Questions.

Libraries On Twitter http:// twitter.com/CantonLibrary - Canton Public Library http:// twitter.com/aadl - Ann Arbor District Library http:// twitter.com/Cleveland_PL - Cleveland Public Library http:// twitter.com/grpl - Grand Rapids Public Library http:// twitter.com/grplteens - Grand Rapids Public Library Teens http:// twitter.com/librarycongress - The Library of Congress http:// twitter.com/NLC_Reference - Nebraska Library Commission http:// twitter.com/psulibs - Penn State University Libraries http://twitter.com/PlymouthDL - Plymouth District Library http:// twitter.com/scstatelibrary - South Carolina State Library http:// twitter.com/yalescilib - Yale Science Libraries

http:// twitter.com/CantonLibrary - Canton Public Library http:// twitter.com/aadl - Ann Arbor District Library http:// twitter.com/Cleveland_PL - Cleveland Public Library http:// twitter.com/grpl - Grand Rapids Public Library http:// twitter.com/grplteens - Grand Rapids Public Library Teens http:// twitter.com/librarycongress - The Library of Congress http:// twitter.com/NLC_Reference - Nebraska Library Commission http:// twitter.com/psulibs - Penn State University Libraries http://twitter.com/PlymouthDL - Plymouth District Library http:// twitter.com/scstatelibrary - South Carolina State Library http:// twitter.com/yalescilib - Yale Science Libraries

Library & Information Science Blogs SLA-IT Blog: http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/itbloggingsection / Resource Shelf http:// www.resourceshelf.com / - Resources and news for Information Professionals Internet Scout Project Weblog – http:// scout.wisc.edu /Weblog/ - Weblog version of the Internet Scout Report

SLA-IT Blog: http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/itbloggingsection /

Resource Shelf http:// www.resourceshelf.com / - Resources and news for Information Professionals

Internet Scout Project Weblog – http:// scout.wisc.edu /Weblog/ - Weblog version of the Internet Scout Report

Library/Group Blogs Marin County Free Library Blog Library of Congress - http:// www.loc.gov/blog/?p =233 BRAIN_blog – News and information for the Mohawk College community Greenfield Public Library Michigan Library Consortium

Marin County Free Library Blog

Library of Congress - http:// www.loc.gov/blog/?p =233

BRAIN_blog – News and information for the Mohawk College community

Greenfield Public Library

Michigan Library Consortium

Blogs by Individual Librarians Free Range Librarian - K.G. Schneider The Shifted Librarian - Jenny Levine Library Stuff – Steven Cohen Tame the Web – Michael Stephens Peter Scott’s Library Blog The Distant Librarian – Paul Pival The TravelinLibrarian – Michael Sauers

Free Range Librarian - K.G. Schneider

The Shifted Librarian - Jenny Levine

Library Stuff – Steven Cohen

Tame the Web – Michael Stephens

Peter Scott’s Library Blog

The Distant Librarian – Paul Pival

The TravelinLibrarian – Michael Sauers

Finding Blogs on the Internet Blogwithoutalibrary : - This wiki lists library blogs by type of library. Peter Scott’s List of Library Weblogs: International in scope, this list is broken down by country - Google Blogsearch – now in Beta version: Technorati Blog Finder IceRocket Blog Search

Blogwithoutalibrary : - This wiki lists library blogs by type of library.

Peter Scott’s List of Library Weblogs: International in scope, this list is broken down by country -

Google Blogsearch – now in Beta version:

Technorati Blog Finder

IceRocket Blog Search

Adding Your Blog to Indexes Technorati : - you must first become a member (free) Blogwithoutalibrary :– Email the author to have your library blog added to her index. Peter Scott’s List of Library Weblogs : E-mail Peter to be added to his list! IceRocket Blog Search: - Convenient link right on their homepage to add your blog to their database.

Technorati : - you must first become a member (free)

Blogwithoutalibrary :– Email the author to have your library blog added to her index.

Peter Scott’s List of Library Weblogs : E-mail Peter to be added to his list!

IceRocket Blog Search: - Convenient link right on their homepage to add your blog to their database.

Books on Blogs & Blogging Blood, Rebecca. The Weblog Handbook . 2002 Gosney, John W. Blogging for Teens . 2004 Holzschlag, Molly E. Sams teach yourself Movable Type in 24 hours . 2004 Jamieson, Catherine. Create your own Photo Blog . c2006 Langer, Maria / Jordan, Miraz. Wordpress 2: Visual Quickstart Guide c.2006 Lee, Wei-Meng. The Rational Guide to Google Blogger c.2006 McNulty, Scott. Building a Wordpress blog people want to read . c. 2009 Reeder, Joelle & Katherine Scoleri. The IT Girl’s Guide to Blogging with Moxie . C2007 Sabin-Wilson, Lisa. Wordpress for Dummies . c.2009 Warlick, David. Classroom Blogging: A Teacher's Guide to the Blogosphere . C2005

Blood, Rebecca. The Weblog Handbook . 2002

Gosney, John W. Blogging for Teens . 2004

Holzschlag, Molly E. Sams teach yourself Movable Type in 24 hours . 2004

Jamieson, Catherine. Create your own Photo Blog . c2006

Langer, Maria / Jordan, Miraz. Wordpress 2: Visual Quickstart Guide c.2006

Lee, Wei-Meng. The Rational Guide to Google Blogger c.2006

McNulty, Scott. Building a Wordpress blog people want to read . c. 2009

Reeder, Joelle & Katherine Scoleri. The IT Girl’s Guide to Blogging with Moxie . C2007

Sabin-Wilson, Lisa. Wordpress for Dummies . c.2009

Warlick, David. Classroom Blogging: A Teacher's Guide to the Blogosphere . C2005

Ethics of Blogging (5 Rules to Blog by) Transparency: For most blogs, we want to know what the writer’s starting point is. Cite your Source: Link to and name your source. Get it Right- “There is nothing more pathetic than a librarian who gets facts wrong.” Be Fair – Don’t present opinion as fact. Admit Mistakes whether they are errors of judgment or fact. (notes from a presentation by Karen Schneider at Internet Librarian 2005 )

Transparency: For most blogs, we want to know what the writer’s starting point is.

Cite your Source: Link to and name your source.

Get it Right- “There is nothing more pathetic than a librarian who gets facts wrong.”

Be Fair – Don’t present opinion as fact.

Admit Mistakes whether they are errors of judgment or fact.

(notes from a presentation by Karen Schneider at Internet Librarian 2005 )

Wrapping It Up…. Make sure you/your library really want(s) a blog. Settle on the purpose or focus of the blog. Use short and informal posts to keep it interesting and timely. Staff needs to “buy into” ownership of blog . Involve key staff members & decide who will be in charge of maintaining the blog. Start simple and then consider upgrading if necessary. If it is a blog for patrons, publicize it . Keep it current or else remove it!

Make sure you/your library really want(s) a blog.

Settle on the purpose or focus of the blog.

Use short and informal posts to keep it interesting and timely.

Staff needs to “buy into” ownership of blog .

Involve key staff members & decide who will be in charge of maintaining the blog.

Start simple and then consider upgrading if necessary.

If it is a blog for patrons, publicize it .

Keep it current or else remove it!