The document discusses medical librarian David Rothman and his popular blog davidrothman.net. It provides an overview of what blogs are and different types of medical library blogs. It encourages librarians to start blogs for purposes like staff communication, patron outreach, and professional development. Rothman shares the benefits his blog has provided, such as opportunities to write, speak, and build his reputation in the field.

1. Blogs for Medical Librarians Mayo Libraries 2.0 July 18th, 2007

2. David Rothman Medical Library Geek (Community General Hospital – Syracuse, NY) Published recently on MedLib technology in MRSQ, JHL & MLA News. Co-creator, LibWorm LIS Search Engine ( http://www.libworm.com/ ) Blogger ( http://davidrothman.net and www.clrc.org/blog / )

4. davidrothman.net 7,000 Unique Visits in June 2007 900-1000 subscribers, mostly medical librarians Most linked-to English-language MedLib blog Currently ranked in the top 15 healthcare blogs

5. What’s a blog? A blog isn’t an online diary anymore than a book is a 19 th -century English Novel . CONTAINER CONTENT NOT an “online diary” A blog is a particular kind of Web site.

6. What makes a Web site a blog? Dated entries in reverse-chronological order Interface that lets the blog’s author(s) easily and quickly create and update content - even with absolutely zero knowledge of Web geekery. Other features that almost all blogs have: Comments Archives

7. Why call this kind of site a “blog”? Web log

8. Blogosphere : “… a collective term encompassing all blogs and their interconnections. It is the perception that blogs exist together as a connected community…” ( Wikipedia ) Biblio blogosphere : Encompassing library blogs (biblioblogs). ‘ Spheres

9. What’s the big deal? Blogs make publishing easy, affordable and immediate for anybody . Blogs fill niches (long tail, etc.) More on this later…

10. Why Read Blogs? Current Awareness Immediate, no delays as in print Personal, informal, friendly, trusted voices – not impersonal, monolithic institutions or publications. Help filter the avalanche of new information

11. Every sort What sort of blogs are available? We’ll start with MedLib blogs.

12. Types of MedLib Blogs By library staff, for library staff By library staff, for patrons By professional associations for members By medical libraryfolk, for medical libraryfolk By medical libraryfolk for laypeople

13. U of Michigan HSL Staff Blog

14. Google Scholar Blog (Dean Giustini )

15. The Krafty Librarian (Michelle Kraft)

16. T. Scott Plutchak

17. UBC Physio Info Blog (Eugene Barsky )

18. JMLA Case Studiesin Health Sciences Librarianship

19. Clinical Evidence, Searching Tidbits , and Other Minutiae (Becky Jerome)

20. Women's Health News(Rachel Walden)

21. NN/LM Blogs MidContinental Region , Middle Atlantic Region , Greater Midwest Region , South Central Region , Pacific Northwest Region , Pacific Southwest Region , Southeastern Atlantic Region

22. BHIC ( Siobhan Champ-Blackwell)

23. But why stop with MedLib Blogs?

24. Kevin, M.D.

25. Polite Dissent

26. Information Wants to be Free(Meredith Farkas )

27. Circ & Serve (Mary Chimato )

28. Where do I find more blogs? LibWorm Masterlist of MedLib Blogs MLA-HLS Wiki list of blogs for Hospital Librarians Healthcare 100 MedWorm Always remember: “Popular” is a poor substitute for “authoritative” or even “high quality.” Illustration of this: The New Kids on the Block had two albums go to #1 in both the US and the UK .

30. Masterlist of MedLib Blogs

32. Healthcare 100

34. Why start a blog? Enhance communication among staff Enhance communication with patrons Community outreach Professional development Identity Management

35. What I get from blogging Motivation to pursue current awareness Opportunities to write for JHL, MRSQ, MLA News, JMLA and LJ Opportunities to speak Contact with like-minded others and prominent voices in LIS and medicine (e.g. Melissa Rethlefsen, Tom Easley, AMA News) My work appearing in books and CE courses, reviewer/referee for CIL and HILJ. Building a reputation How else could such things have been accomplished as quickly?

36. Questions?

37. Thank you! David Rothman http:// davidrothman.net [email_address]