1. The Benefits of Blogs
Alexandra Aldridge
Alexandra.Aldridge@eagles.usm.edu
LIS 557: Computer Applications in Libraries

2. Ladder of Participation
2
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

3. Benefits for
Librarians
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012 3

4. Advocacy
4
 Blog about general library support
 Blog about library funding
 Blog about your library or library system
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

5. Collaboration
5
 Ability to link library professionals from around
the world
 Participate in a collaborative environment with
ease and speed
 Share ideas and knowledge about a diverse
range of topics and backgrounds with other
library professionals
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

6. Education/Professional Development
6
• Create an online presence
oCreate a mixture of personal and professional
posts
• Create a place for class collaboration
• Follow library veterans/experts posts
• Instantly share or showcase new research or
ideas
• Keeps you current with new library
technology/techniques
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

7. Education/Professional Development
7
• Networking opportunities
• Provide a forum for discussion
o Discover different viewpoints
o Learn more about the posted topic(s)
o Receive feedback
• Write about your experiences
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

8. Perks!
8
 Free
 Easy-to-use (no HTML knowledge)
 Not too time consuming
 Attracts tech-savvy users
 Collaboration with other bloggers
 Tagging for simple post organization
 Tagging for Google searches (increase blog activity)
 User comment feedback
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

9. Benefits for
Library Staff
and
Patrons
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012 9

10. Advocacy
10
 Friends of the Library
o Adults
o Kids/Teens
 Board of Trustees involvement
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

11. Advertising/Outreach
11
 Offer general library information
 Promote new library resources, services or technology
 Extension of library display boards/cases
 Advertise library events
o Book clubs, book reviews, book sales
o Community or University-wide events
o Feature collections related to awards season
o Feature collections related to news events
o Lectures
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

12. Advertising/Outreach
12
 Breakdown barriers between library staff and patrons
o Ask-A-Librarian section for patron write-ins
o Create open communication through comment sections
o Host online book clubs through blog posts/comments
 Liaison communication (for academic libraries)
 Promote instruction sessions or tutoring opportunities
 Provide a place for class collaboration
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

13. Library Staff Collaboration
13
 Internal library departmental news blog
 Learn about other department’s activities
 Provide a communication link to all types of library staff
 Opens communication
 Conference reports
 Library-wide staff involvement
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

14. Perks!
14
 Free  Tagging for post
 Easy-to-use (no HTML organization
knowledge)  Receive patron feedback
 Not time consuming  Collaboration with other
 Attracts tech-savvy users library staff or patrons
 Create short training
workshops
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

15. Where Do I Start?
Finding What’s Right
for You
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012 15

16. Finding a Blog Host
Retrieved from: Wordle
http://www.wordle.net/
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012 16

17. WordPress
17
 Free
 Paid upgrade option (custom URL)
 Integrate with Facebook and Twitter
 Slight learning curve
 Features mobile blogging
Retrieved from: WordPress
http://wordpress.com/
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

18. Blogger
18
 Free
 User-friendly
 Sign in with your
Google account
Retrieved from: Blogger
http://www.blogger.com
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries © 2011
3/4/2012

19. Tumblr
19
 Free
 User-friendly
 Created for
short blog posts
or picture posts
 Features mobile
blogging
Retrieved from: Tumblr
https://www.tumblr.com/
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

20. Facebook Notes
20
 Free with a Facebook account
 User-friendly
Retrieved from: Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries © 2011
3/4/2012

21. LiveJournal
21
 Free
 Paid upgrade option
 Sign in with your Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc…
 User-friendly
Retrieved from: LiveJournal
https://www.livejournal.com/
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries © 2011
3/4/2012

22. Movable Type
22
 Free
 Paid upgrade option
 Offers screencasts &
support guides
 Can be used as a CMS
 Provides revision history
and dashboard to
organize multiple sites
 Slight learning curve
Retrieved from: Movable Type
http://www.movabletype.org/
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

23. TypePad
23
 Free 14 day trial
 Paid site
 Offers personal support
 Connect with LinkedIn
 Marketed toward
non-technical users
 Features mobile blogging
and one click sharing
Retrieved from: TypePad
http://www.typepad.com/
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

24. Extras (Blog Widgets)
24
 ClustrMaps/Site Counters
 Facebook badge
 Flickr widget
 LinkedIn badge
 QR Code (for mobile access)
 Skype
 Twitter feeds/badge
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

25. How Do I Keep Up?
25
 RSS Readers
 Google Reader
 My Yahoo!
 Bloglines
 Internet Explorer
 Within your blog provider
 Create lists for specific types of blogs
Retrieved from: Google
http://www.google.com/
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012

26. Questions?
Thank you for your attention!
LIS 557 Computer Applications in Libraries 3/4/2012 26