Poster presentation delivered to LILAC Conference, March 29th - 31st 2010, Limerick, Ireland. 2010-03-29.

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UCD Library science blog : 5 years from innovation to
Title mainstream
Author(s) Clark, Josh; Ladisch, Michael; Stokes, Diarmuid
Publication 2010-03-29
Date
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2. UCD Library Science Blog: 5 Years From Innovation To Mainstream
In April 2005, UCD science librarians decided to experiment This poster examines factors in the creation and
by creating a blog to be used as a vehicle for development of the Science@UCD Library blog, including
communicating and re-engaging with the academic choice of platform, promotion, impact and future plans. We
community. The focus of the blog is to promote and also explore the blog’s sustainability as a communication
highlight science related information and events and library tool, and look at its influence on the subsequent growth of
related activities. blogging within UCD Library.
RATIONALE SUSTAINABILITY
• To inform academic staff and students • Team approach to posting reduces
of developments in Library services pressure on individuals
• No central administrator, content
and resources
• To explore Web 2.0 technologies for http://ucdscience.blogspot.com posted at discretion of each librarian
enhanced communication with target • Three-pronged approach for content:
audience  Internal library developments, e.g.
• To connect with academics and Visits per Week 2006-2009 Endnote training sessions
(Icons indicating when features were added)
students in a digital environment  Resource news, e.g. new databases
120  External news, e.g. Ignoble Awards
100
CREATION
80
INFLUENCE
• Support from Library management to 60 • Catalyst for development of other
investigate blogging * blogs within UCD Library
• Blogger chosen as platform because of 40
• Shared experiences of blogging at
high profile and shallow learning curve national and international conferences
• Banner created to establish identity 20
• Referred to in other blogs
• Focus on science, agriculture and 2006 2007 2008 2009 • Advised librarians in other institutions
engineering subjects 0
on blog creation
• All science liaison librarians to * Trendline
contribute
DEVELOPMENT FUTURE
• Marketing strategy included use of emails, • Expand scope to include all science,
posters, library displays technology and health sciences subjects
• New features added over time, e.g. • Include all STM liaison librarians
FeedBlitz (email), FeedBurner (RSS), • Investigate other Web platforms to
Sitemeter (visitor tracking), Feedjit (live complement/replace blog, e.g. Facebook,
traffic) Twitter
• Reader feedback used to enhance the blog • Redesign/redevelop blog to refresh online
• Creation of centralised Library blog page experience
helped raise blog’s profile • Rethink role of the blog
Contact: joshua.clark@ucd.ie Josh Clark, Michael Ladisch, Diarmuid Stokes – University College Dublin Library