These slides accompanied an October 2014 presentation by myself and Sarah Bean Thompson at the annual Missouri Library Association conference.

1. So You Want to Blog
The Hows, Whats, and Whys of Creating Your
Own Space on the Internet
Sarah Bean Thompson,
Amy Koester,

2. Why Blog?
● Maintain a record of your programs,
reading, etc.
● Professional portfolio
● Work through your library thoughts
● Participate in a community of sharing

3. A Few Tips
● Blog for you
● Your audience will come
● Be wary of too much self-promotion
● Don’t be greedy
● Don’t stress
● Have fun!

4. First-Time Blogging in 10 Steps
1. Choose your platform
2. Create your site name
3. Choose your content
focus
4. Know your employer’s
policies
5. Create an “About Me”
section
6. Write, edit, write, edit…
7. Think visually
8. Give yourself a schedule
9. Use
labels/tags/categories
10.Promote & share

5. 1.Choose Your Platform
● Wordpress
● Blogger
● Tumblr
● Free vs. Paid
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

6. 2.Create Your Site Name
● Make it personal
● Make it relevant
● Beware the really long
name
● Paid domain or not
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

7. 3.Choose Your Content Focus
● Reviews
● Program Recaps
● Thoughts & Issues
● Combination
● Collaboration vs. Guest
Posts
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

8. 4.Know Your Employer’s Policies
● Can you name your
library?
● Do you need a
disclaimer?
● Can you blog at work?
● Are there photo rules?
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

9. 5.Create an “About Me” Section
● Your name & job
● Type of library
● Reading and/or
professional interests
● Professional
accomplishments
● Review/Blog policy
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

10. 6.Write, Edit, Write, Edit...
● Start building your
content
● Always proofread
● Update & correct if
necessary
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

11. 7.Think Visually
● Always try to include
at least one image
● Use your own photos
● Search the Creative
Commons
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

12. 8.Give Yourself a Schedule
● Be realistic
● Be flexible
● Take advantage of the
“schedule” function
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

13. 9.Use Labels/Tags/Categories
● Consider how you want
to organize your
content
● Consider how you want
others to use your site
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

14. 10.Promote & Share
● Have a blog roll
● Read & comment on
other blogs
● Participate in blog hops
● Share on social media
● DON’T be obnoxious
image from “check sign and cross sign 3” from openclipart user jextee, Creative Commons licensed

15. Great Review Blogs:
● Abby the Librarian
● Book Smugglers
● A Fuse #8 Production
● The Nonfiction Detectives
● Sense and Sensibility and
Stories
Resources

16. Resources
Great Programming Blogs:
● Bryce Don’t Play
● Future Librarian Superhero
● Jbrary
● Reading with Red
● Storytime Katie

17. Resources
Great Issues Blogs:
● Hi, Miss Julie!
● Inclusive Early Literacy
● Latin@s in Kid Lit
● Mel’s Desk

18. Resources
Great “Kitchen Sink” Blogs:
● Fat Girl, Reading
● Sturdy for Common Things
● Teen Librarian Toolbox
● Tiny Tips for Library Fun

19. Resources
Great Collaborative Blogs:
● ALSC Blog
● Library as Incubator Project
● Little eLit
● Nerdy Book Club
● Storytime Underground

20. Resources
Blog Hops to Check Out:
● Nonfiction Monday
● Tune In Tuesday
● Thrive Thursday
● Flannel Friday

21. Questions?
image from “Red - Query Icon” from openclipart user ryanlerch, Creative Commons licensed

22. Contact Info
Sarah Bean Thompson
Springfield-Greene County Library District
http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com/
sarahbean@thelibrary.org
Amy Koester
Skokie Public Library
http://showmelibrarian.blogspot.com
akoester@skokielibrary.info