The document discusses the use of blogs by librarians and libraries. It defines what a blog is and different types of blogs. It also covers considerations for creating a blog such as purpose, commenting policies, authorship, and legal issues. Tips are provided on blog content, formatting, and driving traffic. Examples of library blogs currently in use are given.

1. Kent State University School of Library & Information Science March 9 & 10, 2007 Using Web 2.0 Principles to Become Librarian 2.0 Blogs

2. Instructor: Brian C. Gray Engineering, Mathematics, & Statistics Librarian Case Western Reserve University Work email: bcg8@case.edu Work phone: 216-368-8685 IM: AIM - kslbcg8 ICQ - 499284601 Google Chat - kslbcg8@gmail.com MSN - bcg8@case.edu Yahoo - kslbcg8

3. Getting to Know Blogs What is a blog? Types of blogs Blog software Creating blogs Personal vs organizational Locating blogs Lets play

4. What is a blog? – Common Traits Website Dated entries Archives RSS feed offered Entries with links to other items Often may require little or no web programming experience Application driven Categories, tagging, or keywords

5. Blog Considerations Purpose – Announcements and/or discussion? Open or no commenting? Moderation? Tracking/pinging Spam prevention Single or multiple authors How often are entries added? Legal considerations (non-profit status, advertising, organizational policies, etc.)

6. 2006 Workplace E-Mail, Instant Messaging & Blog Survey American Management Association: 8% of organizations operate business blogs 55% of business blogs ‘facing out’ for customers and other third parties to read Less than 2% of organizations assign a lawyer or other responsible party to review employees’ entries Nearly 2% have fired workers for offensive blog content - including posts on employees’ personal home-based blogs

7. http://www.sifry.com/alerts/archives/000432.html

8. ALA Library 2.0 Bootcamp Helene Blowers Linda S. Bostrom Brian C. Gray Lorraine H. Olley (June 2006)

9. My Blog Author Tips Offer a RSS feed Write on a regular pattern so people do not feel the blog has died Use spell checker Tagging/Keywords/Categories Cite information Use spell checker If you allow comments, participate in the discussions Linking and discussing on other’s blog can drive traffic to your own

10. More Blog Tips & Comments Be original and write it your own style Length of posts can vary Provide some information for your readers, such as an “about me” page or other context Simple layouts can be powerful Look at other’s blogs for examples Extras occasionally break up the text – pictures, lists, etc. Give your readers a challenge or question to consider

11. Library Blogs in Action http://www.squidoo.com/library2point0/