Here are my thoughts on the subject, I look forward to having some comments !
What makes a blog successful and appeal to me
I like a blog to be clear and uncluttered, easy to read and use, unlike the LIS News blog which has far too much information for me. http://www.lisnews.com. It looks messy and it’s difficult to find anything. I like Georgia State University Library news blog http://www.library.gsu.edu/news/index.asp which is clear and has subject blogs with feeds. A blog should be interactive and to invite discussion. It should be well edited or maintained so that it doesn’t get too much rubbish or ‘off topic’ comment contributing or get hogged by the same couple of contributors clearly having a personal conversation. I also like the University of Saskatchewan’s Engineering Library blog, http://library.usask.ca/engin which sits in the middle of their web home page.
What roles can blogs play in a library setting
An ideal platform for the marketing and promotion of library services
A host for RSS feeds for alerts to news, activities and events or new resources
Another way of advertising and updating information skills training courses or inductions
A way to engage with users inviting comments or suggestions or even a virtual library committee.
An outreach tool to try and reach new users or to support departments with specialist booklists or RSS feeds to tables of contents in relevant journals
It could be easier and less time consuming than setting up and maintaining a web site.
What does our library need to do to start blogging
The library would need to start by considering
the target audience – who would look at or contribute to a blog.
The scope of the blog would need to be thought about – what are we going to use it for or how do we want to be seen.
If the blog is to be used for marketing or promotion then there should be some consideration given to what events or activities are advertised.
IT issues need to be considered. Will the blog be on an existing website, will there be a problem with firewalls, will there be a need for passwords.
Some thought needs to be given to the features and functions of the blog. Will there be a need for archives, Should it be subdivided into categories, who will undertake the job of editor or writer as it needs to be snappy and inviting, what about the design of the blog, might it need to be in the same colourway as existing library publications
Might it be an idea to set up a pilot blog and see how it goes.
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2 comments:
Re. your comment that a blog could be easier than setting up a website: I think that increasingly this is what people are doing, with some blogs taking on the traditional website role.
Our church dithered for ages about setting up a website, and ultimately we just started up a blog http://www.elmdon-parish.org.uk/ - seems cheaper and much easier to set up and maintain, with a lot of the hard work done for you.
Lesley H
Hi Sue
I know this is a bit late in the day but I'm trying to fill in my learning log and realised that I had not made any comments to anyone about blog assignments 1 and 2 as we are supposed to. So I've gone back through people's blog and yours caught my eye.
Your comment about people not monopolising them for personal conversations in your section on what makes a sucessful blog.
I couldn't agree with you more for for blogs that are clearly intended for anyone to view.
But it got me wondering if anyone uses a blog to just keep in touch and/or collaborate with 1 other person. In which case I suppose it would be clear that, that was what the blog was for.
On the whole most people start blogs to get information out to a wider audiance and should not be hogged as it can appear intimidating to other readers.
Sandra
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