Blog-o-mania!

I created a blog in a previous course in order to work on a project. It was part of our mark that we create a blog and have people in the class help you with ideas on the project and help you edit. I found it very simple to set up a blog then and still now. When you use a program that provides templates and very clear set up directions, there should not be any problems. I actually find that I don't mind blogging - it's just that I feel like I don't have enough to say. I think that microblogging might be more my speed, which is a "form of multimedia blogging that allows users to send brief text updates or micromedia such as photos or audio clips and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user...The content of a micro-blog differs from a traditional blog in that it is typically smaller in actual size and aggregate file size" (Wikipedia). This is basically what I do through my Facebook status updates and honestly, some days I don't even know what to write for those.





I can see how blogs could be a great tool for students because if the journal-like aspect of them. Not only can they have other classmates comment on their posts, but it could potentially be opened up so that the students' family members may comment as well.





Library blogs can be used to make current issues public, describe upcoming events, and even serve as a reader's advisory. The library blog could also provide an area for patrons and library staff and volunteers to comment on particular books that are being read. Darlene Fichter lists a few ways that libraries can market themselves through blogs: promoting library events, supporting dedicated library users, engaging and supporting the community, and building new connections (Fichter). Blogs can pretty much be used in any way possible in a library context.





I found a social networking site that is actually focused on Canadian bloggers at Blogs.ca. What I love about this site is that it is uniquely Canadian and you can browse through it before coming a member. There are blogs on anything from photography or recipes to real estate.





RSS is "a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format" (Wikipedia). In order to keep on top of all of the blogs you want to read, it is best to use RSS. It allows you to "grab" the feeds from other websites and view them to read and to use (What is RSS).





For example, I use Bloglines to keep up with all of the blogs that I subscribe to. It makes reading blogs more manageable. I can read the blogs according to my interest or my information need or in order - it's really up to me.





Blogs and RSS feeds are helpful on professional development (whether you are working in a library or a school). Basically the blog lets you share your thoughts on a particular topic and allows others to comment back. On Will Richardson's blog Weblogg-ed, he is constantly posting his thoughts on a new Web 2.0 technology or Web 2.0 issue and people comment back. The discussion that ensues really causesz you to reflect on your ideas and this is often what professional development requires.

I found that by using Bloglines for my own professional development, I was able to ficus on the posts that really mattered to me, all the while still allowing me to keep on top of what was going on in the world of libraries and technologies. For example, I learned that the University of Calgary is going to have the most technologically advanced library in Canada thanks to my Bloglines account. It told me that Resource Shelf had a new post and this sounded intriguing to me - I am interested in the technology aspect of librarianship.

Yesterday I came across a blog post from Library Stuff titled "Libraries are the Real Deal." It was very disheartening to read about how the Internet is beginning to "kill" our libraries. This matters not only to me personally, but also as a professional in the field.

I also came across a unique YouTube video posted on a blog that was advertising an upcoming race to raise money for the Collingswood Library's Teen Area on the Librarian Net blog. It was a great idea! It makes it interesting, and more people are likely to sign up because of the unique advertising. This video definitely gives you some ideas about how to go about promoting your next library event.

Fichter, Darlene. "Why and How to Use Blogs to Promote Your Library's Services." Information Today, Inc. 2 Aug 2009. 2 Aug 2009 http://www.infotoday.com/mls/nov03/fichter.shtml





"Micro-blogging." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 2 Aug 2009, 22:52 UTC. 2 Aug 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Micro-blogging&oldid=305711417>





Richardson, Will. Weblogg-ed. 2008. http://weblogg-ed.com/





"RSS." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 31 Jul 2009. 2 Aug 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RSS&oldid=305268520>





"What is RSS? RSS Explained." What is RSS? n.d. 2 AUg 2009 http://www.whatisrss.com/