Web2.0 > Blogs

Blogging

How to start a blog

What is a blog?

A blog is a website comprising updates posted in reverse chronological order. There are many blogs available on the web on a wide variety of subjects. They are primarily text based, although there are blogs displaying video, photography and making music available.

Why should I blog?

Creating and maintaining blogs does not require any specialised knowledge. Blogging software is also web based so, provided that you have unmediated access to the web, you can create and publish your own content without having to contact your website developer.

Further benefits are as follows:

Free

There is no further cost provided you have web access.

Current

There are none of the delays associated with print, or even web publishing.

Interactive

Blogs allow comment from users, this can help increase engagement with the community.

Flexible

Blogs allow you to post a wide variety of material all of which can promote various aspects of your service .

Hints and tips

Be conversational

Blogging is generally considered to be more informal than traditional forms of publishing.

Update frequently

Currency is important, ensure that there isn't the risk that a user visits your blog to find that the last update was 6 months ago.

Get involved!

Blogging is a social activity, comment on and link to other related blogs, this can help raise your profile in the community.

To illustrate how blogs are being used within the library and information sector, we have listed some examples of popular library blogs on the right of the page. Please submit any suggestions or recommendations for this area.

Blog list

Here are some examples of blogs by or about libraries:

From the Chief Executive's Desk

The Chief Executive of CILIP, Bob McKee, blogs about his activities in his role.

Information Research - ideas and debate

A blog devoted to issues in academic research.

Lorcan Dempsey's Weblog

Lorcan Dempsey, of OCLC, writes about, amongst other things, networking in libraries

Phil Bradley's weblog

Phil Bradley blogs about librarians and the inetnet, including internet searching, web 2.0 resources and search engines.

Social Software, libraries and e-learning

Jane Secker, at the London School of Economics, blogs on a variety of topics relating to libraries, including social software and e-learning.

Spineless

Blog of the Heriot-Watt University Library. Includes stock updates and information on new acquisitions.

The Library of Digress

Christine Rooney-Browne blogs about public libraries, web 2.0 and privacy.

Wake County Libraries "Book A Day"

Librarians at Wake County Libraries in North Carolina blog about a different book each day; this could be a fun way to promote popular, new or (in your view!) unfairly neglected titles in your catalogue.