Librarians and Blogging
by Melissa Armstrong
Many librarians are finding that blogging is a useful social networking tool that they want to use within their institutions. Blogging started around 1997 when James Barger came up with the term weblog (Martin, 2007). As one librarian states “Blogs are a simple and efficient way for libraries to stay informed and for libraries to disseminate information in a timely manner” (Gilman, 2008). Academic libraries, public libraries, and school libraries find blogging an interesting way to share and receive information. Blogging builds more of a web presence, adds a sense of community, shares knowledge, and gives patrons an opportunity to get to know the librarians within the system in a different way. A blog can either be personal or professional, and is usually in journal format, which is displayed in reverse chronological order (Martin, 2007). As one scholar urges “blogging is a tool for what we’ve always done: collect, categorize, and make information accessible (Carver, 2003).
Usually librarians use blogs for two functions. The first is the professional blog, where other librarians will share thoughts, concepts, suggestions, and knowledge (Gilman, 2008). A blog then gives librarians timely and immediate responses from other librarians about crucial information on such particulars like new technology, staffing, and customer service (Gilman, 2008). Librarians could also use this form of blogging for internal use between librarians and staff in each library. Librarians, who write scholarly works, can also share with others, who may research the same things, and give valuable insight quicker than ever before. Unlike peer reviews that take plenty of time to get back, blogging is more immediate.
The other reason that librarians may create blogs is to use for outreach. A blog on the library’s website would allow patron and librarian interactions. Patrons are given the chance to communicate with the library like never before. Librarians could create blogs that aim at a certain group, like a teen blog or a news blog (Gilman, 2008).The Ann Arbor District Library website looks at though they only have one blog but the library uses so many tags that they have over 100 blogs (Brookover, 2007). Those who read these blogs are receiving fresh and diverse information that is shared in a new way. They also have a variety of blogs like teen literature, electronic games, local news, and updates from the director (Brookover, 2007). Academic libraries could have subject blogs for certain areas of study like history, engineering, literature, or psychology.
Another plus that blogging has on libraries is that there is plenty of software out there for adding blogs to library websites. Creating a blog to a library’s website is usually free and easy (Carver, 32). The library system at Louisiana State University set up a blog by using the free service blogger (Panki, 2006). Those at LSU agree that it is easy to use with an automatic RSS feed, customable templates, and plenty of search capabilities. There are also several other blog software options that are free, like wordpress, blogspot, and blogger. One scholar encourages librarians who have the knowledge, time, and drive to write their own codes for blogging; he urges that one could write an effortless blog script in just a few short hours (Carver, 2003).
Librarians need to constantly update blogs and keep up with current technology, so this must be maintained consistently or an organization could lose patron and librarian’s interest if the blog site has complications. According to Carver’s article “Its Time to Get Blogging” he argues that blogs need to be maintained, but the software is easy to use, and is much like a word processor (Carver, 2003). Libraries that have blogging services must also set up guidelines. For example, Susan Merkle, a librarian who works at White Hills Public Library, clearly showed her frustration when no one set up any rules for internal blogging at the library she works at (Rogers, 2008). Merkle added a blog about the summer book club and before anyone could read it, another coworker blogged shortly after her questioning the fact that librarians have never been on American Idol (Rogers, 2008). Merkle states that she did not think anyone would read her blog since it did not appear as the last blog and one would have to scroll down to find it. She wanted something done about this since the coworker was notorious for writing blogs of this nature. But since the library never established guidelines, Merkle had no ground to stand on, and the silly blogging could continue.
Lastly, blogging is a good way for social networks to develop. Blogging creates a community where the reader can contribute to the blog his or her own ideas (Carver, 2003). Librarians have more advantages than disadvantages when blogging is concerned. The field of librarianship is constantly changing and so are new and emerging technologies. Librarians must grow and develop with these concepts and blogging is just another tool for this growth to occur. Blogging gives patrons and librarians a chance to connect and share ideas and information in an advanced way.
Some interesting blog sites and library blog sites:
www.waterboro.lib.me.us/blog.htm
Discussion Questions:
When thinking about public libraries, academic libraries, and school media centers, what are some differences between the different blogs that each particular librarian would have to deal with?
What other problems could arise for libraries and blogging? Are there any privacy issues?
Sources:
Brookover, Sophie (2007) “Why We Blog” Library Journal, 28 (2).
Carver, Blake (2003) “Is It Time to Get Blogging” Library Journal Net Connections, 31 (3).
Gilman, Isaac (2008) “We’re Content Creators, Too: Libraries and Blogging” OLA Quarterly, 16 (3).
Panki, Elisabeth and Ryan, Jenna (2006) “Shhh! Librarians Blogging” Louisiana Libraries, 8 (5).
Rogers, Michael (2005) “Ann Arbor’s Web Site Maximizes Blogging Software” Library Journal, 27 (1).
Rogers, Michael (2008) “The Blog Hog” Library Journal, 58 (2).
Martin, Helen (2007) “Libraries, Blogs, and Relevant Information: An Overview” Infotrend, 45 (4).
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