weblogs & libraries michael stephens [email protected] michael stephens [email protected]
Post on 19-Dec-2015
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Our PlanOur Plan
The Biblioblogosphere Jumpstarting your Library Blog Creating Usable Weblogs What have we learned? Best Practices for Library Blogs
New Tools & the Future
The Biblioblogosphere Jumpstarting your Library Blog Creating Usable Weblogs What have we learned? Best Practices for Library Blogs
New Tools & the Future
Let’s Survey the Biblioblogosphere
Why Use Blogs in Libraries?
Why Use Blogs in Libraries?
Weblogs are being acknowledged as a “natural for librarians” (Hane, 2001)
Useful communication tool (Block, 2001)
Librarians are “born to blog” (Huwe, 2003)
Weblogs are being acknowledged as a “natural for librarians” (Hane, 2001)
Useful communication tool (Block, 2001)
Librarians are “born to blog” (Huwe, 2003)
Blogs & LibrariesBlogs & Libraries
Blogs have many implications for librarians. Library managers need to be aware of what they can do to promote the library and its services.
(Clyde, 2004)
Blogs have many implications for librarians. Library managers need to be aware of what they can do to promote the library and its services.
(Clyde, 2004)
Guess What?Guess What?
Tools are available for collaboration and communication like never before
Librarians and libraries can use these tools to better serve users
If we don’t get it, users may pass us by!
Tools are available for collaboration and communication like never before
Librarians and libraries can use these tools to better serve users
If we don’t get it, users may pass us by!
http://www.cla-net.org/weblog/
http://feelgoodlibrarian.typepad.com/
Creating Usable Blogs
Jumpstarting Your Library Weblog
Jumpstarting Your Library Weblog
Read Jakob Nielsen’s Ten point List
Look at your library blog with new eyes
Make changes!
Read Jakob Nielsen’s Ten point List
Look at your library blog with new eyes
Make changes!
Jakob Nielsen on Weblog UsabilityJakob Nielsen on Weblog Usability
No Author Biographies No Author Photo Nondescript Posting Titles Links Don't Say Where They Go Classic Hits are Buried The Calendar is the Only Navigation Irregular Publishing Frequency
No Author Biographies No Author Photo Nondescript Posting Titles Links Don't Say Where They Go Classic Hits are Buried The Calendar is the Only Navigation Irregular Publishing Frequency
Jakob Nielsen on Weblog UsabilityJakob Nielsen on Weblog Usability
The Calendar is the Only Navigation Irregular Publishing Frequency Mixing Topics Forgetting That You Write for Your
Future Boss Having a Domain Name Owned by a
Weblog Service
The Calendar is the Only Navigation Irregular Publishing Frequency Mixing Topics Forgetting That You Write for Your
Future Boss Having a Domain Name Owned by a
Weblog Service
http://www.hclib.org/
What have we learned?
Planning StepsPlanning Steps
Who on your staff will blog? Where will your blog live (in-house or hosted)?
What will you blog about? Will you open up comments on blog posts? If yes, who will monitor the comments and respond?
Create your blog Train your staff
Who on your staff will blog? Where will your blog live (in-house or hosted)?
What will you blog about? Will you open up comments on blog posts? If yes, who will monitor the comments and respond?
Create your blog Train your staff
Who will blog?Who will blog?
Takes time – a staff responsibility
Natural fit with some positions
Interest, commitment, dedication
Skills Writing and editing
Takes time – a staff responsibility
Natural fit with some positions
Interest, commitment, dedication
Skills Writing and editing
Libraries & Weblogs:Libraries & Weblogs:
Library Weblogs can be building blocks for communicating news and information
Transparency & presence can create interest and buy-in with staff and users
Library Weblogs can be building blocks for communicating news and information
Transparency & presence can create interest and buy-in with staff and users
Communication + Conversation =
Community
TransparencyTransparency
Sharing how the library works and how resources are used
Communicates to staff what people do
Creates community
Sharing how the library works and how resources are used
Communicates to staff what people do
Creates community
Best Practices for
Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Read and Evaluate as many blogs as you can TTW Handout Note what features you like/dislike
Great first step or jumpstart step
Read and Evaluate as many blogs as you can TTW Handout Note what features you like/dislike
Great first step or jumpstart step
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Find your Voice/Develop a Mission What is your goal? How do you want to say it? Are you ready to speak & listen?
Find your Voice/Develop a Mission What is your goal? How do you want to say it? Are you ready to speak & listen?
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Focus on Content Configure the blog then let it work for you!
Focus on creating interesting, useful posts
Reach out to users with what interests them
Focus on Content Configure the blog then let it work for you!
Focus on creating interesting, useful posts
Reach out to users with what interests them
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Content, Yes, but Design Too! Create a seamless environment Usability is important: test and test again
Stay on top of tech advances
Content, Yes, but Design Too! Create a seamless environment Usability is important: test and test again
Stay on top of tech advances
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Share authorship Depending on your library’s size, 1-10?
Spreads out the writing duties Agree on “voice” and Mission
Share authorship Depending on your library’s size, 1-10?
Spreads out the writing duties Agree on “voice” and Mission
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Post Often and Succinctly Users don’t want huge blocks of text
Write informally but error free Make them want to return/subscribe
Post Often and Succinctly Users don’t want huge blocks of text
Write informally but error free Make them want to return/subscribe
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Develop a Style Guide Insures correct usage amongst authors
Should carry to print as well
Develop a Style Guide Insures correct usage amongst authors
Should carry to print as well
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Train Staff to Blog* Teach them the technology Give them handy tag sheets Discuss what makes a good post Praise them
* and give them time to do so!
Train Staff to Blog* Teach them the technology Give them handy tag sheets Discuss what makes a good post Praise them
* and give them time to do so!
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Incorporate the Blog(s) into your site Use the same colors, look and feel
Link between the blog and the catalog, other pages
Make your front page the blog!
Incorporate the Blog(s) into your site Use the same colors, look and feel
Link between the blog and the catalog, other pages
Make your front page the blog!
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Create a feeling of Transparency Blog your projects & plans Listen to your users via comments
Respond to your users
Create a feeling of Transparency Blog your projects & plans Listen to your users via comments
Respond to your users
New Tools & The Future
Get interactiveGet interactive
Talk with your users Allow comments Book reviews, thoughts, more
Talk with your users Allow comments Book reviews, thoughts, more
“These networked conversations are enabling powerful new forms of social organization..”
“These networked conversations are enabling powerful new forms of social organization..”
To speak with a human voice, companies must share the concerns of their communities.
It’s all about conversations
We shall become transparent
To speak with a human voice, companies must share the concerns of their communities.
It’s all about conversations
We shall become transparent
Companies can now communicate
with their markets directly. If they blow it,
it could be their last chance.
Libraries can now communicate
with their markets directly. If they blow it,
it could be their last chance.
Next Generation Library Tools
Next Generation Library Tools
Comments enabled The Catalog as Blog Wikis built by librarians & users
Comments enabled The Catalog as Blog Wikis built by librarians & users
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maisonbisson/89125500
http://www.libraryforlife.org
Thank You!Thank You!
AIM: mstephens7mac [email protected] www.tametheweb.com
AIM: mstephens7mac [email protected] www.tametheweb.com