Library Blogs Research Articles

Using Interactive Technologies in Libraries

Librarians know that interactive technologies are a part of any library's information provision and that many of these technologies may become rapidly outdated and replaced. Patrons only know that they want better and faster access. In this book, the thirteenth in a series from the Library and Information Technology Association, editors Hanson and Cervone address the “hype cycle,” indicating that some of the technologies described in this book may be approaching their apex and that “librarians must learn where the hype stops and reality begins” (page xi), which is a worthy admonition.

Using blogs in academic libraries: versatile information platforms

PurposeThe purpose of the paper was to provide an in‐depth discussion of the poster session, Keep Blogging Along: Side by Side Library Blogs, presented at the American Library Association's Annual Conference in Washington, DC, June 27, 2007.Design/methodology/approachComplete with each blog discussed is a distinction of purpose, basic elements of blog design including organizational labels and tags, enhancement and usability tools, and a statement of success or failure for each project.FindingsComprehensive information concerning three academic library blogs; topics of collection development, children's literature review, a collaborative professional development project, and a supplemental academic course blog is provided.Practical implicationsTo make available basic tools and resources for readers to create a blog, or blogs; keep statistical and evaluative information on individual projects; and enhance project usability with tools and widgets.Originality/valueThis paper details various innovative uses for blogs, or web logs, in an academic library setting and provides constructive resources to assist readers with researching and utilizing this technology.

Análisis métrico de los blogs españoles de biblioteconomía y documentación (2006-2007)

Several indicators of production and participation in Spanish library and information science blogs are analysed, based on a sample of 46 personal and corporate weblogs. The 12 blogs with the highest number of incoming links logged more than 70% of the total number of links received by the whole group. Our results detect an important decline in production during the study period, keeping constant the comments-per-post indicator. More than 50% of comments are written by the library blog authors and 4 blogs show higher than average indicators of production and participation: Deakialli, Catorze, Documentalista enredado and Vease ademas.

Making Marketing Work for Your Library Blog

ABSTRACT Library blogs offer a compelling means of reaching out to patrons and engaging them in conversation. However, even the most well-written blog can suffer for lack of an audience if not marketed properly. The marketing concept and the related marketing mix provide useful frameworks for planning and implementing blog projects to give them the best chances of being read by the intended patrons. This article will describe the marketing concept and marketing mix and explain how these ideas can be successfully applied to any library blog endeavor.

Looking to the Future

ABSTRACT Blogs, or Web logs, have transformed the Moraine Valley Community College Library's Web site. Using these tools as content management systems, the librarians are able to add reference, news, and staff information directly to the Web site without using Web editing programs, HTML, or uploading static files. Content added to the blogs is displayed directly to the library's Web site using RSS feeds. A library implementation team coordinated the development of the library blogs with the regional library system, the college's graphic designers, and the library staff. Blog technology presents an important development in the future of reference tools.

Follow the St. Petersburg College Library as they Enter the Blogosphere

Abstract Libraries throughout history have utilized some method of communicating resources and services to their communities. Verbal communication progressed into newsletters, event calendars, bookmarks, and posters. More recently, technological advancements have allowed individuals to communicate ideas beyond the confined pages of a book or newsletter and into the vastness of cyberspace. Web logs, or blogs, are considered a “new” cultural phenomenon, and they certainly have impacted the mainstream media. Libraries are, again, on the cutting edge of this technology. So, follow St. Petersburg College Library as they enter into the blogosphere. This article will outline the development of St. Petersburg College's Library Blog (SPCLB)-including the mission of the blog, posting procedures and policies, selecting blog authoring/management software, the overall template design and code changes, and unique site visit statistics, all while introducing syndication technology and other blogging advancements, such a...

Blogs

PurposeDue to the abundance of blog sites, which run a gamut of topics, from personal diaries to hobbies to legal matters and so on, it is desirable to know their relevance to librarianship.Design/methodology/approachSurveys a number of library blogs and examines the content of each with the goal of determining their value and usefulness to librarianship.FindingsRanging from the light‐hearted to the more serious, library blogs permit a free exchange of ideas on both general and narrowly defined library topics. Posting on blogs fosters a timely exchange of information that traditional publications cannot offer.Originality/valueBlogs redefine how information is shared, accessed, and published and adds a new dimension to how librarians seek and provide information to users.