Planning Library Blogs Creating Usable Blogs Jumpstarting Your Library Weblog Read Jakob Nielsen’s Ten point List Look at your library blog.
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Transcript Planning Library Blogs Creating Usable Blogs Jumpstarting Your Library Weblog Read Jakob Nielsen’s Ten point List Look at your library blog.
Planning Library Blogs
Creating Usable Blogs
Jumpstarting Your Library
Weblog
Read Jakob Nielsen’s Ten point List
Look at your library blog with new eyes
Make changes!
Jakob 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
Jakob 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
http://www.hclib.org/
What have we learned?
Planning 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 will blog?
Takes time – a staff responsibility
Natural fit with some positions
Interest, commitment, dedication
Skills
Writing and editing
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
Communication +
Conversation = Community
Transparency
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Develop a Style Guide
Insures correct usage amongst authors
Should carry to print as well
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!
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!
Best Practices for Library Blogs
Create a feeling of Transparency
Blog your projects & plans
Listen to your users via comments
Respond to your users