Welcome to my blog, fresh out of the oven. I’ll be using it to record my progress in 23 Things@NEFLIN. I hope to learn a lot and help others learn, too.
I’m excited about the potential blogging has for sharing ideas between libraries and helping libraries reach patrons. I’m particularly interested in using blogs as a tool for outreach to teen patrons.
There are tons of great examples of how libraries are using blogs this way. Tecumseh Branch Library (IN) has a blog for their teen book club. Chambers County Library (TX) uses their teen blog to highlight new and upcoming books and advertise teen programs at the library. The blog includes links that may be useful and interesting to teens and pictures of their teen patrons having fun at the library. Evanston Public Library (IL) includes a Meebo widget on their blog so visitors can easily chat with the blog’s administrator(s) without having to use an instant messaging program. They also feature videos created by their Teen Advisory Board. You can find more examples on the Library Success Wiki.
As the above examples illustrate, you can create a blog consisting of content created by library staff, patrons, or both. Comments enable you to get feedback or start a conversation. Carefully tagging your posts can make it easy for readers to search your blog. I think blogging is a powerful tool that will revolutionize how libraries serve their patrons.
Tags: blogging
January 14, 2009 at 10:49 am
Is this what you posted yesterday? I didn’t remember the bits about what libraries were doing with blogs….
January 14, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I updated the post. Thanks for noticing!
January 16, 2009 at 10:02 am
You’re welcome. I’m glad we’ll be getting more interactive features for the library site; I’m sure there are some great things to be done with it.