WHAT IS A BLOG? A weblog is a journal (or newsletter) that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption.Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.
Blogs are a great and inexpensive way to get your library message out there. They are also handy because they are: searchable, arranged chronologically, and archived automatically by the software.
Blogs also allow feedback by people leaving comments on individual blog posts
Blogs also allow the author to create TAGS so that blog posts can be found by topic.
HOW EASY IS IT? Easy as signing up for a free email account.
HOW ARE OTHER LIBRARIES USING IT?
The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Kansas has one of my favorite multi-purpose library blogs
Ann Arbor District Library's Directors Blog -
http://www.aadl.org/directorsblog
Madison Public Library's MADREADS Book Review a day
http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/madreads/
Another good use - Internal Blogs - A great way to increase staff communication. Madison has "Lost in Transit" staff blog, which has been especially useful for keeping staff that don't have email in the loop. Picture
Blog about your interests, librarian blogs are a great way to show how useful the technology is.
Two great examples from Tasha Saecker a Wisconsin Librarian
Sites and Soundbytes - Library and technology news - great place to find new & useful sites
http://www.greenlakelibrary.org/blog/
Kids Lit - Books and More for Children and Teens. Great reviews of all kinds of children's books.
http://kidslit.menashalibrary.org/
Search Engine for Library Blogs - See what other librarian bloggers are saying.
OK- Now we have all these great blogs, how are we going to find the time to read them all. By using RSS of course!
RSS in Plain English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU
Bloglines - Picture here
Google Reader - Picture here
My Yahoo - Picture here
There is no way that I am going to use that, do you have anything compatible with email?
http://www.rssfwd.com/
http://www.r-mail.org/