Blogging Overview

Blogging Basics


Basic introduction includes what is a blog, a short history of blogging, and a brief overview of blog tools. (originally compiled for a 2005 presentation; crossposted in entirety as UGA Libraries: Introduction to Blogging and a brief overview at googledocs)

 

Scripting News weblog, located at http://newhome.weblogs.com/ is considered by many to be longest running weblog on the Internet.
According to several histories of blogs, the first use of the term ‘blog’ appeared on Robert Wisdom’s Weblog in 1997.
Modern day blogging is considered to have started around 1994; in 1999 Blogger launched as free online software, enabling anyone to quickly and freely publish to the web. Now, a variety of software exists to write and manage online journals, diaries, news services, and blogs.

What is a weblog (aka blog)?


According to wikipedia:

weblog (usually shortened to blog, but occasionally spelled web log) is a web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles (normally in reverse chronological order). Although most early weblogs were manually updated, tools to automate the maintenance of such sites made them accessible to a much larger population, and the use of some sort of browser-based software is now a typical aspect of "blogging".


…The totality of weblogs or blog-related websites is often called the blogosphere.
When a large amount of activity, information and opinion erupts around a particular subject or controversy in the blogosphere, it is sometimes called a blogstorm or blog swarm.


…Because incoming links to specific entries are important to many weblogs, most have a way of archiving older entries and generating a static address for them; this static link is referred to as a permalink.
The latest headlines, with hyperlinks and summaries, are frequently offered in weblogs in the RSS
or AtomXML format, to be read with a feed reader.

The tools for editing, organizing, and publishing weblogs are variously referred to as "content management systems","publishing platforms", "weblog software", and simply "blogware".

According to blogwithoutalibrary.net, their April 2005 listed included 245 libraries:

 

An overview of the UGA Libraries process


After an initial study by a subcommittee of WAG (Chaired by Amy Watts) in 2004, WAG moved forward with plans to create a blog in 2005. In January, a subcommittee of WAG was formed to investigate, implement, and design the Libraries blog. Initial thoughts were that the blog would replace the What’s New/Featured Sites section of the website.


One large question was what this new feature would be called. After much discussion, the title News & Events was considered to be the most appropriate. The subcommittee consists of Robin Fay (WAG Liaison, research, database testing, CSS & training assistance), Amy Watts (research, database testing, documentation & training), Jean Cleveland (research, evaluation, blog testing, content), and Sheila Devaney (research, evaluation, blog testing, content).

Feb. 4, 2005 Blog subcommittee meets for the first time:

 

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Additional blogs / spinoff--SLC? EndNote?

Examples of other Library Wordpress blogs

The Library Weblog
http://www.codlibrary.org/blog/

Ohio University Libraries News
http://www.library.ohiou.edu/newsblog/

Articles about blogging in Libraries

Carver, B. (2003) Is it time to get blogging? Library Journal (1976) part Net Connect (Winter)p. 30-2, Retrieved August 25, 2005 from HW Wilson.

Abstract:

Librarians need to keep up with Web logs (blogs) and produce them. Details of blog entries; blogs' ability to bring information, news, and Web sites to readers in quick and efficient ways; the collaboration that contributes to blogs; how to write a simple blogging script; what makes a good blog; the reader benefits of blogs; reader participation in blogs; blogs as a new alternative media; and
whether a library should use blogs are provided.

Fichter, D. (2003) Why and How to Use Blogs to Promote Your Library's Services. Information Today, 17. Retrieved August 25, 2005.

http://www.infotoday.com/mls/nov03/fichter.shtml

Abstract:

Librarians have had to learn how to do a lot with just a little in order to promote awareness of their programs and services. They have seized the opportunities to market libraries in the real world via traditional media: newspapers, corporate newsletters, radio, and TV. Many libraries produce brochures, pathfinders, and their own newsletters. So it is no surprise to see librarians stepping up to the plate and spreading the word online with blogs. Savvy librarians have identified blogs as another means to market libraries and their services.

Resources

List of Library Blogs by Library type

http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/?page_id=94

Libraries/Library organizations/Librarians who blog about library related issues

http://www.libdex.com/weblogs.html

History of Blogs

Weblogs.Com
News

http://newhome.weblogs.com/historyOfWeblogs

Juice news daily

http://www.juiceenewsdaily.com/0505/news/history_blogs.html

Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogs