In the world of Library 2.0 much has been written about blogging. While exploring the blogging concept I came across a variety of articles, websites and wikis on the subject. There are even blogs about blogs.
Most of the sources I found agreed that blogs are a powerful communication tool that allow users to communicate information, share ideas and establish a dialog with others. The connectivity of the internet allows bloggers to share their ideas locally, nationally and globally. The blogging phenomenon has been further facilitated by the introduction of more advanced blogging software and websites. When setting up this blog I was amazed at how easily it was to join the ranks of what Michael Gorman (former ALA President) referred to as the “blog people”. http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA502009.html
Years ago blogging require at the very least a rudimentary understanding to basic HTML programming. Today using wordpress.com software blogging is as simple as sending an email. Point click…Log-on…type…spell-check…enter…BAM-Finished…my random thoughts are published on the World Wide Web for the whole World to see. Thanks to the internet someone around the world or around the block can access my blog and my musings.
When setting up this blog I also noted how international blogging has become; wordpress.com allows users to select one of 122 different languages options when creating a blog. Looking at that vast number of language options it occurred to me what an amazing and powerful tool this blog thing can be to share information.
As seemingly disparaging as Gorman’s comments were on blogging, blogs provide libraries with a tremendous tool to communicate and gather information. They also provide libraries with a means to engage users in conversations and to solicit their input and feedback. Given that multiple language options it also allows libraries to reach users that may not be adequately served by a library’s English only website. To better serve their local population a library could create multiple blogs each in a different language to communicate and engage their non-English speaking users.
To answer my initial question: “to blog or not to blog?” from my readings and experience it would seem that blogging has never been easier. Blogging provides users with an enhanced method of communicating and sharing information and it enables them to reach a wider audience of users. Given the ease and benefits blogging libraries should establish and actively maintain a blog to enhance their outreach to the community that they serve and to provide a forum for users to comment on and request additional services. Blog on!
