Poster Session Abstract
Innovative uses of blogs in academic libraries are infinite. From general news to book reviews, liaison communication to library resources, blogs are being utilized for outreach within and beyond the library. Renowned for ease of use and ability to provide a versatile platform for information, collaboration, and professional development, several different blogs are currently in use by the Instructional Resource Center (IRC) at Ashland University Library. Each has a differing purpose, but fulfills specific needs within the IRC web page.
Four different academic library blogs will be presented, The IRC Book Review Blog (children’s literature), The IRC Blog (collection development), EDCI 131/504 Instructional Technology Blog (course support), and Library Cloud (professional development). Integrated within the poster will be discussion concerning blog purpose, use of labels and tags as organizational and promotional tools, various factors contributing to success, and the necessity of evaluation.
This poster session will include reasons for selecting blogs over other available technology, provide resources for gathering statistics for evaluation, and detail other Web 2.0 features helpful in supplementing blogs such as widgets, FeedBurner, Technorati, and LibraryThing. Web resources, a bibliography, handouts, and/or CD’s will be available for those interested in further information regarding the blogs presented.
The Poster
 |
Keep Blogging Along: Side By Side Library Blogs was presented 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2007. Session IV: Outreach: Posters on Interlibrary Cooperation, Library Services to Special Groups, and Reference, and Information Services. |
About this Page
This is the companion web page/handout CD to my poster session, Keep Blogging Along: Side by Side Library Blogs, presented on Sunday, June 24, 2007 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm, at ALA Annual in Washington, DC. Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding this poster session:
| Diane L. Schrecker Instructional Resource Center Ashland University Library Ashland, OH 44805 |
Web: http://www.ashland.edu/library/irc Email: dschreck@ashland.edu IRC Phone: 419-289-5406 |
All links on this page are external and require Internet for access.
Blog and web page disclaimer: Diane Schrecker, the Instructional Resource Center, Ashland University Library, and Ashland University do not represent, endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any information found in links from this web page, accompanying blogs, or any services presented therein.
Instructional Resource Center Web Site
 |
New IRC web site debuted May, 2007 A traditional “What’s New” page was replaced with three distinctly different blogs in May 2007. Though each of the blogs predate the new page, this merging of Library 2.0 technologies allows an information portal to be created within the IRC and AU Library web sites. Various widgets, JavaScript inserted into blogs that enhance usability, have been placed in the sidebar providing users with previews of the collection development blog, images of recently reviewed children’s books, and the opportunity to search the library catalog from the IRC web page. |
Why Use Blogs?
Instructional Resource Center Blog
 |
The IRC blog debuted June 10, 2005. "Welcome to the Instructional Resource Center Collection Blog! Beginning with the fall 2005 academic school year, this blog will replace the yearly book lists published on the IRC web page. Items, both circulating and reference, will be entered as they are cataloged and available for use. Each entry will have an accompanying heading, specific to the genre. Please note that anyone with a specific book request will continued to be personally notified via email when the books arrive." As of June 13, 2007 the IRC blog has 540 posts. |
Purpose:
This blog includes news and information with a main focus on collection development for the IRC; juvenile books, activity books, education titles, manipulative kits, software, audio books, and IRC reference items.
Blog Basics:
Posts are titled by genre and items detailed link directly to AU catalog. Supplemental information such as hours updates and award book announcements are included as needed.
Blog Labels & Tags:
Each blog post is categorized using Blogger’s post label option and the labels, Blog Categories, are presented in the sidebar. Eternal labeling is limited to non-collection posts
Blog Sidebar & Widgets:
In addition to relevant sidebar information concerning the library and IRC, this blog incorporates a library catalog search box and widgets from both LibraryThing and WidgetBox to highlight collection additions, present information from other blogs, and add a visual element.
Blog Success:
The original purpose of the IRC blog was to compile collection development information in one place. Entering a third year, the blog has not only fulfilled it’s original purpose, but proved to be a well- used and useful tool.
IRC Book Reviews Blog
 |
IRC Book Review Blog debuted May 1, 2006. "In answer to: What new book would you recommend? Do you like anything on the new book shelf? Help! I need a good book for class. Reviews posted are written by librarians, professors, and education students. Focus will be on new juvenile fiction and non-fiction titles added to Ashland University Library's collection. Interested in having the latest book reviews as they are posted? Choose your favorite feed reader or news aggregator from the list below to receive the IRC blog feed." As of May 14, 2007 the IRC Book Review Blog has 45 posts. |
Blog Purpose:
This blog was created to answer frequent inquires for juvenile book recommendations. Though mainly focusing upon picture books, this blog also features reviews for longer juvenile fiction titles.
Blog Basics:
Each post header contains the book title and includes book, author, and illustrator catalog links to the reviewed selection. Reviews are highlighted with book covers and Quick links provide subject heading information.
Blog Labels & Tags:
Reviews are categorized using Blogger’s post label option and are presented in the sidebar. External Technorati Tags are part of this blog as a marketing tool.
Blog Sidebar & Widgets:
With the exception of an AU catalog search widget, this blog is widget free. Sidebar information is prevalent with review, database, and juvenile collection topics highlighted.
Blog Success:
The IRC Book Review blog celebrated it’s first year anniversary in May 2007. While early goals of a review per week and multi-library/college of education reviewers were not realized, statistical results from FeedBurner and StatCounter reveal an increase in use over the one-year span.
EDCI 131/504: Instructional Technology Lab Blog
 |
EDCI 131/504 Instructional Technology Lab Blog debuted January 17, 2007. Are you currently enrolled in EDCI 131/504? Be sure to read the EDCI 131 Blog. A primary tool for information, weekly updates, and assignment tips from the EDCI 131/504 Graduate Assistants, it is a great course resource. This is a collaborative blog between the course instructor and Graduate Students. As of June 11, 2007 the EDCI 131/504 blog has 51 posts.
|
Blog Purpose:
The EDCI 131/504 blog is a supplemental course resource tool for students. Used in conjunction with the WebCT, postings are linked directly from the course calendar, graduate assistants use the blog to communicate assignment tips, weekly updates, and course reminders.
Blog Basics:
Posts are topical in nature and vary due the collaborative partner aspect of the blog; course instructor and two graduate assistants use this blog.
Blog Labels & Tags:
A decision was made to minimize the number of post labels, limiting them to feature assignments and specified information topics. Blogger label options are used with a list compiled on the sidebar.
Blog Sidebar & Widgets:
Widgets have been kept to a minimum as this blog is primarily a course tool. The sidebar repeats information presented within WebCT and provides users with course links.
Blog Success:
EDCI 131/504 has been used for two terms, spring and summer 2007; early statistics from FeedBurner and StatCounter indicate students are beginning to take advantage of this resource.
Library Cloud
 |
Library Cloud debuted August 22, 2006. "Welcome to Library Cloud, a collaborative blog effort by academic librarians Rebecca Bailey, Case Western Reserve University and Diane Schrecker, Ashland University. The beginning of an academic school year is not the best time for undertaking a new project. However, as we may address some beginning-of-the-academic-year topics, we thought starting now would be beneficial and appropriate. The blog format will change somewhat in the next few days as we finalize the look of Library Cloud and detail specifics such as our purpose and reasoning behind this effort." As of June 12, 2007 Library Cloud has 112 posts. |
Blog Purpose:
Library Cloud is a collaborative professional development blog.
Blog Basics:
Ground rules were set before the creation of our blog and include topic content of library, academia, and library technology, as well as sidebar information.
Blog Labels & Tags:
Technorati Tags were used initially to categorize the project and drive traffic to the blog. Blogger’s software update provided the inclusion of internal labels as well.
Blog Sidebar & Widgets:
In addition to StatCounter, LibraryThing, FeedBurner, Technorati, WorldCat and WidgetBox, this blog also features ZoomCloud and has used Picasa Web Albums.
Blog Success:
Library Cloud is a small fish in the library blog pond, but the opportunity to blog about the library profession is rewarding.
Tools to Enhance Your Blog: Widgets, Counters, & Tags
 |
StatCounter Statcounter will track a single blog or a group of projects with each account. Available statistics include keyword analysis, visitor paths, came from, entry and exit pages, and page loads. The free version resets at 500, but offers lifetime summary stats. Easy to install, this is a free and invisible counter. |
 |
FeedBurner FeedBurner allows users to analyze blog traffic, market blog content, provide RSS feed to readers, and view feed statistics. No code installation is required; users need only to burn their feed, or blog URL (it takes seconds), to begin compiling statistics. Track one or several different feeds with their free service. Update: June 13, 2007 |
 |
Technorati Technorati is an external tagging, or categorizing, product allowing individual blogs to link to other blogs using the same category. Technorati offers both post tags (individual post) and blog tags (entire blog content); a “real time search engine,” monitoring blogs. Create a free account, claim your blog, find widgets! |
 |
LibraryThing “LibraryThing is an online service to help people catalog their books easily.” Create a free account and catalog up to 200 books or choose a paid account for an unlimited number of books. LibraryThing offers an assortment of widgets for blogs including book lists and blog search. Library Thing widgets are located on the IRC What's New page, IRC Blog, and Library Cloud sidebars. |
 |
WidgetBox “WidgetBox is an open web widget marketplace.” Widgets are “a small piece of interactive content that can be dynamically embedded into a web page.” This site has a great tool called a blidget that turns your blog into a widget … and it’s free WidgetBox blidgets are located on the IRC What's New page and Library Cloud sidebars. |
Widgets Just for Fun
 |
Picasa Web Albums Picasa is both a web product and a free software download program to organize the photographs on your computer. It is possible to use the Web Albums function completly online by choosing Picasa Web Albums from the upper right corner of the web page. Sign in using your Google account information, upload photographs to Picasa, and create both public and private photo albums. Finished? Create a slide show, link to it, or embed it on a web page or blog for viewing (Library Cloud). |
 |
ZoomClouds Create and customize a tag cloud for your blog using a ZoomCloud widget. "With ZoomClouds you can put small (or large) tag clouds on your web site that relate to whatever is going on in your web site." ZoomClouds, What Can Zoom Cloud do for me? Library Cloud has a ZoomCloud tag cloud in the sidebar.
|
Webliography & Links
Blogger
http://www.blogger.com
EDCI 131/504 Instructional Technology Blog
http://instructionaltechnologylab.blogspot.com/
FeedBurner
http://www.feedburner.com
Instructional Resource Center
http://www.ashland.edu/library/irc
Instructional Resource Center Blog
http://auircbookblog.blogspot.com/
IRC Book Review Blog
http://ircbookreviews.blogspot.com/
Library Cloud
http://librarycloud.blogspot.com
LibraryThing
http://www.librarything.com
Picasa Web Albums
http://picasa.google.com/
StatCounter
http://www.statcounter.com
Technorati
http://www.technorati.com
WidgetBox
http://www.widgetbox.com
ZoomClouds
http://zoomclouds.egrupos.net/
Presenter Information
© 2007 Diane L. Schrecker
Keep Blogging Along: Side By Side Library Blogs
Poster Session: 2007 ALA Annual, Washington DC
URL: http://personal.ashland.edu/~dschreck/ala07/sidebyside.html
Updated: 7/2/07
