Week 2 - Blog Content Development

When reading about the history of blogs,
I was surprised to learn that the first blogs appeared about a decade ago. I
only remember hearing about blogging in 2000 or 2001.

As Rebecca Blood's article demonstrates,
Hammer, Nail:
How Blogging Software Reshaped the Online Community, blogs became popular
when content development suites replaced web-development suites. Content development
suites utilize XML to separate
the medium (code) from the message (content). This eliminates the need for bloggers
to learn HTML coding. Content
development can make the process as simple as cutting and pasting text from one
document to another.

Libraries can use blogs in a number
of ways. From announcements, including acquisitions and events, to providing an
in-depth look at how the library works. The ease of use provided by blogging
software allows library staff to explain how to use the library, its goals and
resources, and how it is an integral part of the community it serves.

A blog invites patrons to respond with comments and
questions, engaging the libraries staff in a conversation.

If I were setting up a blog at a
library, I would look for a service that provided the necessary tools but
allowed the library to keep full control of the content of the blog and the
domain name. This would allow the library to make its own polices regarding access,
privacy, content, and security. A blog hosted at the library's website also
adds to the professional appearance of the site. Blog software should, by
definition, allow the creation of a multi-media website where patrons can
respond to blog posts. While a library blog may seem an unlikely target for
vandalism, CAPTCA and moderators are important to prevent spam.

RRS and Atom feeds allow
patrons to add the library's blog to their daily routine, reinforcing the library's
place in the community.

Multiple authors allow staff to
create their own web personalities rather than simply being a ghost writer for blog@genericlibrary.org tagging and
perma-linking are also important as they provide a way to organize the blog,
highlight popular material, and encourage participation by patrons. With these
considerations and the information provided by the Blog software
and hosting site comparison chart, I would recommend the library use Expression
Engine as it has the power and flexibility required to create a library
blog that will be interesting, professional, and secure.