Week 2-Bloggerific

I have to admit I was surprised to read that blogging origins stemmed from user collections of links to various sites. Understanding Blogging as a tool for up-to-the-minute-second news reporting also provided me with a new vantage point with which to percieve current blogging trends.

It was not, and is not, as some people might beklieve, simply a vanity affair with oneself. Blogging is a forum for free speaking ideas to evolve. For expertise and knowledge to be shared. And for emotions and anger to be expressed.

*I look at is as a chance to talk to myself alone in the park without getting strange looks. And hey, I'm not afraid when someone answers me back and begins a dialog.

Blogs have introduced a new phase of reacting and understanding our social sphere. We can cuddle up with our favourite blog on a rainy night and interact with the text to enrich (or simply insert ourselves) into an evolving story.

It has began breathing.

Looking over the four case studies, I felt that they used blogging as a living text in very indivdualistic ways. I think the blogs themselves identify with the persona of the institution they are representing. They are each, personalities within the library sphere.

Case 1

Aadl.org acts as a kick off to the library site. Mostly updates for what's going on in and around the library
as well as the community. Very user friendly and easy to navigate it has been updated frequently.

I like the feature option on the right navigation which
allows patrons to get to know library staff and familiarize themselves with the employees. The RSS feed is a nice way of organizing the site so users can
easily scan what's available to them. Various languages at the top of the site shows an interest in reaching a broad audience. Overall I like this format, it tends to lend itself to a warm glowing atmosphere. I can almost smell the books.

Case 2

This blog I didn't like as much. Perhaps I was looking at it
more from a patron's point of view rather than a student enrolled in the
university / employee.

It tends to follow a busy format with a cold feeling. It
doesn't have the warm welcoming feel of the above library. I think for it's
purpose it serves it's audience (perhaps more on the journalism side than the
friendly book taker-outer.)

I think subject specific blog navigation on the right is a
nice easy way for people to get where they want to be.

It's a good blog that serves the purpose of the University, but perhaps less the needs of the community.

Case 3

Book seller lists on entry to the site mirror the current trend in box stores (ie. Chapters) to provide avid readers with new
possibilities. I think it's a great way to draw in an audience who will then
continue to explore what the site has to offer.

As a public library it functions well providing community
events, local history, and general information (the where, when and how of the
library). I like the news vs.
events on either side. I think it's taken the orginal look of a ‘homepage' or
‘front door' out of the library and opened it from the inside to provide a glimpse into the inner social workings and connections being made within the library.

|It also seperates a kid's zone, buzz area and events blog so that it can cater to a wide audience.

Case 4

The Historical Society blog functions well for it's
intended audience, but I don't think it will bring in new clientel. It is very
particularly focused. Granted, those individuals visiting the historical society are more than likely searching for something in particular, but I think it should have made the memory box and examples of written memories more prominant. I believe this would have added to the feel of community history and ongoing interconnection with the past.