Activity OneBlogs

What is a blog?• Blogs are websites in which entries known as posts are displayed in reverse

chronological order.

• A blog can be created by anyone as no knowledge of hypertext mark-up language (HTML) is needed.

• This means that there are a diverse range of blogs on different topics from professional companies or organisations such as new sites like ABC to the average person who wants to share family news.

• Blogs allow people to disseminate and share information quickly and easily.

• For instance information that is generally potentially takes months to publish in an academic journal can be shared with peers within days of completing a study.

Blogs in plain english

Watch this short video on blogs produced by the Common Craft Show.

(This video can also be found at Blip.tv and TeacherTube.)

Examples of blogs

All Points Queensland A blog by ABC Queensland News Journalists

The Great Beyond The Nature blog that rounds up science news from around the world.

The Old Foodiegives you 400 words each day on a topic related to the day, plus a historic recipe, and sometimes a menu.

Examples of library blogs

Libraries Interact Blog central for Australian Libraries.

The Krafty Library Every Medical Librarian needs a bag of tricks.

David Rothman

How are libraries using it?Library news for clients

Staff communication

Virtual book clubs

Networking and professional

development with other

libraries/library professionals

Dynamic element to library websites

Research communities offering insights into new developments

Grey literature used by libraries

Time to play

Set up your own blog.

1. Go to Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/

If you have a Google or Gmail Account…

2. Enter you email address and password in the Sign In area in the top right hand corner of the screen.

3. Click Sign In.

4. You will now be prompted to enter a display name. This does not have to be your real name it can be an alias. Enter in your desired name.

5. Click Continue.

Please skip the next slide and continue at Step 6.

If you do not have aGoogle account

2. Click on the Create your blog now arrow on the Blogger home page.

3. You will be taken to Create a Google Account page.

4. Enter in all your details. You will be asked to enter a display name. This does not have to be your real name it can be an alias.

5. Click Continue.

6. Create a name for your blog and enter this in the Blog Title field.

7. Enter an address for you blog in the BlogAddress field.This may require some creative thinking to come up with a URL that has not yet been used. It is advisable to keep the address similar to your blog name if possible.

8. Click Continue.

9. Now it is time to choose a Template for your blog. This creates a specific look for your blog. Select the button next to the template name that you would like.

10. Click Continue.

11. Your blog has now been created and it is time to start blogging.

12. You may now like to have a play with the setting and layout of your blog. To do this, follow the prompts in Blogger. Remember the Help screen are there if you need to use them.

How to make a blog post

1. Each time you want to post to your blog you will find a screen that looks like the above example known as a posting template. This contains a text box where you type, and text editing button similar to those found in MS Word.

2. Once, you have finished typing your post, you are able to preview your post before publishing it on your blog.

3. Once you are happy with your post, click Publish Post and you are done.

Blog promptsHere are some ideas for you to blog about:

• Why are you participating in the Web 2.0: what health libraries need to know program?

• What you hope to learn from the program?

• What are you looking forward to in the program

Share all your thoughts, ideas and discoveries throughout the program.

Register your blog

• Go to the online registration form athttps://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=02oGWJ9W0BcFqkLdJ9RUMw_3d_3d

• Please ensure you complete the registration form as it is essential for participation in the program and eligibility for prizes.

• Congratulations on completing the Week 1 activity. If you would like to know more about blogs, keep reading.

Other tools to try• The blogger software that we have used for this program, is only one of

many available on the Internet.

• Here are some other programs for you to explore if you wish.

• Here are some other websites that provide help to bloggers.– Dummies guide to Blogger (http://bloggerfordummies.blogspot.com/)– ThemesPress – additional themes for WordPress blogs

Further reading• 8 tips for beginner bloggers http://davepress.net/2008/02/15/8-tips-for-

beginner-bloggers/

• Blogging mistakes http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2007/41-blogging-mistakes/

• 18 different kinds of blog posts http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/200718-different-kinds-of-blog-posts/

• 7 Things you should know about blogshttp://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7006.pdf

• 10 things I’ve learned as a Blogging Librarian (2005) Michael Stephens http://tametheweb.com/2005/04/10_things_ive_learned_as_a_blo.html

• Blogging guidelines, IBMhttp://www.ibm.com/blogs/zz/en/guidelines.html

• Why and how to use blogs to promote your library’s services (2003) Darlene Fichterhttp://www.infotoday.com/mls/nov03/fichter.shtml

• Blogs for Libraries (2005) Greg Schwartzhttp://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=767