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Blogs & RSS Readers

Discover the world of blogs and how they can be used to announce events, convey your message, involve your community, and more. Learn how to set up a blog and use RSS readers to stay current on topics of interest.

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Blogs & RSS Readers

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  1. Blogs & RSS Readers SCLS Staff

  2. What is a blog? • Contraction of the term Web Log • Usually maintained by an individual • Regular entries • Commentary • Descriptions of events • Other materials – like graphics or video • Displayed in reverse chronological order • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

  3. More Info on Blogs • Project Play, Week 2 • Why and How to use Blogs to Promote your Library Services by Darlene Fichter • Common Craft: Blogs in Plain English • WebJunction article: Blogs for Libraries

  4. Why blog? • Announce events, programs, services • React to an article, criticism, or praise • Convey your message and identity • Involve your community • Close the feedback loop • Give results of fundraising or survey • From Mobilizing Generation 2.0 by Ben Rigby, page 21

  5. Poll Questions • Do you have or contribute to a blog? • Does your library have a blog? • Do you read blogs (that you know of)? • Do you subscribe to any blogs via email or RSS feeds?

  6. Sample Blogs • Ivy’s blog • Share pictures, stories, updates with relatives and friends around the world • People can comment on blog postings • Posting pictures easier and faster than emailing them • CuteOverload • Started as a personal blog and became a phenomenon

  7. Online Update Get in the Van Grants Know More LINK Update Technology Planning Teen Read O8 Wicked Cool Coming Soon! TechBits CE Programs SCLS Blogs

  8. Library Related Blogs • MADreads • Unshelved • Librarian.net • Free Range Librarian • LibrarianinBlack • The Shifted Librarian • Many more can be found on the Blogging Libraries Wiki

  9. How to blog • Determine your audience • Community? Staff? Family & friends? • What type of content do you want to share? • MADreads vs Check it Out • Who is the writer? All staff? Just the director? Schedule?

  10. How to Blog, part 2 • Software • Some blogging software is free – but they often have paid versions with more features • A few examples • Blogger (from Google) • TypePad • WordPress • MovableType

  11. SCLS can help! • Contact Rose Ziech, Web Services Specialist • Can help you set up a TypePad account to get you started • See the Blogs page

  12. RSS and Newsreaders • Project Play, Week 3 • RSS = Really Simple Syndication • Like broadcast syndication for your favorite tv shows but for blogs • CommonCraft: RSS in Plain English • RSS for Librarians by Stephen Cohen • This icon is becoming the standard for RSS =

  13. RSS Icons http://www.rssboard.org/rss-icon-collection

  14. Subscribing to feeds • You may already be doing this… • Do you have a MyYahoo page? Or a customized page from your Internet Service Provider? • Here’s my ATT/Yahoo page – all this content is from RSS feeds • Aggregators

  15. Using Google Reader • Need a Google account • Add subscriptions • Organize them • Bookmark Google Reader • Check feeds regularly • Can get addictive • I’ve started checking once per day

  16. Let’s add this blog • Seth Godin’s blog

  17. Why use a feed reader? • After initial set up, can save you time • Keep current on various topics • Alternative to email (in some cases) • From Kerri H. – • Email is the important things that need immediate attention • Blogs can wait – not an immediate need, like the icing on the cake

  18. What next? • Sign up for a blog reader – or two • Try them out and choose which one works for you • Subscribe to some blogs • Read them – add to your daily or weekly schedule • Share them – if you find something of interest, talk about it on your own blog • But, don’t feel guilty if you don’t get to them – can mark all read!

  19. Questions? Comments? Thanks for coming!

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