I see a couple of useful applications for blogs.  The first is a way for libraries to easily disseminate information via syndication to patrons who desire it.  In academic libraries this is often information about topics, research tips, events, database information, and many more.  As I think about this blogs need to be fine enough to be information that is relevant to a particular audience.  I’m thinking about if a public library posted all their information in one blog.  I’m not really all that interested in Morningstar updates or what will be going on for children.  Because of that I think it is important to be sure that patrons can sign up for the information they want not just the entire communication pushed out by the library.  But events, services, and system updates would be nice to publish on a blog so they can be pushed easily.  Blogs also simplify the webpage and create a nice archive of information that patrons and others can search later.   

For this post/assignment I wanted to look at a blog and then I wanted to assess the number of readers like Emily does on her post, Kudos Emily.  Personally, I’m not all that interested in extra noise—I’ve got more information than I can handle without asking for more of it.  Hopefully by looking at the number of subscribers I will know whether, roughly, it may be worth reading.

A quick aside.  I just looked through the Blogging Libraries Wiki for some blogs to admire.  I was astonished to see how many blogs had not been updated in years.  I looked through three different blogs that hadn’t been updated.  Listen, my soapbox, if we’re going to implement services we have to commit to them and do them well.  It’s OK to take the blog down just make an announcement but your credibility and professionalism are tied to that blog.

Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr and Haverford share a blog that is actually up to date.  They have database announcements, research tips, event announcements, and general interest posts.  But the real test is, is anyone actually reading it?  Borrowing Emily’s methodology, this is subscribers from Google Reader not a stronger metric like what we could get from Google Analystics.  This shared blog has 11 subscribers and something tells me some of those may be from the library not from the general student body.  But that is not necessarily readers/viewers so all may not be lost.

Which leads me to my second application for blogs: community.  Hmmm, the 11 subscribers might put the community idea to rest.  But the above mentioned blog is not designed to be an interactive space for patrons.  The blog is really informational not social.  Many blogs that ask questions and open conversations get more feedback and discussion, thereby creating communities.

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