Books & BytesA New UWF Libraries Weblog Communication Service For UWF Libraries

Dept. of Digital and Learning TechnologiesUWF Libraries, 2007-2008

http://librarydigitalservices.uwf.edu/library

Sharing New Information

Democracy shares what it knows and feels. Libraries must also keep open in sharing

information.

(Vartan Gregorian, Head of Carnegie Corporation)

What is a Weblog or Blog?

Blog is short for “weblog,” a term coined by Jorn Barger in 1997

New Media OnlineCommunications Tool

New Way to Navigate and Share Library Information Content

• Easily Published Representations of What’s Important and New on Our Site

Common Weblog Terms

Blogging: when somebody posts new information to the Blog

the person accomplishing this is known as the Blogger

the blogging world: Blogosphere

Blogs Characterized as

New Media JournalismCitizens’ MediaParticipatory MediaGrassroots

Communication

Low Budget Marketing

New Information Tools Staff/Faculty Participation

• Meets the demographic of changing student/faculty needs and demographic

• Keeps the library technologically/ culturally relevant

• Keep our digital information space and infrastructure up-to-date

Why Set Up a UWF Library Weblog?

Why do Weblogs matter?

• Next generation web tools (evolutionary)

• Envision new, dynamic ways to deliver information content

• It’s where our users are• Our communications possibilities

have moved to the Web• Weblogs enable new

opportunities for collaboration with our patron’s needs

Web 2.0 and Weblogs

• User experience and information needs are changing– Changes in the way users consume

information/ emphasis on interaction– Subtle Changes in user expectations– Subtle Changes in technology

We need to better understand and communicate with our

audiences

The Millennials (born 1980-2000)

Currently largest and most diverse Student generation in American history39% of total population; 36% minority

The Most Team-oriented generation

The most Tech-embracing generation

Neil Howe and William Strauss, Millennials Rising, Vintage, 2000

• Participatory Democratic Online Expectation (not trapped in tv paradigm, Not interpellated in One Way Communication systems - one way citizen.

• Millennial Users expectation of Interaction with Information (peer evaluation)

Millennials Have Online Democratic Expectations

Neil Howe and William Strauss, Millennials Rising, Vintage, 2000

How can you bestfind relevantinformation?

1) 60% The Web In a virtual setting2) 15% Google3) 12% Weblogs4) 8% Specialized Websites

5) 2% From or in a group 6) 2% Cell, PDA, GPS (mobile to

a destination)7) 0.5% From a book/print source8) 0.3% In a classroom9) 0.15% From a

teacher/professor10) 0.15% At the library

reference desk

Information Seeking Among 10,000 MillennialsPew Foundation Study, 2007

95% Web

Web 2.0: 1997-2007Explosion of Commenting

75% of internet users 15-35 regularly rate persons, organizations, or organizational services online

Information sharing and frank public evaluation

Review By Peers, 1997-2007

Potential of Feedback

(2 way communication with Users, Democratic Media, participatory media, participatory democracy)

What are our patrons thinking?

81% of 15-35 year olds regularly comment on weblogs

35% also post daily on blogs and social networking sites

Information sharing and evaluation

Content creation by age

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Ages 12-17

Ages 18-29

Ages 30-38

Ages 39-48

Ages 49-60

Ages 61-69

Ages 70+

Per

cent

age

Internet users Total population

79% of internet users 18-35 subscribe at least 1 blog

Accessing New Information Content

Two thirds of 15-35 year old internet users use RSS feeds

Information Customization

User’s don’t read most web pages anymore, they scan, but they will read a blog, sometimes half a dozen.

Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug

http://librarydigitalservices.uwf.edu/library

Characteristics of a Blog?

2-3/week 8 /month

frequently updated posts

Relatively Pithy Entries

Information Bytes Rather than ‘Sound Bites’

Newer Entries

Older Entries

Emphasis on Current Information

Weblog Organization

• ChronologicalBy Date

ThematicBy Category

Link to Deeper Web Content and Resources

At least 1External link/entry

Permalinks and ArchivesInclude Archives (Searchable)

Include unique URL for each post (Permalink)

http://librarydigitalservices.uwf.edu/library/?p=55

Characterized by Permalink

http://librarydigitalservices.

uwf.edu/library/?p=38

Share Information

Inform Patrons

Subscribe

Save Useful Links

What Makes a Blog a New Form of Communication?

Interactivity - include Comments

Advantages

Instant publishing to the Internet cost little or nothingprovide a comment feature that

allows interaction from others dynamic & empowering allow interchange of thoughts &

ideas exciting: instant feedback

regarding our services, announcments and events

Making it happen in 2008

• We need: 1) willing faculty/staff

participants (open to everyone)

2) Staff who have new things to say

3) Willingness to institutionally respond to frank and sincere user comments (service orientation)

All Departments Are Invited to Participate

• Topics are open: Library Related (i.e. New Databases, New Library Services, Special Collections, Circulation, New Books, New Resources for Subject area ideas: http://librarydigitalservices.uwf.edu/library

2008 Weblog Roll Out

• Sign Up Sheet at front

• I Drive (Library Weblog)

• Two Week Commitment (Sign up for as many as four weeks/person)

January 1-13 July 1-13

January 14-28 July 14-31

February 4-17 August 1-16

February 18-29 August 17-31

March 3-15 September 1-13

March 16-31 September 15-30

April 1-13 October 1-12

April 14-26 October 13-23

May 1-11 October 24-31

May 12-23 November 3-14

May 24-31 November 17-28

June 1-14 December 1-12

June 16-30 December 15-31

Flexible Format

• Two entries per week (four entries over a two week period)

Brief Focused Announcements / Articles

• 2-5 Paragraphs/Entry, Brief Focused with 1 link and 1 image

Format

• Articles/Announcements (Have Supervisor or Colleague Edit)

• Image

Link (Open, to other section of website, service, databases, external information source)

Space Available for Special Announcements Throughout Year

• As Needed throughout year

• Through Department Heads or Library Administration

• Hours Changes, Weather Announcements, Important Library News)

Service Open / Available to Everyone in Library Community

Individual DepartmentsIndividual Libraries, Librarians (Emerald Coast, Curriculum MaterialsIndividual Faculty Administration Individual Staff **Student Workers **(** With Editorial Approval ofYour Department Heads

http://librarydigitalservices.uwf.edu/library