What is a blog? Are it's writers the anti-social, techno-savvy segment of our population? Are they written by those with "time on their hands" or "nothing better to do"? Many blogs once fell under these stereotypes and perhaps some of them still do. But as technology is simplified and a greater percentage of people puruse the web, more and more are seeing the value in a blog. If you can believe it, from 2002-2009, 133 million blogs were indexed by Technorati! We are beginnng to realize that everyone has valuable thoughts that others are actually interested in. Society's collective confidence in our individuality is growing. We are starting to realize that no matter who we are or where we live, that there is always someone of like mind (be it elsewhere in the world) that we now have the means to connect with. Now everyone can have a friend. Or two. Or two million.
Blogs can be a great way to teach, to learn, to debate, to connect. Obscure, little known topics are now eagerly published by those passionate about them. Technology has caused the line between blogging, mini-blogging and social networking to blur. Instead of having to commit a block of time for blogging, bloggers are now posting more impromptu blogs through their social network from their phones or iPads (Technoratti's State of the Blogosphere). This newest development is making blogging faster, easier and maybe even more personal.
Two thirds of all blogs are written by men, half of all bloggers are married, and half are parents (according to Technoratti, 2009). But this skewed cross section of the blogging popluation is changing. Women, and moms in particular, are starting to blog more. Being a mom, blogs like Some Random Mother are mostly the types that I follow. But I don't just follow. I once started another blog (Cherry Pits in Gravel) while working at my fruit stand...about working at my fruit stand. (They say to write about what you know, right?) I posted once and then abandoned it as life got in the way. Maybe if it had been quicker and easier to blog I would have continued. Maybe now I will.
This bandwagon of blogging has been jumped on by nearly every section of society and finally libraries are starting to catch up. They are realizing that blogs can be a great asset to many types of libraries, but high school, academic and public libraries in particular. Libraries need to be current and engage with their patrons. They need to reach out to invite in new patrons. They need to show that libraries aren't just places to find a book. Meeting a person in their world (the internet) and on their terms is a great way to introduce them to the library. Library blogs can introduce new authors or genres, advertise events, give research tutorials, start book clubs, writing clubs and music clubs, just to name a few. Did I say music? In the library? Take a look at The Unquiet Library found at Creekview High School in Canton, Georgia. That looks like a fun library! Doesn't that blog inspire you to visit their library?
Blogs can help librarians introduce themselves to new patrons and give a window into the library that some people may have never seen otherwise. The interactivity of blogs encourages communication and participation. Facebook, Twitter and other mediums may do the same thing but the great thing is that the blogger doesn't have to choose! The librarian blogger can connect everything through links and therefore gain even more exposure for the library.
If you have technologically savvy & efficient manpower to manage a blog, then it's not a problem but there are some instances where a blog is not a possibility. A library with a small staff who do not have the experience or inclination to learn may have to make other arrangements. Perhaps an enthusiastic volunteer? And then there are the libraries that serve an isolated community with little internet access or slow download speeds. There may be no reason to have a blog since the community will have little use for it until better technology reaches them. As technology advances there will be more and more opportunities for libraries to take advantage of this great medium and to advertise themselves to their communities.
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