In the three examples of library blogs, the division between blog and website has become seamless. Libraries are now taking advantage of the characteristics of a blog integrated into the website, with the same appearance as the website and the same tabs at the top of the page throughout for navigation. What the blog adds are the frequent updates, with most recent news listed first, making the website a far more dynamic and current source of information. The fact that it is so simple to make these updates makes it easy for staff; the blog lends itself to the short and concise posts needed to announce news and events at the library.
The Ann Arbor District Library seemed to have contributions from not just staff, but patrons as well—the list of postings is viewable. As I looked at the site, it was updated several times. I was impressed that a posting about an upcoming teen video game event had received 176 comments from teens—the blog was successful in reaching out. It is easy to hot link text in a blog and this site was full of links that served the role of encouraging blog readers to navigate around the site. The many short entries about books served a great purpose—arousing interest in the collection and in reading. Everything was well indexed and categorized—something that is quite manageable using blog software.
Georgia State University Library has a number of blogs within its website, subject specific blogs, all indexed on the right side of the screen, with feeds. It also has a flickr of slides of the library construction (from which I could not navigate back to the website). From the home page, the blogs are not evident—they can be accessed through the site index. The main blog page groups the most recent entries for all the library’s blogs, with categorization to make it clear which blog they come from. Blogging is restricted to library staff, but again, the short entries are easy—and can communicate temporary news such as the bound copies of journals being unavailable for two months.
Madison-Jefferson County Public Library again had a seamless website and blog. The individual blogs for Kids Zone, and Your Space for teens were personalized to those age groups. Entries were only by library staff, and again kept readers up to date of events and news. Email submissions were welcomed—with a promise that good ones would be posted. This use of email for submission allows library staff to maintain control of the quality of blog entries.
Western Springs History is a beautifully designed blog of historical houses--although the site calls itself a website and not a blog. Characteristics of the blog enhance this site: categories and links on the right side of the page; and the interactive aspect of comments—readers have submitted carefully worded (not casual blog language) historical information on the houses illustrated in the blog, making the website a true ongoing group effort on the Web—drawing from snippets of memories of a wide group of people and leading from one memory to the sparking of another.
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