Showing posts with label Thing Four. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thing Four. Show all posts
Friday, March 5, 2010
Learning about Blogs has been really useful
http://radley.blogs.com/radley_parish_plan_2010/
Learning about blogs has been really very useful. I sit on our Parish Plan Steering Committee and we were looking at ways to increase participation and stimulate interest in the Plan. The Village Website run by volunteers leaves a bit to be desired. Yesterday afternoon with the help of Ian of Radley College, who allow us to use their server, we set up aRadleyParish Plan Blog! It will feed direct to the website so it will always be current update and interactive. As a consequence of 23 Things at least I knew about these things. I fear however as a "knowledgeable" person it's going to be me looking after it from now on!
The setting up the Radley Village Plan Blog was interesting as it uses TypePad rather than Blogger and I was able to to compare and contrast features of the blogging software. I found Blogger initially easier to get started and manipulate but TypePad has some attrative features; an option to set when a post appears on the blog, the facility to keep a particualar post at the head of a blog, and the ability to split an extended entry so that a long post doesn't push all the others into the background. The latter functionallity I think I have found on Blogger. I think it is propably Sit Feed tab > Allow Blog Feeds > Full/Short. I have not tried it out just in case it isn't and my entries are irretreviably shortened.
I am now interested in looking at other blogging sofware such as WordPress to see how that does things!
Monday, February 15, 2010
My Blog has had a makeover
Today my blog has had a makeover. I was rather envious of those delightful designs of some of the 23 Things participants; growing in confidence and ambition I wanted more. The helpful 23 Things people were once again my angels. Referred to btemplates.com. I spent a happy hour browsing the fantastical, the extravagant, the sentimental and the professional template styles, before deciding on what I hope is suitably elegant. I can certainly recommend btemplates for anyone wanting to change the appearance of their blog.
Having selected a new template I paused apprehensively would my existing blog disappear into the ether. There are helpful instructions so with much anxiety I pushed the download button hoping and fearing that this was not my nemesis. I downloaded the file and unzipped it and all I had then to do was copy and paste the file location in the space provided. The file didn't save to the desktop so a bit of hunting around was required and initially it insisted that no such file existed! Back to boring old blog I believed. After some puzzlement I managed to add the file. The process identified the widgets I had added previously and asked if wanted I to retain them. I did. A new madeover blog ! I had to spend a few moments tweaking the colours, including some html editing, and the removal of the Google seach gadget. Overall I am feeling rather proud of smart new blog! I do hope my follower likes it too.
Having selected a new template I paused apprehensively would my existing blog disappear into the ether. There are helpful instructions so with much anxiety I pushed the download button hoping and fearing that this was not my nemesis. I downloaded the file and unzipped it and all I had then to do was copy and paste the file location in the space provided. The file didn't save to the desktop so a bit of hunting around was required and initially it insisted that no such file existed! Back to boring old blog I believed. After some puzzlement I managed to add the file. The process identified the widgets I had added previously and asked if wanted I to retain them. I did. A new madeover blog ! I had to spend a few moments tweaking the colours, including some html editing, and the removal of the Google seach gadget. Overall I am feeling rather proud of smart new blog! I do hope my follower likes it too.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Bloggy thoughts about blogs
Have been having some thoughts about blogs. The exercises have been fun but I think I need to reflect just how blogs can be useful; how they might be used as an information resource and their validity in the wider information environment, and the ethical issues of blogosphere (see I'm developing a whole new vocabulary!)
How do I think the blog could be useful in my library?
I was impressed to see how other libraries had used their blogs to display current information about hours and services particularly during our current snowdays! Yet they also provide a space for more static information about hours, admissions and collections. All this with a functionality that makes the blog quick and easy to update. I like the way it allows the display of more information then can be put on a poster such as upcoming WISER sessions and their content. The opportunities to subscribe to pages encourages feedback. This can only help us improve our services by creating a co-operative community of readers and researchers.
The blog is a great way of getting the library out of the library. It can extend access to resources and services when hours and space are limited. More importantly it promotes the brand that is your library. It's a highly visible way of validating your value as "information provider" and information professional providing, of course, that you avoid comedic flippancy, incorporate good design and keep it current. I feel virtual space can enhance and increase the use of physical space and the role of the librarian.
How might blogs be useful as an information resource?
I think it is useful in the immediacy of opinion expressed and the currency of events. described. It can react far more quickly then printed sources. I think qualitative judgments about the speed and value of the immediacy of the blogsphere are still up for debate. It is for our readers and researchers to decide about the quantity, quality and bias, and the consensus of opinions expressed. They must be able to identify highly personal accounts and propaganda. How, though, do these things differ from the pamphleteering of the 17th and 18th centuries, the opinionated accounts of the nineteenth century reviewer and the letters of "disgusted of Tunbridge Wells"? As information resources I am sure they will reflect new trends of thought, currents of opinion and commercial fads.
I like the way that the blogosphere democratises and globalises information. This can only be positive in a world of intolerence and ignorance. I am an optimist I know! I'm sure someone will comment on the negative impact of the dissemination of unsavoury information. I like the sense of community; however esoteric your interest you are not alone - someone else surely shares your passion. Of course, all this raises fundamental questions about TRUST (very topical!)
How do I think the blog could be useful in my library?
I was impressed to see how other libraries had used their blogs to display current information about hours and services particularly during our current snowdays! Yet they also provide a space for more static information about hours, admissions and collections. All this with a functionality that makes the blog quick and easy to update. I like the way it allows the display of more information then can be put on a poster such as upcoming WISER sessions and their content. The opportunities to subscribe to pages encourages feedback. This can only help us improve our services by creating a co-operative community of readers and researchers.
The blog is a great way of getting the library out of the library. It can extend access to resources and services when hours and space are limited. More importantly it promotes the brand that is your library. It's a highly visible way of validating your value as "information provider" and information professional providing, of course, that you avoid comedic flippancy, incorporate good design and keep it current. I feel virtual space can enhance and increase the use of physical space and the role of the librarian.
How might blogs be useful as an information resource?
I think it is useful in the immediacy of opinion expressed and the currency of events. described. It can react far more quickly then printed sources. I think qualitative judgments about the speed and value of the immediacy of the blogsphere are still up for debate. It is for our readers and researchers to decide about the quantity, quality and bias, and the consensus of opinions expressed. They must be able to identify highly personal accounts and propaganda. How, though, do these things differ from the pamphleteering of the 17th and 18th centuries, the opinionated accounts of the nineteenth century reviewer and the letters of "disgusted of Tunbridge Wells"? As information resources I am sure they will reflect new trends of thought, currents of opinion and commercial fads.
I like the way that the blogosphere democratises and globalises information. This can only be positive in a world of intolerence and ignorance. I am an optimist I know! I'm sure someone will comment on the negative impact of the dissemination of unsavoury information. I like the sense of community; however esoteric your interest you are not alone - someone else surely shares your passion. Of course, all this raises fundamental questions about TRUST (very topical!)
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