Using Blogs to Connect with Young Adults in the Public Library

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 About Blogs 2.1 What is a Blog? 2.2 Blog Content 2.3 Blogs Stimulate Discussion 3 Blogs and Libraries 3.1 Library Blogs for Young Adults 4 TeenZone- The Danbury Library blog for Young Adults 5 Creating a Library Blog for Young Adults 6 References 7 Web Resources

[edit] Introduction

I decided to research how public libraries are using a particular Web 2.0 technology, blogs, to reach out to their young adult patrons. I chose this topic because it is something I would like to do in my own career in the future. I have experience with personal blogging, so I know how enjoyable it can be and how well blogs can develop a sense of community on the internet. I also think blogs provide a great medium for libraries to reach young adults because most pre-teens and teens are familiar with them and spend a large portion of their free time online. They may not be old enough to drive to the library, but they can still be a part of what is going on.

[edit] About Blogs

[edit] What is a Blog?

The word “blog” is short for weblog, a web site which functions as an online journal. Users can post content to the blog which is then arranged in reverse chronological order. The most recent posts will appear at the top of the page and are usually time-and date-stamped. People use blogs to “simplify, automate, and accelerate the online publishing process,” (Educause, 2005). Blogs have wide appeal because users do not need to know how to write HTML code in order to create appealing and functional websites. The interface makes it easy to type into a textbox, manipulate font, size, color, and alignment, and publish the entries to the blog. Bloggers, as people who write weblogs are called, can also design the appearance of their page, and usually can post supplementary content like photos or music. Most blogs do not require the user to download software or store the content on their own hard drive, and many blog hosting services are completely free of charge. Blogs which are hosted online can be accessed and updated from anywhere the user can connect to the Internet. In addition, the ease of use saves time and cuts down on the frustration that can arise from the tedious process of taking down old content and posting new content on a website. The format of a blog automatically stores the old posts and displays the newest items first. It takes just a few moments to sign up for a blog, and the length and frequency of the posts can be decided by the user. Blogs are also extremely flexible- they are easy to adapt for use by several authors, and can incorporate advanced tools such as search capabilities, tagging, and RSS. Also, bloggers can post directly to the web without the content being filtered through a mediator such as a webmaster.

[edit] Blog Content

Blogs are not just web-hosted accounts of a user’s day to day life. Blog content varies widely, from teenage diaries to detailed editorials on current events. Many bloggers put much of their own time and energy into creating informative, educational, and well-written posts on topics they are passionate about. Politics and news stories are especially popular topics; “Blogs represent an alternative to mainstream media publications” (Educause, 2005). Blogging related to occupations is also common in the blogosphere. EduBlogs, blogs devoted to education issues, have rapidly proliferated on the net, but LibLogs, as library weblogs are known, are also gaining in popularity and numbers.

[edit] Blogs Stimulate Discussion

One of the best features of blogs, and all Web 2.0 technology, is their ability to foster communication and relationships. When web surfers read content in a blog, they can comment on it, write about it in their own blog, and even link back to it. The dialogue blogs create is a really valuable aspect of the technology. Another feature, called Trackback, “notifies bloggers when one of their posts is referenced by another blog, making it possible to determine the popularity of a post based on the number and diversity to incoming links to a post,” (Educause, 2005). This referencing system helps good ideas circulate throughout the blogosphere and helps determine the reputation of the blogger as credible and popular (Educause, 2005). The value of blogs is their ability to allow for expression, exposure, and development of online communities.

[edit] Blogs and Libraries

Libraries are excellent candidates for blogs due to the volume of content that they share with the community. A library blog can feature library news, upcoming events, book discussions, reviews, newly acquired materials, resources, tutorials, recap of past library events, and can help develop relationships between patrons and staff. Items discussed in posts can be linked to the catalog so that users can easily find the material. Also since blogs are cheap, easy to use, and do not have a steep learning curve, they are an appealing technology for librarians to incorporate into their repertoire of services. Most library websites are difficult to update, and often require the help of a Webmaster, who may not be readily available if she is “shared” among several branches. Blogs on the other hand are simple and quick to update, so the librarian could do it himself or the responsibility could be shared among several librarians within the system. If the blog does not function as an effective tool, the library system is not faced with a loss for having tried it out. The blog also allows the library to come into contact with those members of the community who cannot make it to the facilities or who may be too reserved to initiate a relationship or ask for help in person. Also, the library blog can alert others in diverse geographic locations to what your library is up to and allow it to stand out to those who may not be able to travel to the location in person. Blogs can foster connectivity with other libraries, since there are no long distance fees. New or struggling libraries can view examples of successful libraries where certain programs are working, and learn from their experiences. Additionally, libraries can monitor other systems which are trying out new technologies or programs and decide from their success or failure whether to incorporate the program into their own system. Blogs may also help librarians develop their relationships with their colleagues across the country and around the world without dealing with geographical or economic limitations.

Examples of library blogs can be found in these directories: Libdex and the Blogging Libraries Wiki.

[edit] Library Blogs for Young Adults

Some of the most interesting library-created blogs are those designed for the library's preteen and teen-aged patrons. Public Library blogs aimed at young adults are popular and successful because most young people are already familiar with Web 2.0 technology, such as blogs, social networking sites, and message boards. Many write blogs themselves, or at least enjoy reading and commenting those which are written by their friends. They may also enjoy blogs authored by favorite musicians, authors, or celebrities. For them, it may seem intuitive that they communicate with the public library through this medium as well. Since younger teens may not have access to transportation, visiting the library online may be their only option. Although some young people may be intimidated by the library and library staff, they may feel more comfortable interacting "on their turf" and not face to face. Hughes-Hassell says, “If librarians want to attract young adults to their collections and services, they must become integral members of the online community” (2003, p.149). Blogs can be a useful tool for creating this sense of community among teen patrons as well as between the teens and the librarian. While static library webpages for teens may contain useful information, Hughes-Hassell claims that in order for teenagers to keep coming back their needs have to be met on several levels, "academic, social, and recreational" (2003, p.145). Blogs can meet many of these needs at once by both providing information and giving teens the opportunity to express themselves on issues they are interested in. Blogs are a perfect fit to connect librarians and youth, and to make young people feel welcome and appreciated within the library.

[edit] TeenZone- The Danbury Library blog for Young Adults

I interviewed Dymphna Harrigan, who is the Teen Librarian at Danbury Library in Danbury, CT. She runs the TeenZone blog, which has been very successful since it began in September 2006. The blog is on the main page of Danbury Library’s Teen website and shows the most recent posts at the top of the page. Users can choose to read the blog posts in reverse chronological order, or they can click one of the Categories of posts displayed in the sidebar. The posts will then be grouped by category. For example, if a teen was only interested in reading reviews, she could click “Book Reviews” in the sidebar and all the relevant posts would be displayed on the screen. Users can also search within the blog or read archived posts. The blog is published using the platform Movable Type. Harrigan explains that the primary goal of the blog is to provide teens who visit the page “programs and materials that they might be interested in,” and give them “the opportunity to express themselves and bring new ideas and thoughts to topics and discussions,” (2007, E-mail interview).

Although Danbury Library developed the blog with the help of a web designer, it is Harrigan and her teen volunteers who maintain the Teen Zone blog. She agrees that posting frequently is the key to retaining teens’ interest, and believes, “the blog needs to be updated at least every 7 days or less,” (2007, E-mail interview). Although the blog is frequently updated, the time commitment remains minimal. Harrigan remarks, “I spend about one hour a week checking for comments and updating,” which would be fairly easy to incorporate into even the busiest librarian’s schedule (2007, E-mail interview). Just spending 10 to 12 minutes a day on the blog can help to ensure that it remains interesting, up to date, and successful.

Harrigan writes many of the blog posts herself, but the teen visitors to the site also compose entries and send them to her via email to be published in the blog. In addition, she usually ends her posts with open-ended questions to solicit the teens’ responses, an element that is common in the most interactive blogs. Each post on the Teen Zone blog usually receives 2-3 comments from interested teen readers. While there are many young adult library blogs on the web, regular teen participation (beyond reading) is relatively rare. The contributions from young adults make the Teen Zone blog especially effective in developing the sense of community that is integral to web 2.0 applications. When I asked Harrigan what she believed to be a key factor in developing a successful young adult blog she replied, “Get the teens involved and just keep pushing it. If you can get them to use it, they will give you great input and ideas,” (2007, E-mail interview). When reading the Teen Zone blog, it is evident that the young adults’ contributions keep it moving forward. Their interests motivate the reviews and their input molds the schedule of events. The variety of categories for posts gives everyone an opportunity to share something in their area of expertise: gamers can give reviews of newly released video games, music buffs can evaluate the latest cds, and avid readers can assess the newest additions to the library’s YA fiction.

[edit] Creating a Library Blog for Young Adults

Librarians who are considering creating a blog for a young adult audience should begin by determining what their goals are for the blog and how a blog will, “further the mission and vision of the library,” (ALA, 2007, p. 67). Once the librarian has established a purpose for the blog, she will want to browse other blogs to get a feel for what she likes and does not like, and which tools and services will meet her needs. Harrigan recommends deciding “how teens will be able to comment and if that process is going to be cumbersome,” (2007, e-mail interview). LibDex and The Blogging Libraries Wiki are both excellent directories of library blogs. Now that she has an idea of how she would like her blog to look and function, she can sign up for the appropriate publishing platform. Usually, this just takes a few minutes to fill out a form and then she is ready to begin posting! When deciding what topics to post on, she should keep her audience in mind. Harrigan says, “Figure out a way to be informed about what teens are doing and what they are interested in,” (2007, e-mail interview). Hughes-Hassell agrees, “If libraries want…teenagers to visit their Web pages, they have to show teenagers that the pages are pertinent to their lives,” (2003, p.150). The next step is to attract the intended audience, young adults, to the blog. Signs and flyers, as well as messages on the library’s existing website can alert the public to the new blog. Harrigan also came up with some ways to make sure the teens check out the blog and do not forget that it is available to them. She told me, ÃÂÂÂÃÂÃÂ