Blogging Librarians

Blogging can be useful to librarians. The obvious example is the Mountain View Public Library Blog which appears in the Blogs of Note column. (http://mvpl.blogspot.com/) This appears to be the web page for the library with articles, featured titles, and job openings. One section allows the reader to subscribe to future posts. This service would be useful in a small library with limited personnel or internet capability. Advertising library programs and services would be simplified. The drawback, of course, is the owner of the password owns the information posted. If the employee leaves, what happens to the web page? (Hopefully no retaliation would be involved.)

Blogs could be useful to individual librarians for book discussion groups, feedback on programs, registration of or information about story time, posting instructions to answer a question blog, or research tips. The possibilities are endless. Control of the content of a disgruntled employee is the only drawback I would forsee.

Employees could use a blog to release steam - share funny or annoying experiences. There are a few websites where retail clerks contribute their experiences. I personally do not think such things should be put into writting, since the subject patron could stumble upon the information in a public forum and file a complaint or lawsuit.