Blog readability

Formulating a message to fit the audience is a constant challenge -- in both written and spoken communication. The online Blog Readability Test purports to assess a reading level for blogs, or any URL you put in the search box. I am proud to say that this blog rates a "College" rating (smirk). Well, alright, it's only "undergrad" but it's a credible rating, albeit from a suspect algorithm. Imagine my astonishment to find that my library system's newly launched East Central Libraries collaborative blog rates "Genius." Wow!

Thanks to Stephen's Lighthouse for this tip

Happy Birthday, Blog!

2 years ago today, I got brave enough to make my blog public. This is the 193rd post since then. My Blogger profile says I've been on Blogger since November 2003, which is when I came back from Internet Librarian, inspired to blog. There were lots of posts back then, but one day I (foolishly) deleted them, thinking I didn't have anything worthwhile to say.

Lots of studies have been done on why people blog. Just today, the venerable Michael Stevens of Tame the Web wrote about the ideology of blogging. I identify with the comment in his post: "It amazed me how ingrained in my life the act of blogging had become." I am often aware of how what a great blog post a certain experience would make. Now, if only I had time to act on all those inspirations.

I recently said to a colleague that blogging was so "yesterday." I guess what I really meant was that blogging has become so mainstream that it's hardly a phenomenon any more. We just accept and expect that the voices of our culture are heard through the blogosphere.

I think librarians as a group blog more than any other profession -- maybe it's a perception thing, since I know more librarians than anything else. Or maybe, it's because we're information professionals, and blogs are about information. Some of us blog because we believe we have something philosophical (or pithy) to say. Others use blogs as a super-easy to create marketing tool or billboard for what's happening at the library.

Blogging was a natural progression for me, since I started writing for my adolescent self in a little pink diary with a teeny tiny ineffective key. I don't write anything very controversial (witness the lack of comments), but I've sure made a lot of friends through this blog. While my blog is largely related to my professional life, it also reflects my whole person.

Wonder what this blog will have to say in another 2 years.

Happy Blog Day

Today is Blog Day - the third annual. Today, each Blogger is tasked with recommending 5 new blogs - to expand the reading of others. Here are some of my local favorites (in no particular order). All have been born in the last year.

1. Library Tree -- from Red Wing Public Library. News about upcoming events at the library.

2. Albert Lea Public Library -- from Albert Lea Public Library. News about the library and new items.

3. Kids' Info at NPL -- from Northfield Public Library. News and lots of pictures.

4. MLA Update -- news from the Minnesota Library Association.

5. Metronet Director's Chat -- observations about libraries and the profession written by Tom Shaunessy.

Addicted to blogging

Thanks to Stephen Abram (85%), Michael Golrick (84%), and probably everyone else in the library blogosphere, I took the test. I don't know if this is a badge of honor or a scarlet "B"



Try the test - it's only 14 questions



84%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

What makes a successful blog

What makes a blog successful? Does spelling really matter? How about quality of writing? I ponder these questions as I teach, preach, cajole, and lead enthusiastic as well as reluctant library folks to blog. There are those (even respected bloggers) who say it doesn't matter how you write - it's only important that you write. I personally believe that anything that goes as public as the World Wide Web is a far-reaching statement about me, my personal professionalism, and the organization for whom I write (at the SELCO Librarian)

Blogging has gone mainstream in a very short time, and is a marketing expectation. It's not a question of "do you blog?" but rather "who writes your blog?" The Blogging Success Study was conducted in the spring of 2006 at Boston's Northeastern University by the students in Dr. Walter Carl's Advanced Organizational Communications class and John Cass and his colleagues at Backbone Media, Inc. The study results are published online as - you guessed it - a blog, complete with comments. The research team identified 5 factors to consider that are important for a successful blog. Italicized text is my thoughts relating the study to libraries.

• Culture: Libraries can build rapport with their communities, showcasing their knowledgeable staff, demonstrating to their communities the face of the library and librarians.
• Transparency: Insightful pieces of contrasting points of view establish credibility, demonstrate expertise, and encourage dialogue.
• Time: Libraries should carve out time for good writing (and reading other blogs.)
• Dialogue: The library's ability and willingness to engage in dialogue demonstrates concern and expertise in matters important to their community.
• Entertaining writing style and personalization: Librarians can build personal connections with the community that will encourage residents to consider the library as a caring, integral part of the community.