The Conference is Over But the Blog Continues

Hope everyone had a great NELA conference! Although the conference is over, don’t forget to check back with the blog over the next couple of days for post-conference reports from the sessions.  We had a wonderful group of dedicated bloggers who were busy posting during the conference, but with limited time and an on-again, off-again Internet connection, live blogging was not always a possibility. The posts will keep coming over the next couple of days (I know I have notes from the last day of the conference all sitting on my computer!)

I hope you all have been enjoying this conference blog. I’m interested in hearing what you think about the blog. Feel free to leave a comment here or send me an e-mail at klussier@semls.org to let us know what you think.

Do it yourself Technology

Speaker- Deanna Gouzie youth services librarian at Baxter Memorial Library in Me.

MySpace for your library

A librarian may encounter resistance in setting up MySpace for their libraries

• As librarians we need to model positive use of MySpace
• Children have ways to circumvent filters to get to these social networking pages
• Teens will look at library MySpace as opposed to a library website

Developmental assets - What teens needs to become functioning adults

• Teens learn to communicate with peers, authors, and even politicians
• They learn the correct boundaries

Why teens

• Many teens dedicate time and imagination to create their pages, they are proud of their accomplishments
• MySpace or other social networking sites are here to stay
• Americans spend 12% of their time on MySpace
• How to set up a MySpace
  • very simple if you keep it basic
  • http://www.myspace.com
  • It only takes a few minutes to activate your account
  • No need to write in HTML
  • Privacy is important - you can only see a person’s account if they allow you to be their friend.
  • You can also edit friends…or block someone
  • Top 5 - very important to teens
  • Pimp my MySpace…many sites that help you to design your site
  • Very empowering for teens and helps them master technology skill
  • just fill in the blanks to put in personal information

  Library Myspace pages give teens a safe place to explore and learn about literature.

  • online book clubs through - http://www.dearreader.com/
  • allow children input on design of the library myspace

Theresa Maturevish - Beverly Public Library in Ma.

Some uses for blogs in a library setting

• Readers advisory - book reviews, recommendations, summer reading lists
• Upcoming events- programing, pictures,
• Movie and music reviews
• News about library renovations
• Subject specific blogs - most blogs are searchable by their tags
• Communication between librarians
• To host an entire library website…No HTML needed…
• Can place a link to your blog directly to the library website

Setting up a Blog

• easy to set one up - go to blogger.com or www.wordpress.com
• make a user name and password
• decide the purpose of you blog
• then just start typing
• You can add categories that allow others to search your blog
• you can easily link words to any other webpage

Wiki - an editable webpage - that anyone can edit (but this can be controlled)

• Also easy to set up
• Can become very unorganized if pages are not thought out and set up initially
• Can be private of public - can be just for staff
• Password can help control those who may edit
• Files or pictures can easily be attached
• Can link to URL or other websites
• Can use templates or just be a blank page

Many can be started for free. Of course, you get more bells and whistles when you pay. The good thing is that you can begin with a free site and upgrade when you feel the need.

Why create a blog or wiki instead of just a website?

• There is more flexibility
• Can easily allow the input of others
• Can get immediate feedback from your readers
• Cost…this type of communication can be started without cost…just the time involved
• Anyone can write in this format…
• Can be edited from anywhere that has a internet connection