Walt Crawford to release Liblog Landscape 2007-2010 next week

Walt Crawford will be releasing Liblog Landscape 2007-2010 next week. Not sure if I will be buying it, but Will's previous book on the subject was called But Still They Blog. Anyway, for those interested in library blogs, its well worth a look.

Nothing is the Future by Wayne Bivens-Tatum (Academic Librarian)

(Found via here). Wayne Bivens-Tatum, an academic librarian from Princeton has a post Nothing is the Future. The post looks at how the web 2.0/library 2.0 has become:-

The future of libraries is Second Life. Wait, I mean Facebook. Or maybe it's Twitter. It's librarians in pods. Etc.The beauty of talking about the future is that it never happens.

Wayne does have a point, but as someone has mentions in the comments Walt Crawford has discussed this previously in an insightful (and longer) piece.

I do think that Wayne has a point. But, recently I was talking to a former work colleague about whether web 2.0 or library 2.0 had changed anything in the workplace? He felt that it had, in that it had re-invigorate new staff and perhaps even teach some old staff some new tricks.

Repackaging the library may seem foolish to some, but I think we may all agree doing everything the same, everyday is dull and repetitive. Yeah, second life maybe not the future or blogging, but at least you may improve the service and your own skill set. As one predominant library 2.0 blogger has said on Talis recently said:-

Meredith Farkas, Author of the book “Social Software in Libraries”. A couple of years after publishing her book, Meredith has become a little jaded about the way libraries are using social software, with some libraries seeing it as a magic wand for community building and engaging with their users. This chimed well with the thoughts of the Gang, who were drawn to the conclusion that like most software, it is just a tool. How you use a tool to communicate with your users, is far more important than the tool itself.

Finally, I would say people today have adapted to the web 2.0 idea for career reasons just as much for helping users. In the world today our library careers are based on short-term contracts. What we learn and can transfer to similar roles are as important to us as ever. Without a new skill set to assist our resumes we are dead in the water.

The demise of blogging? Part 1

Meredith Farkas has an interesting over on her site entitled 'W(h)ither blogging and the library blogosphere?'. I 've discussed this previously. Meredith's article makes much sense. The uptake of twitter and microblogging seems to have cause a decline in Blogging. Many great blogs like Infotangle by Ellyssa Kroski has been replaced by her new blog ilibrarian. Other library blogs seem to have lessened in the library blogosphere, but as Walt Walt says in the comments of Merediths article :-

Great post and remarkable set of comments–and Karin, I think you’re right on the money. Twitter et al (I really dislike the term “microblogging,” but can’t win that one) have, in a way, strengthened essay-length blogging while weakening short-form blogging (maybe)–and essays have always been harder to do than quick notes.

Really worth reading it and especially the comments section. By the way, when mentioning Ellyssa I wasn't having a go at her.

Should I quit blogging post

(Found via here) Stephen Abram pointed me in the direction of this post 'Should I Quit Blogging?' by Darren Rowse. I have mentioned previously, and although Walt Crawford responded by saying:-

Blogging has had a low persistence rate for years. I'd like to think that the best bloggers are sticking around...but I've always been a Candide at heart.

Rowse's response to the decline of blogging wrote following:-

Blogging is not dead - it’s evolving.

You should be evolving too (read Blogs are Out of Beta, But Bloggers Should always be in Beta)
Keep being useful, keep solving problems and keep meeting needs - whatever the medium this is key.

Keep producing content - people continue to search the web for content in huge numbers. It’s not all about networking and bookmarking - whether it be text, video or audio - keep producing content.

Experiment with different mediums - to the best of your ability keep abreast of the ‘new’ mediums that are emerging.

Build a ‘Home Base’ - many people flit from one medium to another and end up with nothing of their own (read more on the Home Bases and Outposts that I use).

Build a Brand - the mediums are tools. They’ll come and go in time - the key is to build something that lasts beyond them.

Don’t be Precious about your ‘Blog’ and be open to change - there’s no one ‘right’ way to blog. Blogs can have comments or not have comments, have full RSS feeds or partial ones, look like a traditional blog or act and look more like a lifestream or portal. The key is to know what you want to achieve and let that shape what you do with your blog.

Don’t abandon your blog too quickly - your primary efforts may move into a different medium but blogs can be an important part of the mix of what you do online. Don’t abandon your blog - build upon it, let it evolve, leverage what you’ve already built and use it where appropriate in the mix of what you do.

I think its a pretty good article about how blogging is a great tool. I'm hoping to soon add to Darren's list in the near future on why I blog.

Should we stop blogging and go to twitter........

(Found Via David Lee King), I was pointed to Kathryn Greenhill blog post entitled When should you stop blogging ? in which she says:-

While I don’t think I have any intention of stopping Librarians Matter, I’ve noticed my posts are slowing down as I enter my third year. I’ve been spending more time twittering, on new work projects, blogging elsewhere , getting slowly interested in videoblogging - and even trying to go walking at 6am to spend some one-on-one time with Mr10.

I've gone through periods where i have struggled to blog, but the idea of just twitter or not blogging seems a sad loss. I like blogging as I feel it keeps me up to date, I have to read something current and I interact with people I respect. I even wish it made me a better writter, but thats not so i'm afraid. If your thinking of quitting blogging check Walt Crawford's Thinking about Blogging in Cites & Insights: Crawford at Large.

Its a bit late.....

But today was Open Access day. Anyhow Walt has already written about it. Anyhow, i'm moving house an need to pack.

Walt Crawford meme

As some blogs have already indicated(1,2), Walt Crawford has a new job with Palinet. The full article on his job is here:-

Walt Crawford Named Director & Managing Editor of PALINET Leadership Network
10/4/2007
PALINET is pleased to announce the appointment of Walt Crawford as Director and Managing Editor for the PALINET Leadership Network. Crawford is an internationally recognized writer and speaker on libraries, technology, policy, and media, and the creator, writer and publisher of Cites & Insights: Crawford at Large, an ejournal on the intersections of libraries, policy, technology, and media published monthly since 2001. He also maintains a blog on these and other issues, Walt at Random. He was recently listed as one of the 31 most frequently-cited authors in library literature 1994-2004 (the only American writer on that list outside academic libraries.) Cathy Wilt, PALINET’s Executive Director, comments: “We are thrilled to have Walt direct the development of this library leadership community of practice. The PALINET Leadership Network and PALINET members will certainly benefit from his substantial experience, not to mention his editorial wit and wisdom.”

About the PALINET Leadership Network
Currently in beta release, the PALINET Leadership Network is an innovative online member service for library leaders designed to create a community of practice by sharing informative articles, forums on current issues, and collaborative discussions on cutting-edge topics. Designed as a wiki platform, the PALINET Leadership Network provides the latest innovations and most current leadership information in the library arena and beyond. Developed in partnership with the Library Leadership Network (LLN), it is an ideal vehicle for staying current with literature, blogs, and other leadership conversations, as well as a critical tool for mentoring staff.

See Walt Crawford at the PALINET 07 Conference + Vendor Fair, October 29 - 30, 2007 at the Tremont Grand Conference Center in Baltimore, MD. Register at www.palinet.org/2007conference.

Many congratulations to Walt and best of luck in the new role.

Inspirational bloggers

I was reading Jennifer Macaulay's blog entitled I Think I Have Blogger’s Block. In this she says why she hasn't blogged so much, that :-
It isn’t that life has gotten in the way, that school has gotten in the way or that I didn’t want to write.
I find it a shame. Jennifer has always been an inspiration whilst (and recently completing) do my own Master degree. It was interesting to watch her go through a similar course at the same time as I was and the problems she encountered.
I do hope she feels that 'I’m generally unhappy about my school experience' will be found soon.
Another blogger who I hope has good news soon is Walt Crawford. As those who read his blog know, Walt is 'between jobs'. I also find his blog excellent material to have a maturer attitude to libraries (thats meant as a complement). I do hope he has something to look forward to after his holiday.
Very divergent bloggers, but I do appreciate reading them on my bloglines.

Meredith's questionaire

Meredith Farkas has a questionaire over on her blog. Its an update of one she had done previously on the biblioblogosphere in 2005. Its only 30 questions and really quick and easy. Funnily enough it might be used on some of my dissertation. Thanks to Walt for pointing me to this on his blog.

The week that was.........

Another week and another 3 I missed to blog more fully about.
1. A new book By Walt Crawford called Balanced Libraries: Thoughts on Continuity and Change. Available from lulu for £11.85. Looks as thought provoking as his blog is.
2. Tim Spalding's treatise entitled No more User Generated Content on LibraryThing. I think he's sick of the word ;)
3. Following on from my previous blog about the threats Kathy Sierra has faced on the blogosphere, business week has an interesting analysis entitled Dispatches from the Blog Battle Zone. Looking both at the misogyny and anonymity (as some other bloggers have also written about). A worthy article if you have the time.