Those Bloggin’ Librarians

blog-bib.blogspot.com

If you’re new to blogs, make this Web site your first stop. There are background articles for newbies, as well as related resources created by librarians. The links in “Blogging Tools” describe various blog software and include a nifty blog “style manual” and sample blog policies. And don’t miss the list of bloggers—a veritable who’s who of leading-edge librarians. Created by: Susan Herzog, information literacy librarian, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT.

freerangelibrarian.com

As the subtitle of her blog implies, “just-in-time librarianship” is the focus of Karen Schneider’s challenging and thought-provoking blog, with posts arranged by category, such as hot tech, podcasting, ethics and blogs, and much more. You can search the blog by month, year (posts date back to July 2003), or keyword. If you want to keep up with the big issues facing our profession, bookmark this blog. Created by: Karen Schneider, director, Librarians’ Index to the Internet, San Mateo, CA.

www.librarian.net

Jessamyn West created her blog in 1999, while most of us were still struggling to navigate the Web. A self-professed “information technology evangelist,” West’s blog is full of tips on the latest techno-gadgets and how librarians can use them. West not only keeps up, she often leads the pack when it comes to the latest technologies. Now, thanks to her blog, we can glean some of that knowledge. Created by: Jessamyn West, Reference Librarian, Rutland Free Library, Rutland, VT.

www.lisnews.com

This terrific blog features daily news posts to keep you current on all aspects of librarianship. Start with the home page or click specific topic sections, such as “Children” or “Harry Potter.” Free registration enables you to join in discussions with other librarians or post your own news items. For a good chuckle, don’t miss the “Friday Funnies,” featuring “The Library Song.” Created by: Blake Carver, librarian, New York Power Authority, Buffalo, NY.

www.theshiftedlibrarian.com

Jenny Levine is another librarian using blogs to communicate with the professional community. Her blog entries provide lots of links that allow you to follow up on a given topic. To view past postings, click on “TSL Archives” and select a date or use the keyword search feature. Of special interest is Levine’s “Blogroll,” a list of all the other blogs that she monitors—a great way to keep up with what’s going on. Created by: Jenny Levine, Internet development specialist, Suburban Library System, Burr Ridge, IL.