Well it seems I'm being pushed to research library weblogs, but I'm still interested in more public ones and may continue to collect information about them.
I've added an interesting link to a blog of more interesting links of guidelines for bloggers. It's very easy to get waylaid by following link after link after link and forget the initial search term! So, I've spent a fair amount of time here:
Very interesting but not very useful in terms of research!
Back later...
chat with the librarians. They outlined the reasons for starting it - that a static webpage was not sufficient - readers had to go there and remember to go there regularly, and as we know, we don't have time and forget everyday errands, let alone remembering to visit a website for updated info. RSS feeds help with this of course, but their idea was to send an email to selected clients (academics) who would be interested in the information within the blog and using the blog more as an archive which could be consulted (because emails, as we know, get deleted fairly rapidly).
So, a little confused as to which direction I'm heading...
It's interesting that there has been a surge of library weblogs and there are hundred of blogs by librarians of all different descriptions. Interesting too, because many information professionals have previously poo-pooed the blogosphere as unworthy of serious consideration and yet they're joining in and participating themselves.
I have scored a meeting with a couple of academic librarians tomorrow to discuss their blogs. They have two at the local university library with plans for more. It should be interesting. Why do they have them? Who are the target audience (students AND staff?) and what do they hope to achieve? Do they ever get feedback and do people actually read them regularly? I hope to have some of these questions answered.
Thanks for input. 
I came here to write an entry and on another open browser window searching more links and got so waylaid by following numerous interesting links that I got logged out of here.
Lots of interesting stuff written about blogs but I still think I'll stick to the user, or reader rather, and concentrate on the use of blogs. It seems that many blog readers who browse for 'information' are very politically minded or up with current affairs, but I'm sure there is just as much info found through links to something as mundane as recipes or crafts.
Back to the links, which I must email to work so I can print off some articles.
Aha yes, then there are those I must remember to save to Endnote.
Back later.
Thanks for reading.
Well, I've spent much of this weekend trying to find information. It doesn't help to have a very slow connection via dialup. It's very frustrating and time-consuming. I've located a few links and will print them out later. I dislike reading anything of length on a screen so, regrettably, contribute to the destruction of a few more trees (from a sustainable forest, hopefully).
I think I'll add a few links of interest. I'm sure others will find them interesting also.
There is such a wealth of information about blogs but not a lot on the readers of blogs. Very many different reasons and suggestions for having one, but no focus on the people who actually read them. So my research should follow that side of it, which will of course, entail surveys, etc.
Time for a break...
Well, I had a few tumbling around but by the time I get here they've dissipated into the ether. I'm currently reading an article on library weblogs after delving into three books about weblogs. The first book concentrated on weblogs as an educational aid. Can't say I'd ever thought of things like Blackboard as a weblog, but I suppose they are in that they announce the latest you need to know, provide links, etc. The second book was not very useful, having been written by a religious conservative and not that wonderfully written. The third which I'm still looking through is providing much food for thought.
So there seem to be several avenues:
Weblogs as educational tools
Weblogs as information and news for library users
Weblogs as journalism
Weblogs as soapboxes and creative space
Weblogs or filters as sources of all sorts of links
Weblogs as sources of information in general
It's this last one I'm particularly interested in but wonder if I should refine it to library users? Why have a library weblog and what would library users read it for? Are they useful? in other words.
So still have a lot of reading to do to work out what angle I'm taking, but it's enjoyable in the process.
Would still love to receive any comments from any readers.
Thanks again.
I'm doing a research topic and I chose blogs - they fascinate me. But trying to refine the topic is proving a little difficult. So, I thought I'd write down all my thoughts and in that way may find some direction. Well, there's always hope.
Some questions I have....:
Why do people read blogs?
Are blogs a source of information?
Do people read blogs for information?
If so, what type of information do they seek?
Do blogs lead them to more information?
Are blogs a type of customer service or glorified advertisements?
Are blogs a form of journalism?
Do blogs demand interraction?
Well, to answer the last one - yes. I want some feedback!
So, if you're reading this (and thank you for doing so) please give me your thoughts and answers to the above!
