blogs and blogging for beginners Heather Martyn Reference Services Librarian Kingston Frontenac Publ

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blogs and blogging for beginnersHeather
MartynReference Services LibrarianKingston
Frontenac Public LibraryEmail hmartyn_at_kfpl.ca
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What is a blog?

• Q So what is a weblog, anyway?
• A Generally speaking, it's an online journal or
  diary comprised of links and postings in reverse
  chronological order, meaning the most recent
  posting appears at the top of the page.
• See http//www.blogscanada.ca/BlogDefinition.html
  

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A Brief history of blogs

• The first blog-like internet site began in
  1983/84 as a collection of links and posts by an
  individual and some of his friends.
• The first real blogs were online diaries that
  appeared around 1994.

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This is a capture of Justins Links from the
Underground, taken in 1996.
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Just a little more history

• Blogs continued to gain popularity.
• The term weblog (web log) was coined in 1997.
• In 1999 it was shorted to blog, and came into use
  as a noun and a verb.
• The ease of using online blogging software has
  increased the popularity of blogging, and you can
  now find blogs on any topic.
• See Also Wikipedia http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B
  log

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Blog
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There are different types of blog

• Photoblog a blog that uses photos as the central
  aspect (the blog may also contain text).
• Stuff on My Cat http//www.stuffonmycat.com/
• Video blog (vlog) a blog that is comprised of
  video entries.
• Ummah Films http//www.youtube.com/watch?vrH2nN
  t1s5pkmoderelatedsearch
• Unemployed Skeletor http//www.youtube.com/watch
  ?ve8Z24Z3o5gM
• Audioblog (podcast) a blog that is created as
  sound files rather than text.
• Prime Minister of Canadas Podcast
• http//pm.gc.ca/RSSFeeds/media/Podcasts_e.xml

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The Blogosphere

• The blogosphere is a collective term
  encompassing all blogs and their
  interconnections. It is the perception that blogs
  exist together as a connected community (or as a
  collection of connected communities) or as a
  social network.
• See http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogosphere

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How To Find Blogs to Read

• Technorati a blog search rating system for
  73.7 million blogs http//technorati.com/
• The International Weblog Awards search engine for
  nominated blogs http//www.thebobs.com/
• The 2006 Weblog Awards
• http//2006.weblogawards.org/
• The Ageless Project lists blogs by blogger age
  http//jenett.org/ageless/

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Blogs I like

• The Cats of Parliament Hill http//www.synapse.n
  et/kgerken/CatsBlog.HTM
• Dave Barrys Official Blog http//blogs.herald.co
  m/dave_barrys_blog/
• The Kingston Guide www.thekingstonguide.com

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How to Start a Blog?

• Have an interest, or eventful life.
• Want to communicate with others.
• Sign up with a blog service http//en.wikipedia.o
  rg/wiki/Blog_hosting_service
• Its similar to signing up for an email account.

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On to blogger for a quick trial

• http//www.blogger.com/start

(See also http//plcmclearning.blogspot.com/2006/
08/3-grab-yourself-blog-in-3-steps.html for a
refresher)
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Some friendly blogging tips

• Maintaining privacy is difficult
• You may not Google yourself or your loved ones,
  but some people do. Consider using pseudonyms.
• Dont post photos you wouldnt share with
  everyone you have met, and some people you
  havent.
• As in most internet communications, arguments can
  escalate quickly and be based on practically
  nothing.

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Bloggers Code of Conduct

• Responsibility for our own words
• Nothing we wouldn't say in person
• Connect privately first
• Take action against attacks
• a) No anonymous comments OR b) No pseudonymous
  comments
• Ignore the trolls
• Encourage enforcement of terms of service
• Keep our sources private
• Discretion to delete comments
• Do no harm

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Technology Tutors

• The library is currently offering hour-long
  one-on-one sessions with computer teachers.
• They can take you through anything weve learned
  today.
• Ask at the Information Desk for an appointment.

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Thanks for coming!

• Check out some Tech Tuesdays and Saturdays we
  have coming up
• Tuesday, October 16 from 700 to 900
  p.m.Introduction to the Internet
•  Tuesday, October 16 from 700 to 900 p.m.
  (Central Branch)
• Gaming for Adults
•  Saturday, October 20 from 200 to 400
  p.m.Getting the most out of KFPLs website
•  Tuesday, October 23 from 700 to 900
  p.m.Keeping Current on the Web with RSS Feeds
•  Saturday, October 27 from 200 to 400 p.mHome
  Computer Security
•  Tuesday, October 31 from 700 to 900
  p.m.Signing up for Web-Based Email