About This Page

Hello readers!

Library Teen Talk Blog is a project focused on  exploring and analyzing library blogs that are designed for adolescents. This blog is created for the library class  LIBR 500: Foundations of Information Technology, as part of the Master of Library Information Studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.

The main point of this page is to examine the way that libraries are implementing the use of the web 2.0 tools and technologies known as blogs. The library blog pages that will be explored are: Bellingham ‘Brary ‘Blog, Cheshire Public Library Teen Book Blog, Shelf Life: The Livingston High School Reading Blog, TeenThing, RGPL Teen Blog, and Teen Speak @ Hillsdale Library. These libraries are mostly public libraries found in the United States, with the exception of the Shelf Life blog, which is affiliated with a high school library. The discussion inlcudes how easy it is to access these blogs, as well as, how user friendly each blog is. Also included is how the use of this tool (a blog) relates to the rest of the libraries’ services; and whether or not as a patron I would feel encouraged to use the tool offered by these libraries. Lastly, within the discussion comments and suggestions are introduced as to how the use of the tool (by these libraries) may be improved upon in order to increase the level of its usefulness and effectiveness. The use of web 2.0 tools and technologies, such as blogs, is a fabulous method of bringing libraries closer to its patrons  — forming a bond between them. This is due to the common understanding that blogs create greater avenues of communication and building of trust between the  staff and library members, through the use of this consistent, informal and relaxed dialogue. As a result this would create greater cohesion between the library and its public, making it more of a community feel and encourage patrons to want to to be active library members. Lastly, the use of this tool is also a great method of keeping patrons up to date on the events happening within their libraries. Therefore, considering all of these mentioned advantages, it is advisable for librairies to constantly evaluate and adjust their use of the web 2.0 tools and technologies, so that they can use them to their maximum potential and effeciently serve and satisfy their library members — their communities.

IMAGE CREDITS:

All images used in this site are hyperlinked to their URLs. They are all released under Creative Commons license and taken from Flickr.