This is Steven Kaye, Editor on the Bulletin Committee for the San Andreas Chapter Blog. In part the blog takes the place of the Chapter newsletter, but the Bulletin Committee would like to see it become more than just a repository for event listings.
We just had the annual SLA conference in Seattle last month - What did you enjoy most? Did you take any photos you'd want to share? We can post photos as well as text to the blog, you know! We also have a YouTube account for video hosting and a del.icio.us account for sharing websites of interest! Solo Librarians, what will you have learned from your discussion of the SLA conference later this month?
What would you like to see discussed at the upcoming Information Ethics meeting on the 28th?
We've got a new member reception coming up. What are your fond memories from when you joined the Chapter? What would you want to tell the new members?
We've got members from industries ranging from management consulting to newspapers to investing. We have members who work with people with particle accelerators! What would you like to know about them?
What would you like to see on the blog that I haven't thought of?
Post comments to this entry, or email them to [email protected]
As a former FaultLine editor, and as the creator of the original San Andreas Chapter website, I feel that I have to make a few comments.
1) I think that having a Chapter blog is a great idea. I don't think that newsletters, whether printed or electronic, fill the dynamic need for information or have the interactiveness that a blog can provide.
2) A blog is not a website. I read several blogs every day and benefit from the speed in which issues can be explored. A blog, however, cannot replace the value of a website, which is a systematic organization of information arranged for a specific audience. On the current blog, for example, I cannot find links to the following pages which were on the previous Chapter website:
a) Past Chapter presidents
b) Chapter Board meeting minutes
c) Past Mark Baer Award winners
d) Chapter bylaws
Reading all the archived Chapter blogs would answer any of the above. These are just examples, but my point is that this information should be readily available to all Chapter members.
3) I believe that it is possible to have both a Chapter website and blog, but it is vital to coordinate them so that a new Chapter member can find out not only what is currently happening, but also what important events have occurred in the Chapter.
4) I think that the layout and design of the blog need to be updated. For example, the banner used in the blog is almost identical to what I used almost 15-years ago, and that's not a good thing.
Thanks for asking for input.
Best regards,
Cliff Mills
Posted by: Cliff Mills | July 11, 2008 at 09:42 PM
A very-belated reply, but I do actually check the blog for comments!
On the issue of organizing Chapter materials, we have started organizing the materials in the website archives here (A very-belated reply, but I do actually check the blog for comments!
On the issue of organizing Chapter materials, we have started organizing the materials in the website archives at http://www.san-andreas-sla.org/archives/archives.html (the San Andreas Chapter Archives link), but obviously there's still work to be done. Another possibility would be to put those materials up on a wiki (again, with a link on the blog).
At the most recent board meeting, there was a lot of discussion about communicating with members better, so I'm hoping that will lead to a design refresh and a more active and useful web presence for the Chapter.
, but obviously there's still work to be done. Another possibility would be to put those materials up on a wiki (again, with a link on the blog).
At the most recent board meeting, there was a lot of discussion about communicating with members better, so I'm hoping that will lead to a design refresh and a more active and useful web presence for the Chapter.
Posted by: Steven Kaye | August 15, 2008 at 02:08 PM