Monday, March 23, 2009

#2: Get yourself a blog in 3 easy steps!

Now that you have had some time to explore this website, and take a look at some other libraries programs, it’s time to setup your very own personal blog to record your thoughts, discoveries and exercises. For this program, I recommend that you use Blogger*. Blogger is a popular free online blog service that is very easy to use.
(* Use of Blogger is only a recommendation. if there is another blog hosting that you are more comfortable with, please feel free to use it)

You can create a blog using Blogger in three steps:

  1. Create an account.
  2. If you have a gmail account sign in with your account, if not fill out the required information.


  3. Select your template

    .
  4. Write a blog post and publish it!



Once you’ve created your blog, here are two important things to know:

  • To add posts: The maintenance interface that you will use to add posts, edit or change the step-up your blog is accessed online at http://www.blogger.com . Be sure to write down your name and login, so you don’t forget.
  • To view your blog: you blog address with be
    http://BLOGNAME.blogspot.com
    BLOGNAME being the unique identifier you entered in Step 2. Be sure to also write down your blog address.

If you run into problems, or would like more information about blogs and Blogger, here are some discovery resources you can use:

Okay!! Now, it is your turn…

Discovery Exercise:

  1. Setup a blog for yourself through Blogger.
  2. Add a test post or two.
    Note: You can use one of your test posts to create an entry on your feelings and what you hope to learn from this program.
  3. Have fun!!!

IMPORTANT NOTE: How you choose to identify yourself on your blog is entirely your choice. You can blog under a screen name, anonymously, or as yourself. However, in order to qualify for the incentives, you will need to register your blog with Maura.

Thing #1: Exploration and discovery are fun!

Welcome to the New Canaan Library’s Learning 2.0 program and blog.

Chances are you found you way here because:

  1. you are a New Canaan Library Staff member who’s participating in the Learning 2.0 Challenge
  2. interesting in learning and playing around with some of the new web 2.0 tools that will help you expand your information literacy toolbox
    or
  3. you are just interested in earning the incentive prize!

Regardless of your reasons, we are so glad you are here!

Learning 2.0 is a program that was started by Helene Blowers at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. This program was developed to encourage staff to learn about emerging technologies on the web, and how they are changing the way people, society, and libraries access information and communicate with each other.

Over the next 10 weeks, this website will be your entry point for completing the 23 Thing and discovery exercises to help us become familiar with blogging, RSS news feeds, tagging, wikis, downloadable audio, image hosting sites, and online applications.

To familiarize yourself with this project, please read the About Page. The FAQs should answer most of your questions about this program. If not, please add your questions to the FAQ page as a comment.

So, ready to explore, discover and play? Grab your mouse and get ready for an online discovery adventure. Remember: it is OK to play in the library and have fun!