[Web4lib] Successful book discussion blogs, anyone?

[Michele Hampshire]

Hi Alicia, when the MARINet consortium launched One Book One Marin in
January, MVPL used a blog <http://millvalleylibrary.org/onebook/> to
stimulate discussion.  We considered it a successful project, but not
because of comments left on the blog (none, or maybe one!!!). Based on
the site statistics, we know that a number of people visited the blog.
Although it wasn't exactly what we hoped for, adding the blog component
to the community read project year after year could eventually yield
online discussion rather than just lurkers (one form of participation,
after all).

Some of the choices we made that I deemed important to the success of
the experiment included the decision to implement a group blog.  Authors
included me, a part-time Librarian (library student), a Library
Assistant, and a member of the Library Board of Trustees.  Perhaps the
various viewpoints worked to draw readers.  Also, authors were asked to
keep their posts short and light, and were asked to post once per week
ensuring that the blog had fresh content on a regular basis.  

We thought it might be a good idea to ask staff members to make comments
on the blog posts as a way to stimulate discussion among the public, but
for no particular reason we did not follow through with those plans. 

Incidentally, I led the in-person book discussion group at the El
Cerrito library for more than three years; it was often a challenge to
engage participants there too. 

Best, Michele

Michele Hampshire
Web Librarian
Mill Valley Public Library
375 Throckmorton Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-389-4292 x107
http://millvalleylibrary.org


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Abramson, Alicia
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:02 PM
To: Kyla Tew; Web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Successful book discussion blogs, anyone?


Based on Kyla's response and a few others, I hereby amend my request to
include examples of any type of Web based discussion forum that any
libraries have had what they would deem is "successful" participation or
engagement of the community.  The reason I'm focusing on book
discussion, again is because this summer we are sponsoring a community
read of Kahled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" and the online discussion is
just one component of a variety of community events.  

What I'm really interested more than anything is libraries successfully
engaging their communities in a library initiated activity.  Carey
Bisson presents one great example and I would like to see more.

Thanks!

Alicia Abramson
Manager Library Information Technology
Berkeley Public Library
aabramson at ci.berkeley.ca.us
510-981-6131

>
> On 7/12/07, Abramson, Alicia <AAbramson at ci.berkeley.ca.us> wrote:
> >
> > Does anyone have an example of a library-based book discussion blog
> that
> > you would identify as successful?  We are doing our second attempt
at
> > one here at the Berkeley Public Library for our "Reading in Common" 
> > (i.e. citywide book reading) event: 
> > http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/readingincommon/
> >
> >
> >
> > Last year's blog had a total of 8 comments over a 4 month
period...and
> I
> > would like to see a more engaged discussion this year.
> >
> >
> >
> > I would like to learn more about what the ingredients are of a 
> > successful online book discussion, and how have others managed to 
> > successfully engage their communities in the usage of blogs for book

> > discussions.
> >
> >
> >
> > Alicia
> >
> >
> >
> > Alicia Abramson
> >
> > Manager Library Information Technology
> >
> > Berkeley Public Library
> >
> > aabramson at ci.berkeley.ca.us
> >
> > 510-981-6131
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Web4lib mailing list
> > Web4lib at webjunction.org http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> >
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