Tag Archive for 'blogs'

It’s YOUR web: Do you add content?

Published
by
Barbara
on February 27, 2008
in around the world and info.gov
. 0 Comments

Do you “publish” on the Web, or are you a lurker? User-created content on the Internet is extremely popular–what effects might it have on journalism? advertising? social relationships? politics? and more…

Participative Web 2.0 cover

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reports, based on data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, that “over one-third of all US Internet users have posted content to the Internet” and 25% of Internet users under the age of 30 have blogs.

The 2007 report lists YouTube as the fourth most-popular web site worldwide, while a more recent visit to the source of this information, Alexa.com, finds it moved up to number two (the ranking is updated daily). Other web sites of user-created content in the top 10 globally are MySpace, Facebook, Hi5, and Wikipedia.

The full report, Participative web and user-created content: web 2.0, wikis and social networking, is available online. It discusses the types of user-created content, active Internet participation in several countries, possible economic and social impacts and implications for policy and business.

Government Printing Office logo

The University Library is a federal depository with many federal, state, local, and international documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and electronically. Come check out your government at the University Library!

Blog with your gov’t: TSA

Published
by
Barbara
on February 13, 2008
in around the world and info.gov
. 0 Comments

OK, you’ve been waiting for this one…if you travel by air and would like to, um, discuss or even question some of the security screening, well, this blog’s for you!

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) started a blog called Evolution of Security in January. OK, the title threw me, but this is the slogan: “Terrorists evolve. Threats evolve. Security must stay ahead. You play a part.” Yes, the blog is about PR, but its official purpose is “to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process.” The opening entry promised that “postings from the public will be reviewed to remove the destructive but not touch the critical or cranky.” So talk to them. You never know, a posting here or there (or maybe thousands of them) might actually make things easier for all of us at some point.

As you might expect, it has had a lot of interest already. Categories include liquids, shoes, inconsistencies, etc.

And one of the TSA bloggers is Ethel from Wisconsin, who loves ice cream. It can’t get better than that, can it? But yes, it can…sometimes there are links to videos!

Government Printing Office logo

The University Library is a federal depository with many federal, state, local, and international documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and electronically. Come check out your government at the University Library!

What a Beaut!

Published
by
kyle
on January 4, 2008
in around the world
. 1 Comment

It’s Friday! Time for fun and procrastination!

Check out Librophiliac Love Letter: A Compendium of Beautiful Libraries for a journey around the world of amazing places with lots of books. Some people may argue that librarians would be the only ones interested in this, but look at the architecture and design in which the culture and history of civilization have been preserved by these libraries. It’s astonishing to be taken back in time with the classical European libraries or glimpse at the future with the modern American libraries.

Thanks Carrie for the link!

DIPNOTE: U.S. Dept. of State Blog

Published
by
Barbara
on October 11, 2007
in around the world and info.gov
. 0 Comments

Interested in foreign affairs? Curious about what diplomatic service is like? Have an opinion on foreign policy issues? This blog’s for you!

U.S. Dept. of State Blog

The U.S. Dept. of State has launched DIPNOTE, a blog intended to provide “an alternative source to mainstream media for U.S. foreign policy information” and an opportunity to discuss foreign policy with State Dept. officials.

Entries go back to late Sept. 2007, and include first-person commentary on postings abroad (India, Lebanon, Saudia Arabia, etc.), interviews (Director of Protection for Diplomatic Security), commentary on the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, and, of course, discussions on relevant issues and events.

For example, a Question of the Week posted Oct. 2 was “How To Convince Nations With Influence Over Burmese Junta To Halt Violence.” More than 60 comments were posted as of Oct. 9. An earlier question about who should have nuclear technology had more than 80 comments. The postings originate from all over the U.S. and other countries.

Finally, DIPNOTE has photos and links to videos and external sites, such as the Council on Foreign Relations and Passport, a blog by the editors of Foreign Policy magazine.

So this is a way to keep up with foreign affairs and weigh in as well. The State Dept. is reading.

Government Printing Office logo

The University Library is a federal depository with many federal, state, local, and international documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and electronically. Come check out your government at the University Library!

Happy Belated Birthday, Library of Congress!

Published
by
kyle
on April 25, 2007
in around the world and info.gov
. 0 Comments

The Library of Congress, the largest in the nation with over 30 million volumes, turned 207 yesterday. It was in 1800 that Congress allocated funds of $5,000 to start a library, which began with 740 books and three maps. If only that same amount of money could do that much now.

So how does a library such as the Library of Congress celebrate their birthday? By starting a blog, of course!

Government Printing Office logo

The University Library is a federal depository with many federal, state, local, and international documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and electronically. Come check out your government at the University Library!

The Blogging Librarians?

Published
by
kyle
on April 9, 2007
in around the library
. 0 Comments

You may be asking yourself, “Why does the Library need a blog?” The answer is that the blog will serve as a way to let the campus community and beyond know what we’re doing. In addition to checking out books to you or helping you find information for your research, we do lots of other things.

For instance, we purchase books for the collection. As of right now, we don’t have a way to highlight the items we buy except by checking the New Books section or browsing the New Book Island on the second floor. Sometimes, we find books that we just want to share with the whole world. Check out the New Releases category to the right for more information.

What about things going on around campus? The University sponsors tons of events from lectures to cultural celebrations and much more. The Library has materials that relate to these events and we want you to know about them. Check the Campus Connection category to the right.

These are just a few examples of what this blog will feature. If you have any comments or suggestions, let us know!