Just Keep Blogging , Just Keep Blogging

Over the course of this past month, I believe that I have developed a slight addiction to blogging. I've fought this whole blogging thing for a long time, but now that I have been given a chance to really play around with it, I know see why so many people do it on a regular basis. Not only is blogging fun and easy, it can also give you a great advantage in the library world.

First benefit a blog can provide, self-promotion. When applying for a job, the employer will be looking for someway to distinguish between all the applicants. A blog is a great way to do this. Blogging not only shows off your interest in a certain field, but it can also highlight your ability to use Web 2.0, which is always a nice thing for any employer to know. By writing a blog, you get yourself out there on the web and a potential employer need only Google you to find more information. As we move away from paper to more digital forms of representation, a blog can become this century's calling card.

Another benefit that blogging can provide is the chance to improve upon one's writing. The ability to write and to write well is always important for a librarian because you never know when you might be called upon to write a grant proposal or some type or report. Its best to just keep those skills up to par.

One other benefit, perhaps the most important one, is the chance to become part of a community. Blogs provide people with similar interests to keep in touch and to see what others in the field are up to in terms of research and writing. Being part of a community also provides self-promotion as you are able to develop a network of contacts outside your library.