The document summarizes the Washington State Library's experience starting and maintaining an institutional blog. It describes how the blog was initially hosted offsite from 2006-2008 and then moved onsite. The benefits of blogging for institutions are outlined as increasing awareness, facilitating diverse discussions, improving understanding of technologies, and fostering experimentation. Guidelines are provided for other institutions interested in starting their own blog, such as defining audiences, creating policies, securing support, and evaluating effectiveness.

1. OAH Annual Meeting 2009:
Integrating a Blog with an
Institutional Website
Mary Paynton Schaff
Washington State Library

2. Why the State Library Started Blogging
• To reach new
audiences
• To better advertise
our resources
• To re-discover our
online community
• To improve internal
communication
• To see if it was
possible
Old State Library Building, Olympia WA

3. The State Library’s
Blog
• From August 2006 –
October 2008
• Wordpress
• Hosted offsite
• Only agency blog
• Used it for:
– Events
– Newspaper Gems
– New Library Resources

4. State Library’s
Blog Version 2
• From October 2008 -
• Wordpress
• Hosted onsite
• One of many agency
blogs
• Using it for:
- Events
- Newspaper Gems
- New Library Resources
- Research Stories?

5. Why Your Institution Should be Blogging
• It’s time to update your website
• You need to humanize/justify your efforts
• You need to advertise your resources
• You need better/easier/cheaper tools
• You want people to talk about you
• Historians just wanna have fun

6. Step by Step Guide
1. Define your subject 6. Create policies
and audience 7. Make sure your
2. Create a mockup efforts are
sustainable
3. Make your pitch
8. Advertise
4. Get support from
stakeholders 9. Evaluate
5. Collaborate with 10.Know when to call it
interested parties quits

7. Reap the Blogging Benefits
• Increased awareness
• Diversified dialogue
about your institution
• Better understanding
of new technologies
• Internal “culture of
play” and willingness
to experiment
• Peer or industry
recognition
Source: Paleo-future/ “America 1908”
(Rasenberger) /Harper’s Weekly 1908

8. Questions? Comments?
Mary Paynton Schaff
Reference Librarian
Washington State Library
Contact me:
mschaff@secstate.wa.gov
secstate.wa.gov/library
Current State Library, Tumwater WA
Facebook
Presentation available on Slideshare.net