Some more thoughts on those sample blogs .....

On reflection perhaps I was meant to say a little more about the sample blogs so ....
A. Southern Tableslands History Matters: A very attractively presented and informative blog, although it challenged my concept of what a blog is - I would have described this as an active and growing information website rather than a blog which to me is a more personal document (but one aim of this course is probably to sweep away misconceptions ....). If interactivity is characteristic of blogs the authors may be disappointed by the small number of comments posted. The entries show a lot of care and research in contrast with the informal (verging on slapdash ) presentation of some blogs. It is certainly a quality information source, and the clear authorship allows for verification of any issues.
B. Sutherland Shire Library News: an online library newsletter with a huge number of links. As there is a near total lack of reactions posted it would be interesting to know the number of hits, particularly in view of the amount of time maintaining the blog must take. But it is a very good way of keeping members up-to-date with library events and presenting a professional and vibrant face to the community. I noted the use of FlickR to host additional photos.
C. Alternative Teen Services: a professsional discussion forum, with a huge amount of resource material for professionals - the 'main despatch' sums it up. That comments are being posted indicates the service is being used. A very useful way of enabling professionals to interact - I suspect blogs achieve most interaction in the horizontal plain if you see what I mean - between equals rather than informer/informees.
D. ACT Public Library Blog: like the second example, an online library newsletter with more frequent postings (daily?) but less ambitious in content - shorter entries and minimal pictures. Contains local library news and a few quirky items from the wider library world, with the option to email the posting to a friend but not to post comments. The many labels make locating related articles very easy. I presume the hope is that members might check the blog daily as they would open their daily newspaper or look at their favourite news site. This is probably less labour-intensive than Sutherland Shire's blog but still represents a big commitment in time and labour. But like any web-located information service it is ,much more immediate than any print offering can ever be!

I don't know whether this much content was necessary but at least it has given me the chance to practice adding to a log. I have done the preliminary reading/viewing on FlickR - the next challenge is to find and upload that photo/s! (and to successfully publish this .....)