Library blogs: new information services

Abstract

The weblog, in short also blog, phenomenon has exploded in recent years and this form of online communication has suddenly attracted great attention, especially from information science scholars .
A weblog really is a new type of editorial that was born with Internet. It is a daily notebook with the comments of the author on different subjects. The author of a weblog is called a blogger and he is at once both reader and publisher. He is reader of things that are published on the net, from which he then chooses, collects and comments as the editor of his blog.
All sorts of blog are available: many go too far in spontaneity and freedom of expression, while others offer good information and interesting points for reflection.
A blog has three main functions: concretize an espressive desire, create a sense of community, be always present on the net.
There has been interest among all categories of Internet users. Librarians and operators of the sector have not been excluded. In Italy the few experiences present were born in 2003: some blogs have been created on the initiative of an individual or a group of librarians, while others were born as an added value with respect to the normal services offered by libraries.
A weblog is a flexible instrument that can be adapted to various requirements. It can go from being an marketing tool for libraries to a means of formation and update for librarians.