Home ›

Woodruff Library Blog Guidelines

Woodruff Library Blog guidelines

Blog location: http://web.library.emory.edu/blog

RSS feeds: http://web.library.emory.edu/blog/feed

Add a new blog entry:  http://web.library.emory.edu/node/add/blog

 

Blog Guidelines (updated 07/20/12)

What is new?

The new blog layout features the option for a large centered top photo or to embed a video clip. You can also include a few lines of text in your intro. This is what will appear in the digest version of the blog.

We also encourage the use of Related Links to help provide the user with additional information related to your post.  Include additional blog posts, a news article, a webpage, a libguide, a finding aid, link to Visitor information.  Be creative!

*We strongly recommend creating your first blog entry with the new layout on the test website available at https://testweb.library.emory.edu (contact stacey.martin[at]emory.edu if you have questions about access)

There are multiple ways you can access your new blog entry .

  1. Login to web.library.emory.edu
  2. From the black admin toolbar at the top of the page, select Content Management - Create Content – Blog Entry.
  3. From the homepage, scroll over Learn About Us in the Quicklinks menu and select Follow our Blog. 
  4. Choose the services tab, then choose Follow our Blog. If you are logged in correctly, you should have the option of clicking the link “Create new blog entry.”

Title:

  • This is the title of your entry and will also be the URL, so be brief!
  • It should be something that will draw in readers and think about keywords library customers may be looking for.  Putting the right keywords in our page titles increases our chances of being found in search engines.

Blog Terms:

  • Some libraries feed a portion of the Woodruff blog to their websites to filter out specific entries. For example, if MARBL is chosen here, your entry will appear in the blog section of the MARBL website.  DiSC/Digital Scholarship Commons works the same way.  
  • Also, Blog posts are published on the Emory University website
  • Choose a blog term that corresponds with your department or your entry.

Tags:

  • List tags which describe the content you are posting. Ex. exhibit, African American collection, discoverE, etc.
  • Separate each tag by a comma
  • Tags are case sensitive. Be consistent. Exhibits is not the same as exhibits when it comes to tagging.  Please be consistent.

Embed Video/Insert Photo

  • Next, you will either embed a video or insert a photo into the space available at the top of the blog.
  • If you would like to embed a video, follow the Embed Video instructions. If you are inserting a photo, skip to Insert Photo.

Embed Video:

  • To embed a video from YouTube, go to the video in YouTube, choose share under the video then click embed. A drop-down will appear with an <iframe> code. Copy this code into notepad and select only the html URL. Paste this URL into the space in the blog entry marked “YouTube URL.” Enter a title in the space for YouTube title and leave the rest as is.
  • Tip: If you are having issues, make sure “Use Old Embed Code” is not checked in the embed drop-down menu in YouTube.
  • Next, you’ll want to remove the blog image placeholder from the Blog Body. The YouTube video will take its place. Now skip down to entering blog text into blog body.

Insert Photo:

  • You can insert a photo of any size that is within 450px X 213px, however that size is optimal. Once you have your photo chosen, click on the blog photo placeholder and choose the insert/edit image button on the toolbar (the tree). You will be replacing the image. 
  • When the insert/edit image box pops up, choose the browse button on the right-hand side. An upload dialog box will appear. Browse for your image, and click upload. 
  • Once the image is uploaded, click insert file. This dialog box will close. Write an image description in the space provided in the insert/edit image dialog box. Then click update. Your photo will replace the blog photo placeholder.

Entering text:

  • All text should be copy and pasted from notepad, or by using the paste from word button in the toolbar.
  • You can enter a few lines of text below the picture and  the horizontal bar if you would like that to appear in the digested version of the blog. A teaser break has been inserted for you.  If you do not want a teaser, DELETE the teaser break.
  • The main text entry should be entered into the space under the horizontal bar and under the Teaser Break bar.
  • For help with adding images and anchors to your text, please visit the EUL Webs Manual (available online to Emory Library authenticated users only).
  • DO NOT delete the horizontal bar or the Share button.

Related LInks

  • In the Related Box on the right, everything is changeable. You can change the “related story” and “related links” text. The links themselves are changeable through the “link” button in the toolbar. You can add or delete as necessary. This box is a space to include places for patrons to go next. What else on our website relates to the blog? What else might they be interested in? Examples: Visitor info, finding aids, news releases, etc.
  • The Facebook and twitter buttons are also just buttons as links. You can change the link according to which Facebook page you would like your readers to go.The same goes for twitter. Instead of having comments in the blog, we’re funneling people to continue the conversation in Facebook, a place they would be going to anyway.  If you don't put a link in, it is just a picture and doesn't go anywhere. You have to add in the link manually. (Emory Libraries Facebook page link is: http://www.facebook.com/EmoryLibraries and Emory Libraries twitter page link is: http://twitter.com/emorylibraries)

Authored by:

  • In this section, put the name, title, picture, email address, etc. of the blog author.
  • Don’t make any changes to any other sections, and don’t put anything in the Blog Body.

Preview:

  • Click preview to see what your blog will look like posted, and test any links/video. When you feel satisfied with your blog entry, click the arrow next to publishing options, choose “published” from the drop-down menu and then click Save. 

General blog entry tips:

  • Feel free to continue to include more images and links in the blog text if you would like to add more.
  • Blogs can be on any topic and do not have to be a specified length.
  • You can create a blog column that has a recurring theme and author, just make sure to tag these posts consistently.

 

 

 

Additional Working Guidelines: 

Copyright / IP

Contributors shall not upload, post, or otherwise make available on the blog any content protected by copyright, trademark, or other proprietary right without abiding by the doctrine of fair use, or without the express permission of the owner of the copyright, trademark or other proprietary right. If you have any questions, please consult the Intellectual Property Rights office.

Regularity

Regularity in posting leads to a stronger returning readership. It's important to establish a frequent line of posting so that readers anticipate new information and come back often. If unsubscribed readers return to the blog several days in a row with no new posts, they may become frustrated and lose interest in the blog. Ideally, there should be several posts a week to the blog as a whole, but individual authors don’t have to submit multiple posts each week. (Unless you want to!)

Length

Posts should be concise without sacrificing clarity of the information provided. Consider using images, particularly in longer posts. Longer posts should summarize their topics in a paragraph or two, with more detail (if needed) provided below the fold (“read more…”). When including URLs, embed them within text or images to take up less room. If you need help with this, contact LIBBLOG at LISTSERV dot CC dot EMORY dot EDU.

Use of Linking / Manner of Linking

Linking to external resources should be done as appropriate, e.g., when referring to external resources from within your blog entry and when it seems the reader would be interested in quickly navigating out to the primary source. Links will open in a new window.

Categories and Tags

The blog supports a number of categories and contributors should assign at least one category to each post. RSS feeds are available for each category as well as the blog as a whole. You can access the RSS feed for a category or tag by clicking it. That particular RSS subscription icon will appear at the bottom of results page.

Content and Tone Framework – Woodruff Library Blog

Blog posts are meant to vary in both content and tone in order to showcase the diversity of perspectives, expertise, activities, and resources of the Woodruff Library. We have profiled several approaches to posting below in order to guide new blog posters in how they might contribute according to their interests and comfort:

• The Column: A strong persona posts regularly with a highly individualized voice. In the course of their narrative, they highlight resources, acquisitions, or programming of the Woodruff Library while offering a personal, engaging profile of themselves. From this type of post, users are pulled into the fabric of the library culture and can begin to identify with the staff and activities of the library in a personal way. Interaction may occur, depending on the language used by the contributor.

• The Brief: Posts are brief, timely, and news-based. The contributor does not need to take on a personality-based persona. From this type of post, users get important updates with immediacy. Interaction is less likely.

• Resource Profiles: Posts are focused to promote library resources. An individual post might introduce a new library resource, reintroduce an existing resource, give tips and tricks on how to best use a resource, or just plain highlight a resource. From this type of post, users are alerted to useful resources they have available to them without searching for them, increasing discovery. Interaction is unlikely unless questions arise

• Staff Picks: Related to the resource profile, this post might be a review or recommendation of a resource or event from the point of view of the blog contributor. The contributor might show personality or might cultivate an objective stance. Interaction may occur, depending on the tone and language used by the contributor.

• Event and Exhibition profiles: Could include announcements and promotions of upcoming events and exhibits. Content from the homepage could be reused.

• Multimedia: Podcasting, audio recordings, video tutorials, or visual displays of information. Tone and interaction will vary based on the topic and approach taken.

• Others: Please contribute in a way that fits you! Talk to a member of the blog team for suggestions or if you would like coaching.

Use of Images

• Images should relate directly to the content. Be creative: create original graphics if you can. If a graphic is borrowed, get permission if necessary and give credit.

• Animation should be used sparingly. Avoid animated GIFs.

• Provide a descriptive title for images to assist non-graphic browsers or users of graphic browsers who tend to turn graphics off. To add a descriptive or “alternative” title, click on the Insert/Edit Image icon in the rich text editor and/or edit the html code (“alt” property).

Embedded Video and Audio

Must be used with discretion. Background sound files that play while a file is downloading could be a nuisance. Video files may take a long time to download, depending on the format. If you need information on compressing large digital video files into common web video formats like flash (youtube), ask LIBBLOG at LISTSERV dot CC dot EMORY dot EDU.

Best Practices

• Determine in advance what sort of content you might contribute to the blog and how much time you have. For successful, time-sensitive blogging, consider using found content (ready-made data from library email lists, Web news, etc.) rather than drafting original content. Be sure to cite your source, e.g., “from (such and such a source)….” See the content and tone framework for possible types of posts.

• Be yourself. Don't feel you need to write in a way that is uncomfortable for you. Our aim is to share the breadth of expertise (and personality!) of the Woodruff Library staff.

• Keep the users in mind. This is a user-focused blog, where we want to emphasize content that will help, inform, guide, or amuse our users. Our primary audience is not other library specialists.

• Promote the blog! We shouldn't rely on just being found. Talk up your own work and drive traffic to the blog. If there is a post that might interest someone you know, forward it.

• Headlines matter. Try to be engaging and specific. Need ideas? Check out Copyblogger.

These guidelines are adapted from the Sheridan Libraries Blog at Johns Hopkins University

 


Site design by: Sharpdot