Guidelines for the development of a blog-based current awareness news service

Abstract

Blogging software has gained popularity as a vehicle to promote library resources, services and events, and as a distribution tool for current awareness services. The paper outlines the process that was undertaken to redevelop a Word based current awareness newsletter to two blog-based news services. Although the focus is on a health information news service, the key tasks undertaken: environment and user analysis, development of blog design and news content selection guidelines, news service accreditation, marketing initiatives, and site evaluation and improvement, can be adapted to guide the best practice development and management of any blog-based current awareness news service. © 2008 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.