The manly art of local studies blogging: a new approach to old stories.

• Author: MacRitchie, John
• Position: Local studies librarians

Local studies librarians have been slow to embrace blogging. This paper describes the set up of a local studies blog, what sort of content to include, the benefits and drawbacks of blogging, and the unexpected delights. Examples from the Manly Library local studies blog and other good examples, are provided. If a local studies blog is being used, effectively the local studies collection is being used. Edited paper presented at the conference A sense of place: local studies in Australia and New Zealand Sydney 5-6 May 2011.

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Books used to be chained up. In Hereford Cathedral, you can still see its collection of chained books. The monks were not daft. They knew what could happen if you took your eyes off an obsessive researcher. Even after the development of open access browsing, many libraries still kept some material locked away--and for most public libraries, their rarest books tend to be those dealing with matters of local history. Local studies collections had, perhaps still have, the reputation of being fiercely guarded. Rightly so--we all know what the general public is capable of, and nothing guards precious things better than a proper fire breathing dragon.

Local studies librarianship may in the past have seemed like the public library's Cinderella service--boxes of old photos and a few shelves of books that you had to make an appointment to browse. But as new web 2.0 tools were developed, local studies librarians were quick to spot the possibilities. It was time to exploit the hidden treasures of our collections, and cast off our chains. And now we are able to create significant, even worldwide interest, in what for so long we have kept locked up in filing cabinets or display cases. We are so fortunate. In a review of Kate Theimer's recent excellent book Web 2.0 tools and strategies for archives and local history collections, (1) I commented 'A real air of excitement can be sensed in this area of the profession; Cinderella, it seems, is going to the ball'.

Why a blog?

Right now, one of the most effective tools at the disposal of the local studies librarian is a thriving weblog. A blog is a website easily updated with new messages. The messages can be as long or short as you like. They can be illustrated or not. They can include video and audio or not. A blog is usually written by one person, or it can be a collaborative effort, swirling around a central topic. You know this. You have all found yourselves using material found in the blogosphere.

What you have going for you

You are familiar with the past and how it looked. You have expert knowledge about your area, to a degree perhaps unequalled by anyone else. You are not afraid to try new media, whatever restrictions are imposed on you from elsewhere in your organisation. You have plenty of experience in crafting at times lengthy replies to enquirers, and you are well used to conveying at times lengthy information packed reports to all sorts of people. You are sensibly suspicious of management speak and jargon and techno-babble. You have a very good memory for photos. You like reading. And now you get the chance to use these attributes to make up a wonderful blog. You are so lucky. You get to do all this and into the bargain they pay you. And we all have this in common.

Why should I? you may ask. Well, at the very least, it should mean you spend an enjoyable hour once a week not cataloguing. You need to do this. It will result in better status for you and your organisation. It will unlock your collection and its treasures will be freely available for all. You will be paid more--possibly. You are employed by an organisation which pays you to make the library an important feature in the community. Now is your big chance.

The Manly blog

I maintain a blog for the local studies collection of Manly Library, which is on the northern beaches of Sydney. I make no great claims for it. It is not one of the library world's top blogs. You might almost say that it serves as an example of what can be achieved with minimal effort. But it has three things going for it--it is up and running; it is beginning to build up a substantial backfile; and it is beginning to be referenced by other web sources. People are finding all sorts of ways into it. Once they are in, they are spending time viewing it. Occasionally, not as often...