Speaking of Blogs...

Last week I tuned into an NPR program on my car radio about, of all things, blogs & blogging, and I thought it would be interesting to bring it to your attention on our blog. Americans have always been concerned about their privacy and take great offense whenever they feel their privacy has been invaded. Likewise, the library community is often concerned for the confidentiality of the users of library materials and the rights of the public to retrieve and use informational & recreational items from libraries unmolested.

Funny thing is, we seem to be our own worst enemies when it comes to keeping our private thoughts, feelings and activities actually private. Instead we seem to relish flaunting our most intimate ideas, emotions and everyday life through e-mail, chatting and blogging, or as On Point host Tom Ashbrook aptly put it, "dancing naked on the Internet," both figuratively, and sometimes literally.The program I listened to was called The End of the Private Life and featured 4 guests with different perspectives on the uses of electronic communication in modern society. You can listen to this program online at the On Point homepage.

Meanwhile, you might want to check out one of the following items found in our library catalog:

No one cares what you had for lunch : 100 ideas for your blog / Margaret Mason

Secrets of podcasting : audio blogging for the masses / Bart G. Farkas

Sams teach yourself blogging in a snap / Julie C. Meloni

Blog! : how the newest media revolution is changing politics, business, and culture / David Kline and Dan Burnstein

Blog : understanding the information reformation that's changing your world / Hugh Hewitt

Diana LeBlanc, Reference