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May 19, 2008
Library journals, blogs, and professional credibility
Marcus (of Marcus's World) and Michael Stephens wrote about the interesting intersection of library journals and blogs, debating (as I have before) about why one would publish in one rather than the other. While most bloggers I know also write for print and digital journals, those in university libraries often do have to choose journal publication for the need to do so for tenure. But why don't thoughtful, document-supported blog posts count toward their professional publishing docket? Tell me what you think.
May 19, 2008 | Permalink
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Comments
I think Paul's comment hit it squarely: inertia. There is a vast and established medium for professional recognition within academia already, and while I agree it needs to update itself - Paul is right to say "embrace the tools" - there's a time investment that's needed (there's also the marketing angle - we must demonstrate that professional blogs can be professional, over and over, until it sticks).
Posted by: Chris Clouser | May29, 2008
Well said, Paul.
Posted by: Sarah Houghton-Jan (LiB) | May20, 2008
Just as academia was a bit slow in coming to acknowledge the importance and legitimacy of publication in electronic as well as print journals, it may also be a bit slow in recognizing and accepting the importance and legitimacy of using blogs (and perhaps, webcasts, podcasts, and other formats?) as a way of encouraging productive discourse among colleagues. The key, I would propose, is to openly embrace the unique opportunities each format offers (and I'm as guilty of being a sluggard on this as anyone I know). If we experiment with and employ all the tools available to us rather than falling into the trap of sticking solely to what is well established and familiar--or, at the other extreme, only riding the wave of the latest hot form of communication--we might survive the inevitable crashes of those formats which do not last and be part of spreading the effectiveness of those which do.
Posted by: Paul Signorelli | May20, 2008
