ALAO Blog
Overview

Mission Statement

The mission of the ALAO Blog is to enhance the members learning experience through the publication of statewide, regional, and local library initiatives and Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) events.

ALAO Blog Goals

• Promote the initiatives of the Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO).
• Get academic librarians excited about blogging.
• Help stay on top of technology trends in academic libraries.
• Promote professional development of academic librarians.
• Provide an RSS Feed for ALAO press releases and other information announcements through the blog.

ALAO Blog Staff

• Frank J. Bove: ALAO Co-Web Master & Blog Managing Editor.
• Karen Plummer: ALAO Co-Web Master & Blog Co-manager.
• Rob Withers: ALAO PR Coordinator & Blog Co-manager.

ALAO Blog Comment Guidelines

The ALAO Blog, along with disseminating information, should also provide a communicative and collaborative environment for its readers that, at the same time, protects every reader’s freedom of speech. For this reason, each post will include a comment feature to allow readers to comment on what they read.

Acceptable comments include:

• Feedback on the content of a specific post (and not a specific individual, implied or otherwise).
• Links and comments related to the content of the post.

Comments that justify deletion include:

• Spam.
• Commentary that is in no way related to the specific post.
• Commentary that may constitute libel and slander (according to ALA definitions).

Policies and Procedures

Posted February 21st, 2006

1. Blog managers

A volunteer steering committee composed of ALAO members and/or staff will be responsible for overall blog administration.

2. Bloggers

Bloggers must be members or staff of ALAO, or invited guests such as speakers at ALAO conferences or workshops. Each Interest Group and Committee chair will be invited (but not required) to appoint a blogger. Categories will be created for each interested IG/Committee. Other blog categories may be established by the steering committee/blog managers as needed.

The blog may have ongoing bloggers, as well as bloggers who are provided access to the blog for specific conferences or events.

3. Acceptable Use

The blog is an ALAO-sponsored tool for use within ALAO and for outreach beyond ALAO. Lively opinion and commentary are welcome in blog posts. However, it is expected that blog postings will be professional and reflect well on ALAO. Bloggers are strongly encouraged to check facts, cite sources, present balanced views, acknowledge and correct errors, and check spelling and grammar before making a post live.

Ad hominem attacks are not allowed, and bloggers are encouraged to put a best foot forward on ALAO activities. All ALAO bloggers acknowledge receipt on registration of ALAO blog acceptable use and copyright guidelines. ALAO reserves the right not to post any blog post or to later remove it.

Links to related posts are encouraged, but bloggers should post original content rather than reposting entire items from other blogs or lists. Blog posts should not repeat announcements distributed to discussion lists read by ALAO members.

4. Comments

Comments are open to all but may be moderated by the blog steering committee. Commentary, opinion, and reaction to posts are welcome. Comments should be relevant to the specific post they are attached to. Spam, flaming, personal attacks, and off-topic comments are not permitted.
ALAO reserves the right to remove any comment.

5. Pages

Frequently requested information, informational pages, etc. will be placed on blog pages.

6. Blogroll/links

Links to ALAO and other relevant web sites and blogs will be provided. Other links to notable websites or blogs may be added to Links or Blogroll sections if the consensus is that they would be useful to readers.

7. Disclaimer

Inclusion of a posting in ALAO blog does not constitute official endorsement by ALAO, ACRL, OCA or ALA.