Blogging can be an excellent way for someone to express their feelings, emotions, ideas, stories, and anything their heart’s desire, just as long as they don’t mind others reading about it and commenting. When I was a little girl, I kept a diary or a journal when I got to the age when “diary” seemed juvenile. These diaries always started out with good intention. I had so much bottled up inside my brain and heart that needed to be released or I would explode. I had friends I could talk to, but I went through a stage in my life when talking became difficult. I let myself close up and I hid behind the facade of being painfully shy and introverted. I would come home from school and write about my day. I would write about what I should have said in certain situations or what I should have done or not done. When I think back to those diaries, I would not have wanted anyone to read my words because back then their opinions and judgments meant everything to me. I let the world around me and the emotions of everyone else invade me, but I rarely gave any emotions back. I think if I would have voiced some of my thoughts or fears I would have seen that many people were going through the same things I was going through. Maybe their lives were extremely different from mine, but maybe they had some insight that would have made my younger years a little easier. Who knows what would have happened. I guess that’s where the phrase “hindsight is 20/20” comes from. Well maybe not, because when we look back and reflect on past experiences, we have a bit more clarity, but it is still our own memory and memories can be distorted.
I think writing has always been a part of me. When I cannot get the words to utter, I always can get the pen to write or the fingers to type. That is why I think a personal blog can be a powerful tool, as long as the nastiness of the world does not creep into the comments. When someone is bearing their soul on the computer, is that open to criticism? Just because someone writes something in print, does that give someone else the right to analyze what they say and make judgments? I haven’t come to an answer to that question yet. We tell our students to be careful what they say on the Internet because once something is sent, there is no getting it back. That goes for the people who feel like they need to criticize as well. Sometimes people make the wrong choice and what gets said shouldn’t have been said, but what can you do? My conclusions on this matter are this: Write, write write and never stop writing.
It’s taken me many years to come to the conclusion that what others have to say should be no bearing on my own self-worth. I should be allowed to express myself in the way I want and if others want to judge me, then so be it. But those of you starting a personal blog for the first time should be wary that sometimes people are nasty. That is their fault, not yours. Block them, don’t give them a moments worry, and continue with your lives.
Blogs can have many other functions other than for personal use. Schools and libraries can use blogs to keep parents and the public up to date and aware of what’s going on. Having a classroom blog and be an excellent way of integrating technology into instruction. It creates a shared experience for students and a way for them to see other student’s work and ideas. It also can help to motivate students who otherwise would blend into the scenery. Like me (read above), I was shy, but I could write. Blogs give Intensive reading students a purpose for reading and writing.
A library blog can be an informative tool about library functions. It can help bring patrons into the library by enticing them with what’s new and going on. It can inform people about new technology and when trainings will be held to learn how to use it. A library blog can allow users to search the library catalog and find information as well as an access point for online Encyclopedias. It can bring people together.
