Blog layout changes

Rebecca and I are email discussing layout and format changes to Library Cloud (we really should do IM). There are currently some things we do not really care about any more, specifically the LibraryThing and Technorati search boxes, and other elements we would like to make better use of, like the new Blogger labels. According to Blogger, switching to the "new" Blogger template will afford us "drop and drag" options on the sidebar. Bear with us as we organize to our hearts content. After all, we are librarians!

Update: later that same afternoon ...

The template changeover is complete, but I still need to get our blog log back into the header where it belongs. This may be a good opportunity to clean up the logo a bit because I have since learned a bit more about working with Macromedia Fireworks. Now the sidebar orginization will commence. Wonder if we can make the cloud bigger and switch out the LibraryThing sidebar widget to display titles more attractively.

Cranky update: even later ....

All of the changes we envisioned have taken place with the single, and obvious, exception of the library cloud logo. I have cleaned the png and exported it as a jpeg. Unfortunately the same great template that affords ease of drop and drag also changes the look of the html and css template elements. I'm searching to see where to drop in the logo in the existing "new" html. Any tips and/or advice is welcome.



Update: 2/22/07

Not to be thwarted by the new blogger template, I determined the easiest way to put the logo back where it belonged would take two steps; inserting the newer jpeg logo into the blog so there would be a reference point and editing the css/xhtml within the template. Editing the template in Dreamweaver first and then editing the actual blooger template was relatively painless. Adjusting the logo jpeg was not as sizing issues caused it to become fuzzy. The current logo, properly placed and sized, is the old logo. Imperfect, but in place.

Tags: Blog labels, Blogger beta, Blog layout

Confessions of a post label convert

I had no blogging plans today. I normally do not have that much to say. But I spent some time doing backup on the IRC blog, posted a DVD, and noticed the labels ...

Used mostly as an informational tool for collection development purchases, the IRC blog replaced not only my IRC "what's new" web page, but also numerous email notifications to faculty regarding said purchases (specific requests still get email). Furthermore, it saves me countless hours by not having to compile and post end of term book lists. But I digress. This morning I added a DVD, used the labels for this post option, and checked out the blog. Pleased, I went back and added labels to the most recent 50 posts. I viewed my efforts, clicked on the post links, and am now quite enamored with the post labels. My organizational librarian soul is hooked.

Why use these labels instead of Technorati or other tags? Because the IRC blog is basically an in-house tool, I do not particularly care if anyone outside of the AU community views it and nixed that tag option. I am not trying to increase readership from the blogosphere as it is not that kind of blog. If they find it (and people have done so), great. What I am interested in is making the blog more effective for my users/patrons. Since the post labels link within the blog, any post tagged "juvenile books" will link to all subsequent posts tagged the same. Each item within an individual post is displayed with its call number and linked to the catalog. The blog sidebar has a catalog search widget to facilitate locating other like titles or just searching from the blog. Now, the 50 most recent blog entries themselves are linked.

No, I'm not saying I will go back and tag all 370 posts remaining ...

(I just finished spell checking and it's pretty cool, highlighting the suspicious words and providing options on mouse-over.)

Tags: Blogger beta, New Blogger, Update blog templates

Looking good

The ACRLog has a new look for the New Near. Along with the new look are a few new features I particularly like are an events calendar for ACRL items and a link for story ideas, the ACRL Tip Page. It will be interesting to see how these changes help the blog to evolve. I'm not so sure I like the recent comments section, but as long as people take responsibility for what they are commenting it should be interesting. The ACRLog blog team is listening to its readers.

Today is day two of the "new" Blogger (it is not Blogger Beta any longer!) and I have yet to use many of the highly touted enhanced features. The drag and drop option template customization requires an upgrade to the existing template.

"We've introduced a new tool for customizing the appearance of your blog. Before you can use this tool, you'll need to upgrade your template. By upgrading, you will lose many of the changes you previously made to your template. However, we will save a copy of your current template so that you can access it later. " (How can I use new layout features, 1/3/07)

Yikes, lose changes made to the template? When the Blogger gods highlight this particular notification in red it gives me pause. I am curious to see how these features work, but plan to practice upgrading one of my lesser used blogs first. Plus, Library Cloud is a team blog and template changes will not be made until Rebecca and I have a chance to make that particular
determination.

In addition to the post label options discovered yesterday, among the several changes I noticed are the dashboard layout, photo upload, and ease of publishing. As of now, I am not overly thrilled with the new Blogger dashboard. It is nice to be able to choose post, setting, and view blog from the initial screen, but it is a bit cumbersome. Something interesting I noticed when adding my dashboard screen shot to this post is the new terms of service option you must agree to before blogger will upload any photo. One more thing on the definite plus side is how much quicker publishing is with new Blogger.

Tags: ACRLog, Blogger beta, New Blogger, Update blog templates