I received 116 responses to the open ended question “why do you blog?” Instead of presenting every answer to you, I went through and categorized them by the different goals one would have for blogging. Many of the answers fit into more than one category. Here are the reasons why we blog:
To share ideas with other/to communicate with colleagues, friends, family: 47 (40.5%)
To record ideas for self/to keep current: 28 (24.1%)
To network/to build community: 22 (19%)
To market library to patrons or clients/to reach out to patrons or clients: 15 (12.9%)
To write/to build up one’s writing skills: 14 (12%)
To process ideas/to clarify one’s thinking on certain issues: 14 (12%)
To contribute to the profession/out of a sense of duty to the profession: 11 (9.5%)
No one else was writing about a specific topic/to represent the underrepresented: 8 (6.9%)
To vent/to get ideas and opinions out: 7 (6%)
For fun: 7 (6%)
To market self/self-promotion: 5 (4.3%)
Perhaps when I have some free time (as unlikely as that is), I’ll share some of the more interesting and eloquent responses.
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Thank you, Meredith. I’d say “yes” to all of those reasons, especially fun. I hope bloggers are having more fun than they admit.
Great job Meredith. This survey provides a definite service to the community and provides a nice baseline of data. And “Rock on Midwest!”
Good stuff!!! Thanks for posting…
Now, I can’t be the only one who gave peer pressure as a reason! (I think I actually said something to the effect of being taunted into blogging by Steven C. and Jenny L.)
Actually, you were the only one, Brian. 🙂 Well… one other person mentioned that a colleague had suggested he write a blog, but it sounded more like a suggestion than peer pressure.
I really can’t picture Jenny taunting anyone, but Steven? … definitely. 😉
Nicely done. It contains important information. Please include the comments when you can.
Very interesting indeed – thanks for doing this. I shall come back and read in more detail.
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