Looking back on the Library's Blog

The new year prompts us to look forward and make plans for making the next year better than the one before. It is a good time to look back to see where we have been. To stop, rest, and assess. This blog is no different. What have we learned? What should we do differently? What should we do more of? How should we spend our time and energy?

According to Blogger Stats, these are our top ten most popular posts (based on the number of page loads) of all time:

Rank. Title - Post Date (Page loads)
1. E-Reference Works – 9/21/10 (589)
2. The Role of Regalia – 5/7/12 (274)
3. Are you curious? – 11/28/11 (269)
4. Library Lockdown (This was not a drill) – 12/13/12 (234)
5. WMS is Alive! – 6/20/11 (190)
6. Presidents Day Hours – 2/17/11 (181)
7. What are you reading, Frank Scotti? – 12/1/2010 (149)
8. Preserving our Heritage with Disruptive Technology - 6/11/2012 (149)
9. Mobile Device User Group Event – 4/18/2012 (143)
10. What are you reading, Dr. Edgington? – 8/29/12 (136)

Half were posted in 2012 and have been not been available for viewing as long as the others. Five are "Monday Musings" and two are from our "What are you reading?" series.

Comparing this list with last year's, fewer "What are you reading?" posts made the top ten. That's probably because we posted only nine in 2012 compared to thirty-one in 2011. (We need to hear from you!)

There are four posts that persist in the top ten for a second year. Two of them surprise me. E-Reference Works remains at number one having nearly twice as many page loads as the second most popular post and Presidents Day Hours for February 2011 rose from 9th to 6th place!

Many page loads are the result of image searches. A picture of some of our faculty in their doctoral regalia (including Dr. Wilgus in a kilt) is on our second most popular post, The Role of Regalia, May 7, 2012.

Nevertheless, aside from any accident of search algorithm, I would like to think that the content of our messages are of worth to our readers. Our main purposes for this News and Events blog is to support information competency and help build community. The most read posts are consistently the What are you reading? (which I believe contributes to the community) and the Monday Musings through which I hope to provoke thought about information and society.

As long as we deem our goals to be worthwhile, we will find ways to accomplish them. Stay tuned!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Robin Hartman is Director of Library Services at Hope International University. She is curious about how the organization and communication of information shapes society and is committed to equipping students to impact the world for Christ.