Curating Content with Tumblr

This Prezi was curated by Buffy Hamilton on Scoop.it
It highlights how libraries can take advantage of Tumblr to increase their public library profile and connect with patrons. Many great ideas here.

Everyday I'm Tumblin': Strengthening Your Library's Community Through Tumblr on Prezi

More on Tumblr

I have been experimenting with Tumblr and am finding it quite easy to use. It's a much shorter form of blogging and has more of a community aspect to it like Twitter. It's also like a Ning in the way that Tumblr blogs are connected so that all users can also learn while they are sharing.


Wikipedia’s description of a tumblelog:

A tumblelog (or tlog) is a variation of a blog that favors short-form, mixed-media posts over the longer editorial posts frequently associated with blogging. Common post formats found on tumblelogs include links, photos, quotes, dialogues, and video. Unlike blogs, tumblelogs are frequently used to share the author’s creations, discoveries, or experiences while providing little or no commentary.

A Nice Bridge between Facebook and Twitter

Today's New York Times article "Media Companies Try Getting Social with Tumblr" explains how media outlets such as The New Yorker and the Huffington Post are using the Tumblr blogging service to push out content simply and effectively in ways that complement their Facebook and Twitter sites. If you examine these sites, they are almost like "trailers" to the larger content provided on the main website.

Why would they bother using a third type of social media? Folks are already following them on Facebook and Twitter.

For one thing, they can integrate their Facebook with Tumblr, offering their Tumblr blog readers the opportunity to post comments directly onto their Facebook site. This cross-fertilization can bring more readers on board. "Notes" are also added which reveal who liked the posts and who "re-blogged" them. Readers may be able to find those with similar interests more easily.

Comic by rivv

Secondly, they are not limited to such short posts, they can add video, bigger and better pictures!, and more enticing snippets connected to their longer stories from their main websites. Tumblr makes it really easy to share not only text, but also photos, quotes, links, dialogues, audio, video, and slideshows.  

Tumblr themes are available in 5 languages: English, German, Japanese, French, and Italian with the promise of more in the future. No Spanish?  No Chinese? I think this blogging platform would be great for our world language teachers.

Mobile apps are proliferating, but right now they are mostly for Apple products and Blackberry. I did not find Droid apps on their site.

I really like the look and feel of Tumblr.  Could it be that I'm getting bored with Blogger? Any support out there for switching our New Trier Library blog to Tumblr?