*UPDATE*
The Book Blog Guild is no longer operational.
So, I’ve been thinking for a while now about the book blog community. Book blogs are powerful tools. They promote literacy. They create buzz about books. They create a sense of community for what would otherwise be a very solitary past time. And yet, the very thing that gives book blogs their power (variety and mass) is the very thing that dilutes that power. It’s necessarily so. But, it seems like a book blog headquarters would be a useful way to consolidate and wield the power of book blogs.
Thus, I created the Book Blog Guild. It’s a website designed to bring book bloggers together to work on this community of ours. To support one another, to solve problems, to make our blogs better, and to provide a central forum for discussion. I invite you to head on over and check it out. If it looks like something you’d like to join, please tell others about it.
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I’m very intrigued — and I’ve gone and signed up. BUT I guess I still don’t understand what it’ll do. Time to wait and see.
I’ve signed up too! I’d love to join in all the discussion and organise a few events, but I’m not sure I can commit a massive amount of time to this every week.
What sort of commitment are you looking for from people who sign up?
What a cool idea! Thanks for setting all this up.
I like the centralization, but I’m wondering if things like events will merely be collections of things that already happen? Like carnivals, etc. Will the BBG simply be a place you can find out about that or will it be sponsoring its own? I don’t see a need for a new separate entity, but a place where you can find out about what’s already happening makes sense.
Well, I’ll try anything once =D Count me in!
Rebecca – Thanks for signing up. The goal is to have it be a central place for book bloggers to discuss issues, promote their blogs, and to find new blogs.
Jackie – The time commitment can be whatever you want it to be. After signing up, you have the option to doing nothing but checking in once in a while.
Nari – Thanks for signing up!
Amy – My intention is not to have it be duplicative. There will be some BBG events. For example, a carnival once a week, highlighting member’s best posts. However, I don’t think there is a need for, say, a second read-a-thon. Members will just be reminded that there is such a thing and directed to that blog.
Fern – So glad to have you!
I really like the idea of having a central place for book bloggers to find information, and you’ve done such a good job setting everything up! My only concern is that many of the things you described are already happening on the Book Blogs Ning, so I worry that having another site might create even more division. It always takes some time for these things to catch on. I remember that the same happened with the ning network.
Nymeth – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. As I mentioned above, I don’t want to be duplicative. However, I think BBG will be easier in a lot of ways than the ning network. First of all, I feel like having a ning “site” is duplicative, and I have to go to the trouble of logging in every time I want to see what is going on. The BBG will be a little simpler in that you can subscribe to it or just hit the site to see what’s going on. Also, members of the BBG will be members of committees that will be able to work together to solve problems and host events. I just wanted to try it and see how it goes.
Jessica, I have to agree about the Ning thing. I tried it once or twice, but I find it nearly impossible to read a thread of comments. A forum is so much easier to review.
I know the blogsphere has so many sites that organize blogs but this is probably one of the few that unifies book bloggers together as a strong community. I’ll hop over there and check it out. I’m very intrigued. Thanks Jessica for organizing this guild.
I’m new to blogging off my own website at usedbooks-online.com(where I have been blogging on and off for about 12 months) and have found it hard to find other book lovers until I landed here. I launched my first real blog on Mother’s Day. I tried BBNing couldn’t find anything there to judge it. I’m glad to find so many book lovers; I collect vintage and firsts actually. Will you have some articles on the classics etc? Will be back often. Ursula
I personally subscribe to the forums on the ning so I find it really easy. And our Blogging Tips Group is going full strength. I’m really curious to see how this works out. I’ll go over and sign up.
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