Libraries can often take themselves too seriously and Glenn Harper (aka harps) at the Frankston Library Service (FLS) is helping to change that. Thinking globally on the web (via Blogger and Twitter) whilst acting locally via the FLS blog, Glenn has taken online library promotion and community engagement to places it may not have been before.

The Blogalogue is a free-wheeling, textually light hearted and often visually stimulating library blog. Fighting sterotypes and alienating more stuffy members of the profession, the Blogalogue serves as an image changing and web 2.0 learning vehicle. It is developed, published, edited, written and largely photographed by Glenn.

Some highlights of the Blogalogue’s online presence so far have included claiming TV’s The Librarians Middleton Interactive Learning Centre as an FLS branch, running an AFL football tipping competition involving both staff and community and claiming that libraries are a stimulus package. Along with What’s On information, the PDF publication of each month’s customer feedback has become a populare regular feature. Usually brief, the posts are punchy, fun and sometimes highly visual, with a considerable use of various web 2.0 technologies and services.

Glenn has demonstrated an impressive ability to shove over the out dated image of the conservative public library and make a new paradigm for online engagement. This work has been recognised via several opportunities to speak about his work as an online maverick at professional events, including at the ALIA ‘08 conference.

I humbly accept this reward on behalf of all those trying to drag libraries and librarians into the new century.