Blog Directory at PSU

Earlier this week we opened up a new feature of the Blogs at Penn State Community, the blogs directory. You can add a blog to the directory by filling out a short form that contains the blog's title, url, and author's name. You can add tags when filling out the form. These tags can allow blogs to be grouped based on organization, topics, projects, or whatever else may be useful. For example, the "ITS" tag is being used to create a directory of bloggers from Information Technology Services.

This is really just the first iteration of something that has the potential to grow as time goes on.

Does it make sense to force a user to manually submit their blog to a directory? What if we automatically generated a directory that contained every blog from blogs.psu.edu? I think there is some merit to auto-generating a list. It would come in handy if you were looking for a blog from a specific person. At the same time, I think the opt-in directory allows people more control over their digital identity. They can only include the blog(s) they wish to be included. They can add tags to group their blogs with others. I also have noticed at least one psu blogger using a solution other than blogs.psu.edu. I think it is a bonus for his blog to be included in the directory.

Perhaps ideally we would want to create a blog directory that integrates both approaches.

What do you think about any of these blog directory approach? Am I completely daft?