From non-existent to numero uno - the power of friends!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at 08:00AM 
When Teacher Certification Degrees listed its Top 50 School Library Blogs yesterday, the Blue Skunk did not make the cut*. But overnight, thanks to a little e-mailing by my friend Sara Kelly Johns, the BS blog (funny how the initials are so fitting), is now first.
The blogs are chosen by:
Our list of top school library blogs is based on website popularity and social media engagement as measured by the number of sites linking to the blog, Google Page Rank, Moz’s Page Authority, MozRank, and number of Twitter followers. Each metric is given a weight in our ranking formula to determine the order. If you notice missing or incorrect data you can contact us and we will update the list.
and the site invites readers to recommend school library blogs to add to this list.
At the risk of sounding horrendously ungrateful, I continue to be bothered by such rankings, lists, and awards. Selection and ranking criteria equate popularity and quality - a dangerous equation. While there is a place for a book being number one on the NYT Best Seller list and for being a Pulitzer Prize winner, the two designations should never be confused.
I know the argument for such lists is that they are a guide to newbies to either the profession or to personal learning networks. And perhaps that in some way justifies such compilations. Bus as I wrote back in 2008 in On ranking, awards and other nonsense:
Do we actually want competitive blogging? How many of [Alfie] Kohn's negative behaviors [described in Punished by Rewards] may well be (or are now) demonstrated among the edublogosphere because of rankings and awards? Don't bloggers mostly write for their own intrinsic reasons - to clarify their own thinking, to record their daily observations, to reflect willfully, to share selflessly, to converse constructively with those of both like and unlike minds?
I suppose pissing contests are just human nature. But comparing the size (popularity) of mine to the size (popularity) of yours seems the antithesis of the "I'll share mine if you share yours" world of personal learning networks.
In a season that celebrates gratitude, this post is probably out of place. But I will say that I am totally grateful:
- For friends like Sara
- For other library and technology bloggers who inspire me everyday
- For readers who comment and argue and make me think
- For a society that values the freedom of expression
Let's just figure out a more reliable way to evaluate educational blogs than rankings. Oh, how accurate can any list of library blogs be that doesn't include Joyce Valenza's Never Ending Search? [An oversight since corrected.]
Enjoy your turkey!
* The Blue Skunk is listed as one of the Top 50 School Technology Blogs. I've always said that "I swing both ways - libraries and technology." As Woody Allen once said “Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.” So my chance of being on a "best of list" doubles as well?
Reader Comments (4)
LOL as you sport your Teach100 Blog ranking badge, which, ahem, is a higher number than the top 100....(as is mine!!)
I agree but I also LIKE very much to see lists like this, to compare notes, to add to my reader, to expose me to different thinking. I have to confess there are a few on this list that I absolutely find IRRELEVANT to my interests. I was also offended when I realized Joyce Valenza was not listed. WHAT!!?? She has been the epitome for what a school librarian blogs about, including what's new, what's bothering us, best practice, and challenging us to think outside the box. And hey, WHY bring-in the Twitter component? Did the microblogging platform Twitter impact these results? I really don't want to know. So yes, I will use lists like this to explore new or previously unknown voices, but again, i remind myself to take it with a grain of salt. Same with the current Edublog nominations. I'm participating just because I enjoy discovering what other like in the edu-blogosphere. This, other lists, and blog rolls are the absolute best source for discovering your own PLN, new voices, thoughts that challenge your own (always good to have in there), and an echochamber.
We have updated the list several times today based on feedback we have received including adding Never Ending Search. Please contact us if you have a suggestion on how the list can be improved (info@teachercertificationdegrees.com ). Thanks!
No question from me that you deserve this honor - keep up the good work!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Cathy Jo,
Oh, I am not unaware of the conflict (hypocrisy?) of bashing best of list, yet putting icons about them on my blog. I guess all I can say is that I recognize that I have to play in the world that I live, even when I don't always like the rules. A character flaw, I suppose.
The site was very good about adding Joyce's blog to its list. Not sure why Twitter figures in. I am amazed by how many followers some folks have - and how many people seem to do nothing BUT post to Twitter!
Have a great Thanksgiving and thanks for the comment,
Doug
Thanks, Charles. I notices that Joyce's blog now appears.
I corrected your email address.
Have a good Thanksgiving,
Doug