Mission
The mission of the of the National Networks of Libraries of Medicine Greater Midwest Region (NN/LM-GMR) is to improve access to health information for health professionals, librarians and members of the public in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Goals and Plans
The goal of the GMR blog is to provide GMR members with timely and useful information about the National Library of Medicine’s resources and programs and news from and about the Greater Midwest Region.

The GMR blog will evolve as a significant tool in the GMR’s armamentarium of communication tools. Items currently posted to the GMRLIST may be better suited to blogging and will be posted whole or in part on the GMR blog.

Policies and Procedures

1. Blog Managers
The GMR blog The Cornflower will be managed by the blog editor and the GMR administrators and coordinators. The GMR technology coordinator will provide technical assistance as needed.

2. Bloggers
Bloggers must be network members or staff of the GMR, or invited guests such as other members of the NN/LM. GMR network members may post to the blog with GMR blog manager approval.

Award and subcontract recipients are encouraged to share their reports via the GMR blog, and submissions will be edited and approved as necessary for publication.

3. Acceptable Use
The blog is a GMR-sponsored tool for use within the Greater Midwest Region and for outreach beyond the GMR. Bloggers are strongly encouraged to check facts, cite sources, present balanced views, acknowledge and correct errors, and check spelling and grammar before submitting a post.

Bloggers are encouraged to put a “best foot forward” on GMR activities. The GMR reserves the right not to publish any blog post and/or to remove it at a future time.

Blogging of original material is encouraged although reposting of relevant material with proper citation is acceptable. Blog posts should not repeat announcements distributed to discussion lists read by GMR members.

4. Feedback and Comments
The GMR blog feedback comment system will be open when deemed appropriate by GMR blog managers. Comments will be open only to GMR network members. Comments should be relevant to the specific post to which they are attached. Spam, flaming, personal attacks, and off-topic comments are not permitted. The GMR reserves the right to edit and/or delete comments not in keeping with these guidelines.

Blog managers will establish procedures for managing and moderating comments.

5. Pages
Frequently asked questions (FAQs), informational pages, blog policies, etc. will be placed on blog pages.

6. Blogroll/links
Links to the GMR and to other NN/LM websites and resources will be provided. Other links to notable websites or blogs may be added to Links or Blogroll sections if the GMR staff consensus is that they would be useful to readers.

Information posted on the blog is in the public domain; however when republishing GMR blog material, proper citation is expected.

7. Blog Categories
The GMR blog editor in conjunction with the blog managers will create and manage blog categories in keeping with the blog’s goals and mission.

8. Branding and Marketing
The GMR blog will be identified as a publication of the GMR. The name chosen for the blog for the 2006-2011 NLM contract is The Cornflower: The Blog of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine-Greater Midwest Region, or simply, The Cornflower. The blog managers select the name of the blog.

Links to the GMR and contact information will be clearly identified on the blog. A link to the GMR blog will be prominently placed on the GMR web site and relevant pages for access and marketing purposes.

GMR coordinators will market the blog and provide members with training in its use as needed.

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Notes: These policies and procedures were adapted from that of the Western Kentucky University Libraries Policies, Guidelines and Procedures, November 1, 2005, http://blog.wku.edu/library/?page_id=136; and the Library and Information Technology Association LITA Blog, http://litablog.org/lita-blog-policies-and-procedures, accessed May 8, 2006.

Updated: 08 July 2008