“What the blog are you blogging about, Sonic the Hedge-blog?”

“Weblogs” have infiltrated our generation, from the above mentioned Saturday Night Live skit to classes being offered at local libraries.

Blogs, the shorthand term, are a “kind of serial publication distributed over and accessed through the World Wide Web,” said David Gunkel, associate professor of communication.

Sabryna Cornish, assistant professor of communication, said blogs began as personal online journals. But once traditional media embraced the concept, they expanded to become a major tool for media outlets and those who wanted their opinions read.

Cornish said blogs are “a place where news and thoughts collide.”

At 7 p.m. today, the Sycamore Public Library (SPL), 103 E. State St., will offer a “Blogging 101” class. The library encourages people who have wondered what a blog is and might be interested in starting one of their own to attend.

“We hope to give participants the essential information necessary to create their own blogs and also to introduce them to a variety of blogs that we have found newsworthy or enjoyable,” said Amy Gutierrez, head of technical services at the SPL and one of the instructors for tonight’s class.

The class will include “everything necessary to launch a blog,” along with “insider tips” for saving time in maintaining and upgrading blogs, Gutierrez said.

The idea for the blogging class came about by the library’s head of adult services, Larry Zevnik .

“Libraries always offer the same boring computer classes,” Zevnik said. “We wanted to be a little different, more creative.”

Gutierrez was chosen as an instructor because of her experience in creating an internal staff blog for the SPL.

Learning the nuts and bolts of blogging may not be a bad idea, Cornish said.

“I think blogging will be around for a while,” Cornish said. “Some of the more popular blogs have a lot of power and traditional media has established blogs into their framework.”

Gunkel agrees that blogs are definitely not a fad and will only become more popular. He also said that what he likes about a blog is its ability of democratize information.

“Anyone can publish a blog on any subject they like,” Gunkel said. “Unlike other forms of mediated communication, the cost of participation is extremely low. This is an incredible time for free expression.”

Blogs’ staying power, said Gutierrez, “provides a forum by which anyone with Internet access can express whatever they believe is worth sharing.” And she hopes “Blogging 101” can help to begin the process of free expression.

Zevnik said he is positive that attendees will come away from the class with the knowledge to share their insights with the world.