My PLN Overview

What I enjoyed about this assignment was that it allowed me the opportunity to take all the resources I've accumulated over a number of years, unite them one place and then reflect on how they fit in my PLN. I decided to use a blog format for my PLN platform. That way I could access my PLN sources from my home, work and on my phone. The blog format also allows me to achieve my goals of sharing with others and inviting feedback.

I relished the chance to organize the resources in my PLN. I feel the combination of the blog platform and the labeled resources creates an efficient way for me to have direct access to specific information in my PLN and subject overviews. I set up an authority control for my labels, each resource or set of resources would contain at least three labels: Year (that I started using the resource), Area (School, Work, Community) and Format (Blog, Podcast, Twitter, etc.).

My online personal learning network will help to educate me about innovative and new library public services, programs, and tools for adults and older adults.  My PLN will provide current and accurate information about what librarians, libraries and educators in Alaska and around the world are doing to improve online services and information literacy training for adult public library users.  I want to stay abreast of current events and innovative approaches to public library issues that are directly related to both my current roles of library staffer and MLIS student as well as future professional roles I aspire to hold after I earn my degree.

My PLN will provide an organized and adaptable platform for:

• Sharing resources and ideas with other librarians and interested readers.
• Establishing a core set of trusted information resources.
• Revisiting valuable content.
• Exploring new technologies.
• Inviting feedback from other librarians and interested readers.

I decided to work in public libraries and get my MLIS because I'm deeply passionate about helping adults and older adults access technology and use it to improve the quality of their lives. I seek to include resources in my PLN that focus on technology training for beginners, adult learning theory and online library services for adults. Other sets of the sources included in my PLN are tailored to my current job, the regional library scene and my MLIS studies.  I've also included sources that focus on my future interests and employment prospects. An analogy for my PLN scope would be a two sided paper road map. On the first side is the wide view, broad enough that I can plan my future trips to a variety of far off places. The other side offers detailed views, so I can navigate the streets and alleys to my current specific destination.

PLN - Gamers with Jobs Podcast

The Gamers with Jobs Podcast is my main connection to in-depth discussions on video games, video game hardware and the gamer culture in general. The podcast are usually 45-60 minutes long and I don't have time to listen every week. I make of point of listening to the shows that review the games I'm currently playing, new hardware and reviews of major new games.

 

FYI- this podcast is NSFW. It's hosted by grownups and they have a tendency to swear.

 

PLN - Alaska Libraries and Librarians

Living and working in Alaska offers unique opportunities and uncommon challenges.  Alaskan librarians in general are a tight knit group of talented caring professionals. The sources under this heading help me to keep up with regional issues and find out what is happening up the street at the state library.

Just this week the AkLA (Alaska Library Association) started a google doc for librarians and library staffers to share their various social media nicknames and sites.

I subscribe to the statewide and local chapter listservs "AKLA List" and "juneaulis​t".

I read the Alaskan Librarian Blog written by Daniel Cornwall. This blog covers some library topics and other topics of local interest. When Daniel published a series of posts about our state's specific databases, he agreed to my request to write a guest column for his blog.

Alaska Library and Librarian Twitter feeds that I follow:



Carissa Cotta ‏@carissacotta
A.K. Marshall @jitterymoose
valarie kingsland‏ @valarie907
Daniel Cornwall‏  @DanielCornwall
Morgester‏ @Morgester
jonas lamb‏  @shack_poet
Coral Sheldon-Hess  @web_librarian
Christie Ericson‏  @aknorsk
Freya Anderson‏ @libkitty
AkLA‏ @AKLibraryAssoc
Egan Library‏ @EganLibrary
Alaska State Library‏ @AKStateLibrary

PLN - Smashing Magazine

I visit the Smashing magazine site at least once a month. They offer a great collection of desktop wallpapers (with or without a monthly calendar). I've found that viewing the 20-30 visual representation of the current month is great way for me to tap into playful and creative parts of the personal learning process. 
 
Smashing Magazine articles mainly focus on web design and graphics. I believe these addressing these topics, with our users in mind, are increasing important for librarians to take into account. While I'm on the site, I skim the months articles for tidbits I can use now and background or overview information I hope to tap into more fully in the future.

PLN - Magazines and Periodicals

One area of responsibility in current position of Ass. Library Tech is serials work (check-in, claims, weeds & ordering). I’m still working on finding quality sources for my PLN in this area, any reader recommendation would be welcome. 

Mr. Magazine blog, offers lengthy articles about magazine publications. Mr. Magazine also has the occasional opinion piece, for example this one when Newsweek announced it ceasing print publication, Newsweek: It’s Suicide and Not NaturalDeath…

 

Listerv: SERIALST

The SERIALST (Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum) was recommend to me by co-worker who at one point in her career was responsible for periodicals at the Alaska State Library. Reading that particular listserv has really aided my on the job training. It's a wonderful go to resource for information for all things dealing with periodicals and libraries. One day I need to know how to handle a misprint in a publications enumeration when checking-in a magazine into our library's catalog. A quick search of the SERIALST archives provide the answer.

PLN - Reader's Advisory

Working the public service desk 20 hours a week, reader's advisory is important part of my job. To keep current with my reading recommendations I've developed  a fairly robust set of resources, including:

 

In the stacks - weekly newspaper article written by JPL staffer Kathy Ward
The ABC Book Reviews: A Beth and Cari Production- monthly podcast
Goodreads- see my current reading list on the sidebar
Literari Leigh - weekly book review blog post by the Readers Advisory Librarian at Kenton County Public Library (where I worked from 2008-2010).

AudioFile Magazine @AudioFileMag
Books OnTheKnob @BooksOnTheKnob
NoveListRA @NoveListRA


In addition, I look for opportunities to expand my personal reader's advisory knowledge base when selecting classes and working on class assignments. For example in my LIBR 202 class I wrote a paper comparing two major RA databases Novelist and Reader's Advisory Online. In my LIBR 281 class I wrote the Learning 2.0 Module for Goodreads.