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.

PLN - SJSU Library School Connections

For now until I get my MLIS my library school connections are a key part of PLN, this includes following the twitter feeds from my fellow MLIS students, subscribing to or following my current instructors' social media postings. I also joined a Facebook group for SJSU SLIS students that focuses on the eportfolio process and challenges.  I get a lot of good and timely information from the SJSU SLIS student yahoo group. It one of my major go to resources for advice on course selection, internships, future employment and coping time management issues.  Through the yahoo group I'm able to reflect on, compare and  share my opinions and experience with fellow students.

 

sjsumlis · SJSU MLIS Yahoo group

SJSU MLIS eportfolio support group

On twitter I follow SJSU SLIS student organizations, students and instructors.

PLN - Library service and content vendors

I've made a point to include vendors in my twitter feed because it is a fast and effective way to learn about new products, product changes, training opportunities, service outages and glitches. Often vendors will include links to training videos and materials. Its also handy to have direct access to a vendor representative via twitter for more personalized questions or issues. If a vendor is doing something right, a shout out via twitter is a good way to the spread the word.

Credo Reference @credoreference

NoveListRA @NoveListRA
ProQuest ‏@ProQuest
Tutor.com @tutordotcom
MPA @mpamagmedia
EBSCO_Learning @EBSCO_Learning

PLN - eReader news, freebies and first looks

Books OnTheKnob (free books for eReaders) is updated daily with lists of free books available for eReaders and news about eReader hardware and accessories. I've been reading the blog almost daily since 2008 and I included it in my PLN because the blog's author is good at explaining to new users how to navigate through the various menu headings on their devices and how to navigate the websites that offer free or low cost eReader and tablet content. The site itself is very well organized, easy to search and has the quick links the Kindle and Nook deal of the day. There are also thoughtful blog posts about the pro and cons of various eReaders and help topics with screen shots.

 @BooksOnTheKnob

The Digital Reader, updated often, with news articles about ebooks, ebook readers, and digital publishing. There also pages for Resources, Tips & Tricks and Gadget Reviews.

 

More ereader resouces, an American Libraries the article titled "Essential Bookmarks".  It's a quality annotated list of 11 sites and sources.
 

PLN - Infopeople: thought provoking podcasts

I included the infopeople podcast and blog in my PLN because they often discuss the future of libraries and out of the box approaches to library services and issues. For example, I'm a slow reader and I was especially intrigued by their discussion of customizable loan periods and circulation statistics.

@infotweets

PLN - Learning by teaching and participating

A key element of my PLN is my participation in library sponsored Web 2.0 training programs.  My first experience was in 2010 when I participated, mostly in the role of student, in the Kenton County Library 24 Things course. I started this blog as part of that course. That initial experience allowed me explore and use a variety of Web 2.0 tools. During twelve week course I realized that there are real educational benefits to using the infrastructure of the Internet in conjunction with online resources to facilitate learning and training.  

In the fall of 2011, I joined a team of five Alaskan librarians to create and present a 10 week learning 2.0 course titled "Introduction to Alaska Digital Resources". This was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn in depth about the many online subscription databases made available for Alaskans though the Alaska State Library website. I wrote several of the course modules. My participation in this project allowed me to:

·        Explorer, play with and utilize many unique and specialized library resources.

·        Connect with librarians at the state library and the University of Alaska library.

·       Connect with library staff and library science students throughout the state. 

Following that experience I joined a team of library science students from SJSU SLIS program to a create a 5 week Learning 2.0 course for a public library in Australia. The course is titled "discover*play*connect: 2012 Edition"

This learn by doing experience allowed me to:

·        Investigate and consider public library applications for several social media websites.

·        Increase my understanding of wordpress and other web content delivery mechanisms.

·       Make meaningful connections with fellow library students and public library staffers in Australia.  

This month I will rejoin the "Introduction to Alaska Digital Resources" team to update and offer a 2013 version of the course.  I'm looking forward to improving old lesson modules, creating new content and connecting with Alaskans interested in information and education.

PLN - Staying current with Web 2.0 and other tools librarians use

Information Wants To Be Free by SJSU SLIS faculty member Meredith Farkas. I included this blog in my PLN because the writer offers some practical insight into both current trends in library land and the real world application of the those trends. Farkas' American Libraries article on screencasting inspired me to create theTalking Books Screencast.


American Libraries Columnist “Technology in Practice”

@librarianmer




The Scout Report is a weekly newsletter published by Computer Sciences Department at University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Each issue has about 20 hyperlinked annotations arranged by topic (Research and Education, General Interest, Network Tools and In the News) for quality Internet resources.  

David Lee King offers thoughtful opinions and practical advice in his blog posts. Topics often focus on the social web, emerging trends and libraries.  My experience has been that many of the most active and interesting librarian bloggers come from an academic library background. I feel that King is one of a few quality bloggers to write from the public librarians' perspective.

 

Public libraries are often used by people with disabilities. Unfortunately many public library staffer are not trained in how to use assistive technology and software. This part of my PLN is to help supplement that gap in my on the job training. No Limits 2 Learning is written by an assistive technology specialist and trainer. Topics include how education theory, gadget reviews and opinion pieces about accessibility issues related to technology and the Internet.

The Thinking Stick author, Jeff Utecht wrote the book Web 2.0: How-To for Educators. Along with some great practical advice about using Web 2.0 tools for education, for me this blog is source of inspiration and encouragement.
 

Walking Paper author Aaron Schmidt blogs about libraries with a focus on the user experiences. His post often include photos that clearly demonstrate what works and needs improvement.  For example this post about confusing library sign posted on the book drop "Signs On Signs. Never Good"
 

American Library Magazine and American Libraries Direct weekly email. I basically skim these source for article and links that catch my eye.