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.