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 - 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 - 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.

LIB 203 My Thoughts About Succeeding as an Online Student and as a Member of an Online Team

This year I’ve taken two undergraduate courses online. Based on my limited experience I would say that the personal qualities needed for being a successful online student aren’t that different from those needed to be a successful traditional student. These qualities include taking your assignments seriously, turning your work in on time and asking questions when you are unclear about the lectures or assignments.

I also think most successful online students make a habit of:

• Logging in every day or every weekday to check for course announcements posted by the instructor.
• Checking their course email every day.
• Making backups of assignments in two places.
• Having a back-up plan for those times when their computer or Internet goes down.

For me, one of the best things about being an online student…never having to worry about finding a parking place.




I work in a small department including me we have one full time and three part-time employees. We rely on teamwork to provide our patron’s with excellent service and keep our department running smoothly. Just like an online team, one of the biggest challenges facing our department is the lack of face time among part-time co-workers. Listening to Dr. Haycock's lecture on successful teamwork helped me focus on what works so well in our department. First good communication is essential. From my past experience at another organization, I know lack of communication can quickly lead to problems with the team. In our department, we communicate daily via email, written notes and document sharing with Microsoft SharePoint.

Secondly in our office we have well defined duties and performance standards. There is no ambiguity about who does what or when those tasks need to done. But when one of us needs help with a task the others chip in to get the job done. The department’s focus remains on the overall goals rather than individual assignments. Enid Irwin in her presentation “The Monster Inside Library School: Student Teams” states that “Teamwork is -- it's a combination of Attitude and Planning. The two fit together. It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of thought.” I agree and I’ve found that a positive attitude among team members follows when they all understand the ground rules and have good communication.

I’m looking forward to working with other SLIS students on assignments and group projects.

Blog Post for LIB 203 or Yea! I’m Finally Starting Grad School

This month I start my graduate student studies. I’m attending San Jose State University (SJSU) School of Library and Information Science (SLIS). I’m working towards my Masters of Library and Information Science (MLIS). This fall I’m taking two classes LIB 203 which is a 1 credit introduction to the program and LIB 200 which is a core course that includes a term paper.

I’ve been thinking a lot about writing the term paper. I’ve talked to family and co-workers regarding the paper and the process of writing one. I’ve also been reading the posts on the yahoo group for SLIS students (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sjsumlis/).

To help with citations and keeping track of research a couple of tools have been recommended -

Evernote http://www.evernote.com/ and

Zotero http://www.zotero.org/

Blog readers I want your input! If you used Evernote or Zotero, please leave a comment and share your experience with me and other readers. Was the software easy to use? Did intergate well with your web browser and Mircsoft Office? In general was it a time saver?