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.