Reasons Why You Shouldn't Join Twitter (the unlearning experience)

So, I would say I'm a pretty connected librarian, and I definitely will say my professional Twitter account has really taught me a lot.  Not only have a learned SO MUCH, but it has also helped me connect with colleagues, authors, and libraries; be a voice for the librarian in a chat room full of teachers and administrators; and allows me to share my passions.

With that in mind, I'm dedicating this blog post to some of the best things I've tweeted, learned about, and connected with since January 2015.  This is just a sampling and if you like the taste of this tech piece of chocolate, you really should think about joining in :)


What I've learned from others (Jan 2015-present):

Does anyone have access to Word 2010? It has built in citation/bib generators.#TXLchat
— dlmackinney (@dlmackinney) January 14, 2015

Tie the principal to a chair & make him/her read this on improving your next faculty meeting http://t.co/tUC45F16Ze pic.twitter.com/ZdMOHP5sAq
— Blunt Educator (@BluntEducator) February 2, 2015

How to be a Presentation Ninja - the secret BONUS #SCASL15 preso yesterday! http://t.co/pa7CBeAbV0 Thanks to all who dropped by!
— The Daring Librarian (@GwynethJones) March 13, 2015

@NancyJoLambert I love @Pocket I keep the great stuff I find on Twitter or the web to use at a later time #txlchat

— Becky Calzada (@becalzada) April 1, 2015

Things I've Shared (Jan 2015-present:

Infographic & article-a must read Code of Best Practices in Fair Use http://t.co/Sqfqs8vi2E #edchat #txeduchat #engchat #TXLchat #TL_Chat
— Naomi Bates (@yabooksandmore) January 3, 2015

MUST READ for all educators: Web Tools & Age Limits by @HCPSNC http://t.co/ZjogQXCIwT #tlchat #txlchat #edtech #edchat #engchat #nisdchat
— Naomi Bates (@yabooksandmore) February 19, 2015

Movie trailer site searched by genre, recent, popularity, studio et al! http://t.co/nbbQovU1z7 #tlchat #txlchat #elemchat #engchat #edchat
— Naomi Bates (@yabooksandmore) March 12, 2015

11 Reasons a Librarians Are Better Superheroes Than the Avengers: http://t.co/AHG1nGRaJp #txla15 #tlchat #txlchat #txeduchat #txed #edchat
— Naomi Bates (@yabooksandmore) April 17, 2015

My three favorite Twitter chats:
#readYAlit (of course!) It happens once a month and is all about young adult literature.  Not just titles, but more meaty topics about YA lit.  Topics like sexual violence in YA lit to revamped dystopia/author chat to unreliable characters in YA lit are discussed.  And yes, there are tweet chat where it's all about readers'choice of excellent YA books too.  It really helps me keep updated on new books and really helps with my ordering list!

#eduality  happens every Monday night, and I wish that evening was free, but alas!  I can't always join this one.  But when I do, I LOVE IT.  This is a no holds barred chat about education...the good, the bad and everything in between.  The chats are also very thought provoking as well.  Questions like, "If you could put something from today's world of ed in a time capsule to make sure in 100 yrs it is valued, what would it be?" The other tweets this anonymous Twitterer writes are hilariously true!

#txeduchat is on Sundays weekly and if nothing else, I love to be involved and to learn from teachers and administrators from around the state and the different ways districts in Texas are doing innovative things.  There is nothing like "hometown" connections, and this chat, although not one specifically for librarians, is perfect for the teacher side of this librarian.

Lurking, tipping your toes in the water, or doing a freefall into Twitterdom...it's all good! Hope to see you on the flip side!