Sorry for the delay in posting a hit. I've been reading blogs for the last month,
trying to understand how I might use them myself. Here's what I found, what I
learned and what I'm reading. If you end up creating a blog, please let me know,
I'd love to read yours too!
Kim
Original post:
> I am curious to know who is keeping a professional journal and how it's benefited
>you personally or professionally. If you're willing ot answer a few questions, I
>would be greatly appreciative.
>
> 1. Why did you start a journal? Professional development? To act as a portfolio
>for a job search? Other reasons?
> 2. Is your journal paper, electronic (i.e. a Word Document), or online?
> 3. If your journal is online, what are you using? How did you select the one you
>are using? What are the benefits of your journal being online?
>4. Please share your weblog if you're willing
Responses:
__________
Librarian in the Middle running at http://beiffert.net
1. I wanted to do more than just the occasional emails to librarians in the
district, and I wanted an easier way to track resources.
2-4. online, using Wordpress. I trialed MovableType, but found that WP was easier,
at least for me, to work with and seemed more flexible (multiple themes, user
levels, plugins, easy backups). Install, up and running truly was less than 5
minutes.
________
I have a blog, but it is just stupidness about my life. Two friends from another
listserv have blogs that deal with being a librarian Library Lady Rants
http://www.libraryladymom.blog-city.com/ is a public librarian and Guusje is a
http://www.guusjem.blogspot.com/ is a school librarian in Texas. am sure both of
them would be willing to talk to you about it. If you post a comment to their
blogs asking them they will probably get back to you. And they are fun to read!
__________
I started keeping a sort of links memory page online, by using
www.ikeepbookmarks.com and www.furl.net. Then I found I needed a way to make notes
to myself, to record links to great websites, to copy down all those cool quotes in
the signature lines on LM_Net :-) and to write out my thoughts on professional
issues such as censorship, internet filtering, etc, so now I keep a journal of
sorts online. I like
Google's blog service, www.blogger.com. I ended up with a blogger account because
I had to create a user name in order to comment on another blog. I can access it
from home, while traveling, etc.
Somewhat to my dismay, I found that our Internet filter won't let me access this
from work, but that's probably all for the best...I'm not tempted to edit it from
work! At the moment it's not a "public" blog. I'm still sort of wrestling with
some of the issues surrounding them: privacy issues, intellectual property issues
(are the activities I plan,
and the policies I implement solely "mine" or do I share ownership with my
employer, since I created them on "their" time?) and legal issues. There have been
some interesting tidbits in the news about bloggers reprimanded or even fired for
blog content.
__________
“Bloglines is the most comprehensive, integrated service for searching,
subscribing, publishing and sharing news feeds, blogs, and rich Web content. It's
free and easy-to-use.” (from the Bloglines site).
Bloglines is how I read the blogs I’m interested in. You can see the list I suggest
by clicking on the link below.
To create a Bloglines account (this is a way to read what’s been updated on
multiple blogs all in one place) use this link
http://www.bloglines.com/recsubs?id=k4IAADXt_Qo
and create a username and password. There will then be a list of the feeds which
might be of interest to you as a school librarian.
__________
Articles on blogging or professional journaling:
Title: educational blogging.
Authors: Clyde, Laurel A.
Source: Teacher Librarian; Feb2005, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p43, 3p
Abstract: Discusses the use of weblogs in education. Definition of weblogs
according Theresa Ross Embrey; List of weblogs that are useful as sources of
professional information for teachers and teacher-librarians; Use of weblogs to
promote literacy in the classroom.
Title: Blogs Move Student Learning Beyond the Classroom: An Interview
With Alex Halavais.
Source: Online Classroom; Dec2004, p4, 2p
Abstract: Presents an interview with Alex Halavais, assistant professor of
communication and graduate director of informatics at the University of Buffalo, on
the use of weblogs in education. Differences between blogs and threaded
discussions; How Halavais prepares his students to use blogs in a course; Types of
materials posted by
students; Importance of demonstrating the value of blogs to students; How the
instructor's role has changed when using blogs with students;
Title: Eight Steps for Keeping Current.
Authors: Cohen, Steven M.
Source: Knowledge Quest; Sep/Oct2004, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p40, 2p
Abstract: The article presents information on the use of currency techniques.
Whether it be e-mail alert services, professional journals, Web site monitoring
software packages, weblogs, electronic mailing lists, or Really Simple Syndication
(RSS), one should choose the methods that best suit the needs. Currency techniques
depend not only on the users knowledge and use of the tools, but the situations in
which keeping current is being practiced. Whatever method one uses to keep current,
take it slow at first. If one chooses to monitor weblogs, read ten to fifteen on a
daily basis. Have the new posts from library weblogs come to you via e-mail or an
RSS aggregator.
Title: Journaling: Telling Your Professional "Story".
Authors: Miller, Donna
Source: Library Media Connection; Oct2003, Vol. 22 Issue 2, p32, 3p
Abstract: This article focuses on differences between professional and
personal journaling. The most obvious difference is that a professional journal is
used to record events, emotions, milestones and other items that relate to one's
career. Beyond that techniques for writing in a professional journal can be very
similar to those used for personal journal writing. Such devices as prompts,
questions, reflections, free writing and other tools can be used in both types of
journals. The message rather than the medium differentiates these two types of
journals. Tools, strategies and devices that apply to all types of journals as well
as those items that primarily apply to professional journal writing are relevant to
and important for library media specialists.
Kimberly A. Brosan, Librarian
Andrew G. Curtin Middle School
Willamsport, PA 17701
mailto:kbrosan@wasd.org
Ancora Imparo ~ Michelangelo "I am still learning."
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