Entering the Twitterverse

My Professional Learning Network

I created a Twitter account, @maryreads03, to engage with other professionals involved in youth literature and in library settings. I looked forward to gaining resources to help me in my career as an associate in youth services. Over the course of three weeks, I grew my professional learning network (PLN), connected with others, and gained courage to share my own thoughts.    

Joining Twitter

Twitter can be a divisive place; therefore, I was a little apprehensive in engaging with others on the platform. I have had a personal Twitter account since I was a teenager full of memes and inside jokes with friends. However, I wanted a fresh start, as this will be the first time I am using Twitter in a professional matter, so I created a new account.   

My first order of business was to find people to follow. I actually really liked the "For You" feature on Twitter's timeline. These recommendations made it easy to find accounts that would be of interest to me. 

First, I followed organizations that are related to libraries, children's literature journals, and/or diversity in children's literature. Accounts I followed are listed here:

Next, I sought out individuals who work in libraries and/or advocates in youth literature. These included:

One resource that I found was posted by the American Library Association. The resource was a news article by Hannah Arata on ProgrammingLibrarian, a website of the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The article shared information about how to two librarians faced backlash for Pride Programming, how they persevered against misinformation and protests, and tips for support the LGBTQIA+ community through programming and library materials. 
   
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I found this resource extremely useful. I want to support the LGBTQIA+ community though library services. I also want to be prepared for any criticism I may face in doing so. Reading about others experiences in this situation helps me anticipate how I would react to spread of misinformation. 

Live Twitter Chat 

I researched different live Twitter chats that would be of interest to me and decided to join #MGBookChat, which occurs on Mondays at 9 PM EST. #MGBookChat was created by the owners of the blog MG Book Village. The chat consists of different themes about Middle Grade books each week and the questions are posted ahead of time. This allows for the opportunity for participants to have ample time to reflect on their answers and be able to engage with others more quickly.

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I was a little nervous about engaging in this chat, as I felt like most participants would know each other and I would be the odd one out. That being said, everyone was incredibly kind and supportive. #MGBookChat founder, Laurie Hnatiuk, gave me a warm welcome. 

The chat's theme that I participated in was Romance in Middle Grade Books, and was hosted by KidLit author Sierra Wilson. As seen in the image below, I engaged with the host during question 3 and question 5. 
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Final Thoughts

I found myself enjoying the Twitter chat more than I thought I would. It's nice to engage with other youth literature enthusiasts, and get book recommendations. I will definitely be returning to #MGBookChat. Their topic on June 26 is "Puzzles and Games in Middle Grade Literature". I am already excited to engage in this topic, as it is a popular reader advisory at my library. Overall, I found engaging in PLNs informative, impactful, and freeing. Contributing to the library community make me feel like I am progressing in my career, and becoming a better librarian.

Comments

  1. NMZumpanoJune 18, 2023 at 9:29 AM

    I haven't used the "For You" feature so thanks for the new tip!

    ReplyDelete

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