Blogs and RSS Readers

I started following librarian blogs as soon as I started on my MLS in the Fall of 2013.  They are a great source of information and can help you to grow your professional learning network.  

I have used Bloglovin for a few years now and love the ease of using it and being able to quickly scan and see who has posted by looking at the picture and blurbs and deciding if I want to read further instead of having to go to individual blogs to read their latest post.  

I checked out other RSS readers such as Feedly.  I did like some of the items that they have available and being able to save articles into Evernote was a great addition.  I was not as fond of   News Blur, it seemed like it would be better suited for a business professional, It just was not as user friendly and felt more corporate to me.  Everytime I tried the Bloglines site it was down and I was not able to review it.  I really love Bloglovin for it's east of use. 

I have been following several blogs for a couple of years now and my favorites are:

Abby the Librarian

She is a youth librarian.  Her blog is great because is has many wonderful ideas for book talking, collection development, etc.  You can find her blog at  http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/

The Library Goddess

This blog is one of the first that I found after starting my MLS.  I always enjoy reading about what she is doing in her library.  She talks about technology that she is doing with classes and has started a Book Talk Tuesday.  You can find her blog at http://valeriebyrdfort.com/

Library Displays

This is a great blog with picture of displays for your school library.  I really love it for ideas for the library.  There are ideas for elementary to high school displays, which is great because it covers areas that I have not taught before.  It's always great to see things and think, why didn't I think of that.  You can find the blog at  http://schoollibrarydisplays.blogspot.com/

The Adventures of Library Girl
 

This blog has so much wonderful information.  It is a place that I go when I need information about many topics.  I really love her blog about her Livebinder that she created to help you create your own PLN   You can find it at http://www.livebinders.com/ /play?id=441748

She has great information on reading aloud, her and her friend have created #2jennsBookClub on Twitter that they talk about YA literature.  This is a genre that I was not familiar with before starting my MLS.  She also talks about ideas for principals, so it's great way to help you advocate for your library and the things that you need to make it great for your students and staff.  You can find her blog at http://www.librarygirl.net/

The Library Voice

There are so many great technology ideas that can be used in the classroom as well as the library.  I am very excited about some recent posts with GoNoodle and Biblionasium.  I am using GoNoodle in the classroom and kids are loving it and it's really helping them to take breaks and focus on our lessons when we are done.  They love watching their creature grow.  She is a person to  watch to get information  on what's new and happening.  Shannon's blog can be found at  http://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com/

 

Tumblr

Tumblr is another great site to go for blogs.  I am following a lot of my blogs that I already follow on Bloglovin.  I had not been on Tumblr before but I quickly joined and created my own.  I love how it is so visual.  I reminds me of Twitter but with more pictures instead of words. It's a great place to continue to build your PLN. 

You can follow me at http://charlottepolk71.tumblr.com/

I hope that you find these blogs and the ways to follow them as interesting and informative as I do, happy reading!