Wendy Garland is the Librarian at Avery Elementary School, in Dedham.
As librarians many of us find ourselves operating in a vacuum. I am the sole librarian in my building. Our teacher colleagues have each other for support, but my colleagues are across town. Twitter has granted me the opportunity to connect with others, observe what they are doing, ask questions to the larger school librarian community, and grow as a professional. I attribute the growth in my teaching in large part to Twitter and the innumerable individuals that have influenced my journey.
Twitter can be used in a number of different ways. Emily Warner wrote in the last edition of the MSLA Forum about her use of Twitter at the secondary level. She described her use to include “promoting patron (student) achievements, talking about literature-related stories, or highlighting community events.” I would love to use it as an advocacy tool but my school community does not yet embrace Twitter (although I have a parent or two that follow me). Jennifer Casa-Todd spoke at the MSLA 2018 Conference about the use of social media with students. While I show my students a tweet or two every once in a while, I do not (yet) use Twitter with students (although that may change following the sessions with Jennifer Casa-Todd at the MSLA Conference).
I focus my Twitter interactions on sharing what happens in our program with others in the field and furthering my professional development. I have been active on Twitter for 6 years but I wasn’t always so “sold” on the idea. My Twitter experience had an evolution of its own. Below follows (roughly) my Twitter journey:
Twitter shrunk my world. People far and wide came to my Twitter feed to quench my thirst for ideas and knowledge. My revelation was in perspective. I realized “I am here doing what I do. You are there doing what you do. Your daily operations look a little different than mine. I can use that. Maybe you might be interested in what I do. Let me try this.” Some of my additional Twitter revelations follow:
I focus my Twitter interactions on sharing what happens in our program with others in the field and furthering my professional development. I have been active on Twitter for 6 years but I wasn’t always so “sold” on the idea. My Twitter experience had an evolution of its own. Below follows (roughly) my Twitter journey:
- Seriously, how much could I really gather from 140 characters?
- This will be just another social media platform that will suck me into its vortex.
- Hmm - there seem to be an awful lot of knowledgeable people doing this. Maybe I will sneak a peek.
- Wow - so many of the people that I value and learn from are on here!
- I am going to create an account and lurk a bit.
- Ooh - instead of searching out their blogs every day, their thoughts come to me!
- Look at that picture - I want to try that!
- Fabulous idea - if I tweak that, I bet that would work in my library.
- These folks have some amazing things going on their libraries. I am just little ‘ol me doing my thing in my space. I don’t have anything to contribute to this conversation, but it sure is fun watching everyone else.
- I never thought of that. I am going to let that idea percolate.
- Easy - I could do that tomorrow.
- Favoriting that - now those exciting ideas are all in one spot. Yes!
- Enter the book giveaway? Yes, please.
- I won a book? Score!
- Maybe this isn’t so bad.
- These generous tweeters are capturing life in their libraries. Maybe they don’t see their ideas as different or special, but they are to me. I wonder if anyone would consider MY ideas worthwhile trying. Maybe I will try posting something.
- Someone liked my tweet!
- Someone followed me!
- Someone asked me a question about my tweet - I am being read.
- Conversation at a conference/EdCamp, “Wait - I know you. Aren’t you @... on Twitter?”
Twitter shrunk my world. People far and wide came to my Twitter feed to quench my thirst for ideas and knowledge. My revelation was in perspective. I realized “I am here doing what I do. You are there doing what you do. Your daily operations look a little different than mine. I can use that. Maybe you might be interested in what I do. Let me try this.” Some of my additional Twitter revelations follow:
- Not all of my tweets get read or liked. That’s fine - this is giving me a quick and easy place to put my thoughts.
- I tweet about the books I read. Responding to a book is a great (quick) way for me to process what I read and it’s value in my collection or life.
- I tweet about what is going on in my library. It is a wonderful reflection tool. Here is what went well. Here is what I would change if I do this again.
- It is quick and easy for me to tweet while I teach. I am not so good at posting regularly on my blog.
- I know about books before they are published.
- I am in on the “book buzz”
- I win free books from giveaways.
- I get behind the scenes with authors.
- I have “met” educators from all over. Things look the same/different there. Sometimes we have the very same problems.
- I am curious about that - how do I do that? Now I have someone to personally ask.
- These authors are offering me skype visits to connect with my students!
- Yes, author friend. Please send me those free bookmarks you are offering my students.
- Thank you, author friend for responding to my class’s question. We love how we could get a response from you.
- Thank you, Dan Santat for doing the assignment I gave my students. We ALL got a chuckle out of it!
Initially, I didn’t understand the power of Twitter. Once I did, it changed my teaching because it gave me perspective, ideas, new colleagues, and immeasurable growth opportunities. I am a better teacher and librarian because of Twitter. You are welcome to follow my journey at @dancelibrarian.