Twitter is really professional development

I read a great blog post by the Librarian by Day about staying current with technology and other innovations that totally impact library service. Yes, you do have more time, its just you are not choosing wisely!  Read the article, get inspired and then come back here to my list of how to do this.

Want to get on the tech/library cutting edge?  The easy way is to get yourself a Twitter account.  I love mine and I thought this was the dumbest idea ever invented.  What my account has morphed into is listening to other librarians in less then a sentence or two talk about librarianship or share an idea.  Not so much that I am committed to tons of reading but much like zipping through an index of people yapping about library service.  Of course there are tons of tweets out there on what someone is eating or doing, but there is also a ton of information (in usually a sentence or two) about libraries, collections, technology and management.  Start small and start reading.  You don't have to do anything more than that to get started.  Just listen in on the conversation.  Your fellow library nerds are waiting to help you get in the game.

Want to know who to follow?  Here are my recommendations for some interesting library tweeps that should be on anyone's list.  If you have a suggestion by all means, comment and add it to my list.

Librarian by Day: @librarianbyday--all round goodness from technology training to managment

David Lee King,:  @davidleeking-- good for tech applications in libraries as well as managment

Librarian Chat: @librarianchat --more like a news feed and discussion of librarians/libraries making headlines

Want some straight up technology or websites that can keep you current?  Try following these folks on Twitter:
I love the site Make Use Of (@MakeUseOf) which has cool websites and interesting tech articles.
If you want some quick book reviews, consider following Nancy Pearl (@Nancy_Pearl)

(Of course I would be remiss if I didn't suggest Awful Library Books for a nice diversion from serious library talk (@awfullibbooks) or Holly Hibner's account: @hhibner since she comes hand in hand with me and Awful Library Books.)

There are more every day that are interesting to watch.  I also recommend following neighboring libraries, museums.  Good ideas, programs and other stuff can help you plug into what is going on.  Twitter might be ticket for you if you are concerned about sharing too much information.  Know libraries or librarians in your neck of the woods doing interesting things?  Follow those people and start looking at who they follow.  Before you know it, you will be plugged in and on top of stuff faster than you thought.

Go get connected!
Mary
@librarymary40 on Twitter.