Tumblr and Blog Readers

I have to admit that I was not familiar with Tumblr as a social media platform.  So, before I even started to complete this assignment, I had to research what Tumblr was and what it did.  Tumblr is a microblogger that connects readers with those of similar interests.  Librarians are using Tumblr to connect with others in our industry.  They share ideas, look for employment, and engage readers in topics that are transforming our industry. I found blogs from book reviews to trends in technology.  Librarians also use Tumblr to connect with their communities outside the physical space of the library.  With the popularity of blogs on the Internet and the infinite choices available, it can sometimes be hard to keep up with your favorite blogs.  In my case, I am mostly accessing my blogs from my smartphone.  When I’m on my phone, I do not have access to my Bookmark bar and I can never remember the url.  That is where Blog Readers come in handy.  I chose Bloglovin’ (https://www.bloglovin.com/) as my blog reader to view all my favorite blogs in one location.  Setting up an account was quick and easy.   I found it very easy to locate blogs by either typing in the url, blog name, or subject area I was interested in.  Bloglovin’ gave me multiple suggestions for other blogs I might like based on who I was choosing to follow.  Check out the emails I received just hours after opening up an account.  

I like the interface (on my phone and my workstation) and I can catch a quick glimpse of what my favorite bloggers are posting. Below is a sample of my personal favorites blog feed:

I can also quickly like or share a feed and re-post on my blog. Check out how I re-posted from the amazing blog post from Great Kids Books on the fantastic new novel by Brian Selznick:

Bloglovin’ is not the only Blog Reader out there.  Other sites include

• Freely (https://feedly.com/i/welcome)
• NewBlur (https://newsblur.com/)
• Digg Reader (http://digg.com/reader)

It’s important to look at all the Blog Readers to see which one fits you best.  I chose Bloglovin' because of the interface and how easy it was to set up. You may prefer one of the others listed.

What to see some of my favorite blogs? (nod your head yes please).  

URL: http://greatkidbooks.blogspot.com/

Why I love this blog?

As librarians, we are constantly developing and reinventing our collections.  This blog give a quick book review and is very visual.  Along with our usual sources for making purchasing decisions, this is another great resource at our fingertips.

URL: http://www.freetech4teachers.com

Why I love this blog?

With increasing technology wants and decreasing technology budgets, this blog helps bridge the technology gap.  Not only is the technology free, but this blog gives ideas of how to implement the technology in your curriculum.  The layout is fabulous and so easy to skim.  Once you find something you're interested in, you can click on the link for more information.

URL: http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/

Why I love this blog?

I am OBSESSED with book trailers.  Of course, that is coming from someone who refuses to miss the previews when going to the movies.  My students love book trailers and I use them frequently to engage my students.  Book trailers naturally tailor themselves to students who use more than one learning method. Not only do you hear the book, but you visually see the book.  Instead of searching YouTube’s endless amount of clips, this blog takes the best of the best and I can quickly make a determination if I can use it in my teaching.

URL: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/

Why I love this blog?

My teachers are constantly using mentor text for reading and writing.  This blog helps me help my teachers with suggestions of different books to use in their curriculum.  At the beginning and the end of the year, I sit in planning meetings with our the lower school teachers.  Having this as a quick reference is a must in assisting in their planning and increasing the value of library resources.

URL:  http://schoollibrarydisplays.blogspot.com/

Why I love this blog?

I am “creatively challenged” when it comes to displays in the library.  And because I’m not good at it, many times I will let it fall to the wayside.  This blog not only gives me pictures, but also a detailed description of how the display was used and how successful it was.  The should rename this blog “Library Displays for Dummies”.

Check me out on Tumblr: http://the-ls-librarian.tumblr.com/