Tweets Aren't Just for the Birds

Twitter is a social messaging platform that has changed the way people communicate through social media.  Once you have set up an account, you can follow almost anyone who has a Twitter account, from your friend down the street to your favorite celebrity.  As librarians, Twitter is  essential for staying on top of what is trending in our industry.  Unlike other social media platforms, Twitter is constantly changing and always has an abundance of ideas and trends in library technology.   Following leaders in our industry can point you in directions you never would of thought of traveling. Here are some of my favorites worth checking out.

Kathy Schrock: @kathyschrock

— Kathy Schrock (@kathyschrock) August 18, 2015

Kathy Schrock is a teacher turned instructional technology specialist who helps the rest of us learn how to use technology in our classrooms and libraries.  In the above tweet, Kathy talks about EduTECH, a conference every librarian should try to attend at least once during their career. Once you click on the link provided in her tweet, it will take you to the EduTECH Australia website.

Linda W. Braun: @lbraun2000

RT @FastCompany: Infographic: Here are the most embarrassing—and popular—Google searches in each state: http://t.co/nCLUoXY69u ht…

— Linda W Braun (@lbraun2000) August 28, 2015

The phrase "google it" has become part of our everyday vernacular. This tweet by Linda W. Braun shows an interesting info-graphic detailing the strange and sometimes perplexing searches performed in the popular search engine.  It makes me think twice about what I type into Google.

Tony Vincent: @tonyvincent

Here’s my video with tips, ideas, tips & techniques for making infopics: http://t.co/MTU3URCIM2 Transcript: http://t.co/NqTpEbzpKe #edchat

— Tony Vincent (@tonyvincent) August 17, 2015

How to videos are very popular on the Internet.  In this tweet by Tony Vincent, he gives tips and tricks to creating an infotopic with a link to a YouTube video. All librarians should know how to create infotopics and this take you through the process step by step. Twitter, many times, provides links to other types of social media.

 Buffy Hamilton: @buffyjhamilton

Telling school librarians with no budget (which is a school choice) to go look for grants to fund media budget is unacceptable.

— Buffy J. Hamilton (@buffyjhamilton) September 1, 2015

Twitter is platform to discuss important issues in our industry.  In the above tweet, librarian Buffy Hamilton tweets about the increasing budget constraints facing many libraries today.  Take an opportunity to voice your opinions and possible solutions to issues facing many libraries.

The Daring Librarian: @GwynethJones

Did you know that @YellowstoneNPS Rangers can #Skype with classrooms? Find out more: http://t.co/1Iyk6zR9N3 @SkypeClassroom #MSFTEDU

— Microsoft Education (@Microsoft_EDU) August 31, 2015

The Daring Librarian retweets to let her followers know that Yellowstone National Park Rangers will Skype with classrooms.  Information like this is a valuable resource that can help libraries bring not only a guest into their school, but also use video conferencing technology, a must for any practicing librarian. 

Jim Lerman: @jimlerman

Free Technology for Teachers: Good Online Bookmarking Tools for Students ^ by Richard Byrne http://t.co/OqMTbrke0R pic.twitter.com/XNX9ZtRltl

— Jim Lerman (@jimlerman) August 31, 2015

 Jim Lerman tweets about an online bookmarking tool that students and teachers can use when searching the web.  Checking out tweets like this can lead you to a new technology without spending time searching on your own.