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Sorry for the delay in posting a hit. I've been reading blogs for the last month, 
trying to understand how I might use them myself. Here's what I found, what I 
learned and what I'm reading. If you end up creating a blog, please let me know, 
I'd love to read yours too!

Kim

Original post:

> I am curious to know who is keeping a professional journal and how it's benefited 
>you personally or professionally. If you're willing ot answer a few questions, I 
>would be greatly appreciative.
>
> 1. Why did you start a journal? Professional development? To act as a portfolio 
>for a job search? Other reasons?
> 2. Is your journal paper, electronic (i.e. a Word Document), or online?
> 3. If your journal is online, what are you using? How did you select the one you 
>are using? What are the benefits of your journal being online?
>4. Please share your weblog if you're willing
Responses:
__________
Librarian in the Middle running at http://beiffert.net

1. I wanted to do more than just the occasional emails to librarians in the 
district, and I wanted an easier way to track resources.

2-4. online, using Wordpress. I trialed MovableType, but found that WP was easier, 
at least for me, to work with  and seemed more flexible (multiple themes, user 
levels, plugins, easy backups). Install, up and running truly was less than 5 
minutes.
________
I have a blog, but it is just stupidness about my life.  Two friends from another 
listserv have blogs that deal with being a librarian Library Lady Rants  
http://www.libraryladymom.blog-city.com/ is a public librarian and Guusje is a 
http://www.guusjem.blogspot.com/ is a school librarian in Texas.   am sure both of 
them would be willing to talk to you about it.  If you post a comment to their 
blogs asking them they will probably get back to you.  And they are fun to read!
__________
I started keeping a sort of links memory page online, by using 
www.ikeepbookmarks.com and www.furl.net.  Then I found I needed a way to make notes 
to myself, to record links to great websites, to copy down all those cool quotes in 
the signature lines on LM_Net :-) and to write out my thoughts on professional 
issues such as censorship, internet filtering, etc, so now I keep a journal of 
sorts online.  I like
Google's blog service, www.blogger.com.   I ended up with a blogger account because 
I had to create a user name in order to comment on another blog.  I can access it 
from home, while traveling, etc.  

Somewhat to my dismay, I found that our Internet filter won't let me access this 
from work, but that's probably all for the best...I'm not tempted to edit it from 
work!  At the moment it's not a "public" blog. I'm still sort of wrestling with 
some of the issues surrounding them: privacy issues, intellectual property issues 
(are the activities I plan,
and the policies I implement solely "mine" or do I share ownership with my 
employer, since I created them on "their" time?)  and legal issues. There have been 
some interesting tidbits in the news about bloggers reprimanded or even fired for 
blog content. 
__________
“Bloglines is the most comprehensive, integrated service for searching, 
subscribing, publishing and sharing news feeds, blogs, and rich Web content. It's 
free and easy-to-use.” (from the Bloglines site). 

Bloglines is how I read the blogs I’m interested in. You can see the list I suggest 
by clicking on the link below. 

To create a Bloglines account (this is a way to read what’s been updated on 
multiple blogs all in one place) use this link 
http://www.bloglines.com/recsubs?id=k4IAADXt_Qo 
and create a username and password. There will then be a list of the feeds which 
might be of interest to you as a school librarian.
__________

Articles on blogging or professional journaling:
Title:  educational blogging.  
Authors:        Clyde, Laurel A.
Source: Teacher Librarian; Feb2005, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p43, 3p   
Abstract:       Discusses the use of weblogs in education. Definition of weblogs 
according Theresa Ross Embrey; List of weblogs that are useful as sources of 
professional information for teachers and teacher-librarians; Use of weblogs to 
promote literacy in the classroom.

Title:  Blogs Move Student Learning Beyond the Classroom: An Interview
With Alex Halavais.    
Source: Online Classroom; Dec2004, p4, 2p      
Abstract:       Presents an interview with Alex Halavais, assistant professor of 
communication and graduate director of informatics at the University of Buffalo, on 
the use of weblogs in education. Differences between blogs and threaded 
discussions; How Halavais prepares his students to use blogs in a course; Types of 
materials posted by
students; Importance of demonstrating the value of blogs to students; How the 
instructor's role has changed when using blogs with students;

Title:  Eight Steps for Keeping Current.       
Authors:        Cohen, Steven M.
Source: Knowledge Quest; Sep/Oct2004, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p40, 2p 
Abstract:       The article presents information on the use of currency techniques. 
Whether it be e-mail alert services, professional journals, Web site monitoring 
software packages, weblogs, electronic mailing lists, or Really Simple Syndication 
(RSS), one should choose the methods that best suit the needs. Currency techniques 
depend not only on the users knowledge and use of the tools, but the situations in 
which keeping current is being practiced. Whatever method one uses to keep current, 
take it slow at first. If one chooses to monitor weblogs, read ten to fifteen on a 
daily basis. Have the new posts from library weblogs come to you via e-mail or an 
RSS aggregator.   

Title:  Journaling: Telling Your Professional "Story". 
Authors:        Miller, Donna
Source: Library Media Connection; Oct2003, Vol. 22 Issue 2, p32, 3p    
Abstract:       This article focuses on differences between professional and 
personal journaling. The most obvious difference is that a professional journal is 
used to record events, emotions, milestones and other items that relate to one's 
career. Beyond that techniques for writing in a professional journal can be very 
similar to those used for personal journal writing. Such devices as prompts, 
questions, reflections, free writing and other tools can be used in both types of 
journals. The message rather than the medium differentiates these two types of 
journals. Tools, strategies and devices that apply to all types of journals as well 
as those items that primarily apply to professional journal writing are relevant to 
and important for library media specialists.


Kimberly A. Brosan, Librarian
Andrew G. Curtin Middle School
Willamsport, PA 17701
mailto:kbrosan@wasd.org

Ancora Imparo ~ Michelangelo "I am still learning."

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