Thing 8: Google Calendar

I like this tool.  It does everything our portal calendar is supposed to do, but does not! :)

I'm seriously considering using this to post our Library hours on the Library web site.  When our online catalog changed to a new version, the calendar module was not included.

Thing 7: Professional Organizations

I have benefited greatly from several library organizations over the years.  I started with local chapters in the state library associations and attended conferences for regional and national organizations.  I have found library people to be welcoming and encouraging to new members of the profession!

Thing 6: Online Networking

I find that I use Facebook for my personal life and LinkedIn for my professional life.  I am very cautious about using both of them and try to keep my privacy protected as much as possible.  I don't visit LinkedIn that much since I am not job hunting and I am content at this location.  I get a lot of support and feedback from an email group of library directors in my state, so I don't often seek professional news/advice elsewhere.  When I conducted the last position search at my Library I did searching and found most of the candidates in Facebook and LinkedIn.  I did not find any thing out of the ordinary, just information that confirmed their resumes and gave me a little more information about that person.

Thing 5 – Reflective Practice

Hmm, reflective practice . . . aren't you talking about journaling?  I used to journal on a regular basis for many years, but I don't any more.  And I do miss it.  This world is too much with us . . .  Again the daily information overload is so overwhelming and being a library director I find I can barely keep up the tyranny of all the urgent things that need to be addressed.

Thing 4: Current awareness - Twitter, RSS and Pushnote

I'm trying to catch up!  These look like great tools, BUT . . . I can barely keep up with my Facebook page and I really don't want to add 3 more tools to the already overwhelming amount of information I get every day!!  I can see myself using them for specific needs in the future maybe, such as following a conference I am not able to attend.  Is it just me?  Is it just my age?  I want to keep my online presence as limited as possible to preserve what little privacy is left.

Thing 3: Consider your personal brand

I have not Googled myself in quite awhile.  It used to be the first thing that showed up was my "old maid librarian" photo from the college web site!  It is a reflection of change in access of information that now many references to my professional writings show up on the first results page of the Google search.  The results included the Digital Commons at Kennesaw, Bandy Heritage Center, CiteULike (new to me!), LibGuides on my college web site, and JSTOR.  It was actually gratifying to find my humble writings so available.  I like the idea of branding, but I'm not sure where to start.  I would love a book/tea logo! :)
BTW, I just hate it that Lipstick Librarian is already taken!

Thing 2: Visiting other blogs

I enjoyed looking at other blogs and I left comments at London Library Girl, Librarian in a Nutshell, and Rose, the Librarian at Maria. It is great to see so many library students participating in 23 Things. When I was in Library school I only had one computer class on how to write computer-assisted library instruction program in PASCAL. Boy, things have changed since then!