Social Butterfly: Facebook and Twitter in the Library

I went to school in the late 70s and 80s, way before social media existed.  It is now everywhere.  I can only imagine how different my school experiences would have been.  It would have eliminated a lot of time.  Facebook and Twitter allow us immediate access to information in a matter of minutes.  it is no surprise to me that librarians are using those platforms to engage and communicate with students, parents and the community.

I have had a personal Facebook page for many years.  I must admit I mostly use it to keep up with family and friends.  Rarely do I post except for special occasions.  It peaked my curiosity as to what a library page might offer.  After exploring quite a few pages, it appears that liking and sharing is more popular than commenting.  Almost every page had an “About” section that consisted of a mission statement and contact information. It also including pictures (students, décor, etc.), videos (themed, read aloud, etc.), events (author visits, story fest, and community outreach (beautification projects, Oni-Con, etc.) Although having a Facebook page for your library would be a wonderful place to exchange information, there are some drawbacks.  A library Facebook page can be an avenue to bring awareness to library events, gather feedback and connect all stakeholders.  However, it takes time to manage, some sites maybe blocked by your school’s internet filters and Facebook is no longer the top social platforms for students.  Even with the cons, Facebook is a worthwhile library commitment.

The landscape of how students use social media has changed.   Facebook is no longer the most popular online platform.  According to a recent article published by Pew Research Center, “YouTube, Instagram and SnapChat are the most popular online platforms among teens”. (Anderson and Jiang 2018).  Although Twitter did not make the top three choices of most popular, it is still a great resource and one that I would choose overall.  Twitter is immediate, interactive and concise.  Whatever the platform of your choose, make sure you know your audience, are willing to maintain page and be current and relevant.

Twitter Ed Tech

The Daring Librarian

@GwynethJones

The Daring Librarian. Future Ready. Mover, Shaker, Innovator, & Google Certified. Geek. Ridiculously Humble.  Gwyneth uses the platform of Twitter to showcase the wonderful things that are happening in her library as well as recommendations and lists of books to read.

Jim Lerman

@jimlerman

Architect of Ideas & Implementation: Educator, Designer, Author, Speaker, Project Director

Joe Fahs

@mpondu 

Director ATS Elmira College, Canvas learner, math instructor, returned Peace Corps vol (French-speaking Congo), proud grandpa, avid walker, yoga believer. Joe gives us a glimpse into his personal life with sweet tweets of his grandchildren doing the cutest things like watering plants.  He also shares important and insightful information and resources related to Elmira College and his department to technology reviews about the latest happenings.  

Kathy Schrock

@kathyschrock

Educational Technologist/Ed Tech presenter. Geek, DEN Guru, GCT. Apple Teacher 2016. Kathy is a true “techy”.  Her tweets are informative and hands-on. She is a true “techy” with a vast knowledge of technology.  Her use of Twitter is a great enhancement to creditability.

Anderson, M. & Jiang, JJ. (2018, May 15). Teens, social media & technology 2018. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org

Blogs and Blog Readers

Wide World of Blogs

Although I’ve blogged about books I read in two of my previous classes, this assignment dove in a little deeper.  It showed me how little I know about the world of blogging. The article on the top RSS Readers was very helpful and informative in my decision on which one to choose.  I highly recommend reading the article https://zapier.com/blog/best-rss-feed-reader-apps/  to better understand the diverse types of RSS readers out there.

Most of the RSS Readers offered the same services but, I found Bloglovin to be a better fit for me because of its simplicity.

Bloglovin is a platform that allows users to organize, read, and discover their favorite blogs on mobile and desktops.

Other features I liked:

• No cost
• Easy set-up built-in blogging tools
• Offers apps for both Android and iOS platforms
• Caters primarily to the “lifestyle” crowd
• Reputable and award winning

Highlighted Blogs

Bookswept is a collection of literary quotes, reflections and personal storytelling. This blog caught my attention because it focuses on two these that I love, quotes and storytelling.

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/bookswept-11870201

Me, My Shelf and I is a blog with book reviews, giveaways, author interviews focusing on Young Adult, New Adult and Middle Grade Books.  The blog title caught my eye first because it is very similar to the title of one of my favorite Beyonce songs’ Me, Myself and I. I am also a big fan of YA books.

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/me-my-shelf-i-18854971

Xpresso Reads is mostly a YA book blog that helps you pile on to your “to be read”(TBR) list. I am a big fan of YA books and hope to one day become a middle or high school librarian.

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/xpresso-reads-4014216

Caffeinated Reviewer is a blog of book and audio reviews in all fictional genres from romance to horror by Kimberly Costa all while chatting over coffee. Who doesn’t like like a good chat over coffee or tea with friends.

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/caffeinated-reviewer-9974645

NPR Topics:Books is a blog dedicated to book reviews, interviews with authors, and NPR Book Tours, a weekly audio feature and podcast where leading authors read and discuss their work.  I really like the idea of the authors point of view of the writing. I think it would be quite interesting to discover their process from being to end.

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/npr-topics-books-639050

My Tumblr page

https://cassandramurdaugh.tumblr.com/

Ghost LSSL 5385

Ghost

Best Fiction

Reynolds, J. (2016). Ghost. NY: Simon & Schuster.

Castle Crenshaw goes by the name Ghost because he can run fast. The first time he ran, he was running for his life!  His father pulled a gun and on him and his mom and used it.

Living in the projects of Glass Manor, dealing with his dad’s incarceration, eating leftover cafeteria food every night for dinner from his mother’s job and being bullied at school has been the way of life for him. 

His dad has been in jail for a couple of years but, the trauma is still there.  He and his mom have not slept in their rooms since the incident and Ghost has been getting into a lot of altercations at school.

One day he happens upon a track practice and decides to join all the other spectators. On an impulse, he decides to challenge one of the elite runners to a race-and wins.  The Coach takes notice and ask him to join the team. Coach sees the potential but also quickly realizes Ghost has more to work on than just running.  Coach decides to take him under his wing.  During the process, he gets into a few fights and shoplifts.  Jeopardizing his future on the team before it evens starts, Ghost finds himself caring enough about being on the team and changes his behavior for the better. Coach teaches him how to use running to move forward in life and not to escape the past. When the first competitive race is held, Ghost runs the hundred meters.  From that day, he learns you can’t run away from yourself, “ain’t nobody that fast.”

Reflection

Ghost is an excellent book for young readers.  No matter your gender, race or background, it is relatable.  It is a sensitive realistic depiction of a young boy dealing with trauma and trying to avoid the everyday struggles of living in poverty and despair.  His approach is refreshing and leaves you wanting more. The authors ability to bring the characters to life, the straightforwardness, and the authenticity is seamless.

Ghost YouTube Book Trailer

https://youtu.be/ahY5VcB81rc

Books by Jason Reynolds

Once and for All LSSL 5385

Once and for All

NYT Bestseller

Dessen, S. (2017). Once and for all. NY: Penguin Random House.

Louna is the daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrret.  She has seen all sorts of wedding and it has made Louna a bit cynical to the notion that happily-ever-after-endings exist.  The death of her boyfriend Ethan in a school shooting derails her views even more on love.  Her mom hires Ambrose, the son of a client. Ambrose by no means is what you would want in a boyfriend.  He is a womanizer who has a different woman on his arm every night.  Louna doesn’t take him seriously at all.  He feels he has found the one and does everything wrong and write to convince Louna of the same.

Reflection

This is my first Sarah Dessen book. I was not impressed, maybe because of the time-restraint that I was under. I found Louna boring and flat. Ambrose was annoying and over-confident. Louna’s grief over Ethan’s death was not believable. I was also disturbed by the matter-of-fact-way the school shooting was handled. It wasn’t necessary. I will however give this novel another chance when I can read it for pleasure.

Q & A: Bestselling author Sarah Dessen shares about latest book, parenting, what next.

http://www.wral.com/q-a-bestselling-author-sarah-dessen-shares-about-latest-book-parenting-what-s-next/16767710/

Books by Sarah Dessen

50 Things You Should Know About Titanic LSSL 5385

50 Things You Should Know About Titanic

Quick Pick

Callery, S. (2016). 50 things you should know about titanic. CA: QEB Publishing.

The Titanic was hailed as the largest ocean liner of its time. It boasts the least technology with the most luxurious accommodations for relaxation and dining, The Titanic set sail on its first voyage ion April 10, 1912. To the horror of the world, four days late it was struck by an iceberg of the coast of Canada. It sank with more than a thousand poor souls perishing with it. This book outlines fascinating facts with a no-nonsense approach to the events, people, and personal accounts to one of the worst tragedies of our time.

Reflection

From eyewitness accounts and evidence from the wreckage, Sean Callery has once again done a wonderful job of capturing 50 facts about another history event. His depiction of the arrogance, greed and ambition of all those involved in the tragedy that is the Titanic is very well written in this book. I recommend it for all ages, especially those who love history and want a more detail account of what really happened that fateful day.

Books by Sean Callery

Popular: A Memoir: Vintage Wisdom for A Modern Geek LSSL 5385

Popular: A Memoir: Vintage Wisdom for A Modern Geek

Nonfiction Award

Van Wagenen, M. (2014). Popular: a memoir: vintage wisdom for a modern geek. NY: PenguinGroup.

Popular: A Memoir: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek is an account of fifteen-year-old girl named Maya. By all accounts, she is not a part of the popular crowd and she has few friends. She’s rather spend her time reading and writing. One day she stumbles across a copy of “Betty Cornell’s Teen-Age Popularity Guide” from the early 50s. With the encouragement of her mother, Maya conducts a social experiment that span an entire school year. The results are painful at times, funny, honest, heartfelt with a few unexpected surprises.

Reflection

It took me a while to get into this book at first. I am not a huge fan of memoir. O was pleasantly surprised at the courage of this young girl to embark on a social experiment based on the popularity guide that was fifty years old. It has a relatable voice for youngster today who find it difficult to stand out. Maya could easily be a role model for adolescents facing social issues.  This was an enjoyable and impressive read.

YouTube Trailer

https://youtu.be/76_XtaNjzpY

YouTube Link: Pearls, Long skirts and vintage wisdom. Back to the 1950s

https://youtu.be/bUDiD9ukJW0

Tell Me Something Real LSSL 5385

Tell Me Something Real

Morris Awards

Devlin, C. (2016). Tell me something real. NY: Simon & Schuster.

The Babcock sisters are bonded by sadness.  They are struggling to hold the family together as they face the diagnosis of terminal cancer for their mother.  Vanessa is the shy, observant middle child who is also a gifted pianist.   Adrienne is brash, confident, artistic and extremely foul-mouthed.  Marie is the youngest, she is devoutly religious and the most beloved. Their father is a pushover and workaholic who basically leaves the girls to fin for themselves and take care of their mother.

They spend most of their summer traveling across the border to a clinic in Mexico for an experimental treatment that is banned in the US for the mother. When it is revealed that the mother does not have cancer, but Munchausen syndrome (a mental illness in which the person deliberately fakes a terminal disease to garner attention by any means), everyone’s world is turned upside down and they must fight to fight themselves in the madness.

Reflection

At first, I thought this was going to be another book about a family in crisis because of a love one dealing with cancer. I was pleasantly surprised at the twist and turns. This novel is not only about the bond of sisters, but also betrayal, love, and acceptance. Every character in this story had a unique way of coping with the betrayal of the mother. The unfolding of it all was both intriguing and well developed, a must read.

  

About the Author

Calla Devlin is a Pushcart nominee and winner of the Best of Blood and Thunder Award whose stories have been included included in numerous literary journals and anthologies. Including Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter bond, for which she has features in San Francisco Chronicle.  Tell Me Something Real is her first novel.

Book by Calla Devlin