As teenagers’ use of the social-networking website, Twitter, increases, Michigan State University education professor, Christine Greenhow, suggests the site may have educational benefits as well. Greenhow found that students who used Twitter as part of academic lessons earned higher grades and were more engaged in lessons than their peers. Read the full article at United Press International (10/17)
We know that not everyone in our region will have the opportunity to attend the MEMO Conference this year, which can be disappointing. A strategy I have found helpful when I am unable to attend events, is to find out the Twitter hash tag for the event, then do a Twitter search on the hash tag. now, you can read the tweets from attendees and feel a bit more connected to people and events. In this case the hash tag will be #memo12 and you can follow MEMO on Twitter anytime, using their @memo_updates too.
This is my first blog post using the new mobile WordPress app on my iPad.
We want to hear from you! And, we want to make it easier for you to engage with one another as well! We all have something to offer, and although many of our CMLE members come from different library types, we all really do have a lot in common! Let’s learn from each other. Let’s talk. Let’s get this 12-county region of library staff communicating, sharing, and learning from one another!
“How?” you ask?
Well, as you may have noticed, here at CMLE, we have been hard at work rethinking and retooling to better facilitate conversation and sharing across the region. We have a new Facebook page which we’ve connected with our Twitter account and blog, and we’re sending out the “CMLE Weekly Review” via email to all our members.
Our new Facebook page is located at http://www.facebook.com/CentralMinnesotaLibrariesExchange We hope you’ll “like” CMLE on the Facebook page itself — or, on the upper right side of this page, you’ll notice that you can click the “Like” button for the CMLE Facebook account. We will use the Facebook page to connect with those that have “liked” us in an informal yet useful way. We also hope that you will use the comment area on the CMLE Facebook page to talk with other library personnel!
The CMLE Twitter account handle is @CMLEMN! Here, you’ll see updates, reminders, useful links, etc… from CMLE on a regular basis. “Follow” us on Twitter and we’ll be sure to “follow” you right back! That’s the name of the game, and we know you’re sharing useful stuff on Twitter, too! Like Facebook, this is an informal space that we’re hoping to keep fresh, light, energizing, and most of all — helpful!
Additionally, don’t forget you can comment on our blog posts as well in the “Leave a Reply” box!
We know your time is valuable, and hope that these new social media options will make it easier for you to connect with CMLE and other libraries around the region. Please remember that Patricia and Kate are always interested in hearing directly from you, too! Send an email, give us a ring, talk with us face-to-face at an event or conference… whatever is comfortable for you! Hope to hear from you soon!
One Book, One Twitter is officially underway! American Gods by Neil Gaiman was selected as the first book that the “club” will read. I’ve already picked up my copy from the library, and if all goes according to plan… will start devouring tonight!
The One Book, One Twitter book club opened for discussion starting on May 5th. If you’re interested, you may wish to review the following for a system of hashmarks for tweeting and commentary…
#1b1t: General Discussion
#1b1t_1c: Discussion of Chapter 1 (and prologue material)
#1b1t_2c: Discussion of Chapter 2
… and on until the final chapter.
For additional information, and a One Book, One Twitter reading schedule, take a look at Jeff Howe’s Crowdsourcing blog – he’s the guy that started the whole thing!
Jeff Howe, a contributing editor for Wired Magazine and writer of the popular blog – Crowdsourcing, recently developed the idea of One Book, One Twitter. Inspired by “one book, one city” clubs, Howe posed the idea of an online book club that would hopefully pull in “zillions” of readers. Howe first proposed the idea on March 18th, and began collecting book nominations from online participants. All nominated books had to be available around the world, translated into MANY languages, and of general interest to all. As of April 6th, American Gods by Neil Gaiman was selected as the crowd favorite. Other popular nominations included Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Brave New World, Slaughterhouse Five, and Catch 22.
But, wait, not so fast… Voting isn’t over yet! By the end of this week, “judges” for the One Book, One Twitter club will be posting 4 other possible choices. Then, during the week of April 12th, participants will be able to vote for one of the “judges” suggestions, or can select American Gods or one of the other popular nominations as their favorite. In all, voters will have ten books to choose from. No word yet as to when the winner will be announced, but we’ll be sure to update you as soon as we know!
This is something libraries should get behind, and just maybe…help promote. Imagine the possibilities, and how cool is it that a huge group of people from around the world are being exposed to great works of literature? What a wonderful way to promote a love for reading, create a community made up of people from vastly different backgrounds—AND introduce people to a popular technology!
To get involved:
1) Get a Twitter account!
2) Search for hashtag #1b1t
3) Read posts, you’ll quickly discover where the group is with the whole process.
You may also learn more about One Book, One Twitter at Howe’s Crowdsourcing Blog: http://www.crowdsourcing.com/cs/.