Stellman the Librarian

This week was pretty fun - we turned our eyes toward leading professional development. Library Media Specialists are in a prime position to lead PD on tech topics. Social media can be a fabulous spot for professional learning communities. It can also provide a wealth of information on assessments, classroom activities, feedback, worksheets and more. In that regard, if someone says they "don't do" social media, and they've never tried it, they're missing out. In my current role, I've trained several people on how to use Twitter. They began our session very hesitantly. However, these people are now skilled and confident, and enjoy using social media to promote their schools. My presentation, called "That Gosh Darn Social Media," is intended for people who are not comfortable with social media, but are open to learning more. I totally understand how awkward it is to travel outside your comfort zone. In fact, I used Google Slides to create the pr...

I just submitted a position paper on social media and teens. And wow, did it bring me back. My friends and I were on the "cutting edge" of social media in high school. In 1997 or 1998, we had our AIM screen names and we were constantly logged on. (If you had dial-up, you were SOL with the away message.) Everyone knew your regular screen name, only the CHOSEN FEW knew your secret screen name, that you used when you were super busy or not in the "mood" to talk with anyone (but secretly, you were). It brought me back to my dad, saying "GET OFF THAT IMPERSONAL FORM OF COMMUNICATION!" And me responding that it actually was super personal, since I was chatting with my *friends.* It brought me back to getting random AIM messages that solely said "a/s/l" and me responding "Wow, you can't even say HI? Why would I want to talk to YOU." (It truly was the Wild West, and I was ready to fire away like Annie Oakley.) And God help someone i...

I took Intro to Sociology in college and I remember thinking that parts of it were NONSENSE. My professor was saying that we all have different versions of ourselves. I must've been pretty darn authentic at 20, because I staunchly disagreed. As Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam." Now, I'm juggling identities of being a mom, an employee, a library school student. The roles of daughter and wife come easier...I feel like I can be a good wife and an employee, a good daughter and a student...but it's tough being a mom and an employee. Or a mom and a student. Or an employee and a student. And where does "friend" fit in there...? BUT...LUCKILY nowadays we have social media to segment all these little versions and present them compartmentalized, perfected and packaged for user consumption. I have three Instagram accounts: one for work, one personal (for friends & family), and one anonymous one that is struggling with its identity brand. Social me...