I've had a Twitter account since 2008 and can count on both hands the numbers of times I've posted on it since then...until now. I started checking out my chosen bloggers' Twitter feeds awhile ago, pretty much because "Agnostic, Maybe" always has a lot of entertaining things to say in both places. I always found Twitter to be less of a professional tool and more of a celebrity watch--which doesn't interest me in the slightest. But this is the assignment and I'm willing to have my mind changed.
First, found it extremely difficult to locate all of my bloggers (and I've added some since the blogging assignment) on Twitter. Many of them did not have their Twitter name on their blog or it wasn't easy to find, if they did. I ended up having to investigate further or guess by their real name. etc. And then I added HootSuite and that as made all the difference in the world! I really like how it organize things by columns and it is user-friendly (speaking as one who is not comfortable with virtual gadgets and widgets). I put in my 5 posts and I think only 2 of them are actually relevant and show there is thought behind them. I'm not the type who updates her Facebook status every day or every few hours; I don't usually have anything to say that is only 140 characters. That portion of the assignment was difficult for me. I am also not thinking too much on the pertinent issues facing libraryland at the moment. Outside of class, my thoughts center often on making dinner, getting ready for tomorrow, driving through commuter traffic, finding an internship for the summer,etc. I feel somewhat distanced from these issues--and that's ok for me right now! Being a first year I don't feel as though I comprehend everything the librarians are saying and I'm not employed by a library--so there's a disconnect. That's where using these tools like Twitter with HootSuite and following the blogs really come into play; even if I don't have anything to say on these topics I can still follow along and read the different points of view posted by people who do have something to say. This class has been so valuable in teaching me how to bridge the gulf between where I am now, in school, and what is happening "out there" in the libraries.
Lastly I changed my Twitter name because I had numbers attached to the previous one and I noticed the vast majority of people I follow do not have numbers in their name. Isn't that funny? Is is because having numbers in your name is reminiscent of an AIM screen name and that's considered juvenile? Or is having numbers in your screen name as way to mark yourself as not creative enough to find a name that isn't taken already? My previous name was SpecialK86 and now is SpecialKlib which I think is infinitely better because I snuck a little library love in there.
I've heard some really good things about HootSuite. It seems like a powerful organizing tool for Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about HootSuite too. I think its pretty nifty but I think that TwitterWeb is easier for me to understand. I hate Twitterweb's RT function though
ReplyDeleteI think what your point about screen names is really interesting because even though you're questioning your thought process on why people choose the screen names they do and whether or not something is juvenile vs. professional, my thought process was exactly the same. I try to use the name across different social networking/content uploading sites for consistency and, luckily so far, it's an out there enough name that no one else has taken it and I have not had to use numbers.
ReplyDeleteI also like the new name- library love indeed!
Ah Twitter names, my difficulty in life. I tried so many, and ended up with numbers anyway, since there are literally millions of Emily Johnsons in the word. It's something I stressed over, because I wasn't sure if numbers are the best route, but my fallback (emilyinthlibrary) was already taken.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommend on HootSuite, I've personally been using TweetDeck, which I love, but it lacks some pizazz, maybe I'll try them both and see which is better.