Social Media and Library Trends for 2011 |by AnnaLaura Brown

As AnnaLaura Brown writes in her Blog SocialNetworkingLibrarian.com, "Social media is becoming more and more a must for libraries and many libraries are finding that when used properly it can be a great tool to save money and promote library services and collections." Read up on a few PROJECTED TRENDS for libraries for 2011.

Social Media and Library Trends for 2011

Is Back Into The Blogging Business

A few months back, I was FEELING LIKE THE POOR DONKEY IN THE PICTURE ABOVE--completely OVERLOADED and BURDENED by my OBLIGATIONS that I was literally IMMOBILIZED...I thought it would be HELPFUL to me and my schedule if I had a FEW EXTRA HANDS to help with the MOUNTING tasks that I somehow ALLOWED to pile up...Yup, I typed PILE UP. As luck would have it I came across AN IT STUDENT who was looking for A PROJECT OR TWO on an Internship Basis, so I gave her MY BLOG. I had high hopes for MY NEWFOUND TREASURE would help me SEEMINGLY be able to LOOK as if I was on top of EVERYTHING. Unfortunately, that DID NOT work out as well as I liked.

After taking on this YOUNG INTERN and becoming GLEEFUL that I could DIRECT MY ATTENTIONS to other PROJECTS, my hopes were dashed when the Intern had to abandon my Blog in pursuit of loftier assignments. So, LIBRARY LIAISONS languished for months and months WITHOUT one solitary post. Happily, I've got a BETTER HANDLE on the myriad of obligations that afflicted me since July AND am happy to report that I'M BACK IN THE BLOGGING BUSINESS.

Preparing For 2011 ALA Midwinter in San Diego, California

Its that time of year again--Time to kick the old ALA Midwinter Schedule into gear! Although ALA Midwinter is always a hectic affair where I have way more functions, meetings and appointments than I will ever feasibly attend, I so enjoy the opportunity to "Sharpen the Saw" by attending interesting and thought provoking Sessions and/or Networking with like-minded professionals whom always offer up new and interesting ways to approaching a challenging issue.

This Midwinter Conference will be no different. I enjoy my work within the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC) and New Members Roundtable (NMRT) and look forward to my first ALSC Budget Committee Meeting and my first NMRT Executive Board Meeting as I'm currently the Treasurer-Elect and have been working diligently with the current Treasurer on learning the In's and Out's of the organization. While I served in the capacity of Treasurer for the State of Connecticut's Library Association and may have a few fiscal management skills under my belt, each organization/association is different and have their own unique way of facilitating business. So lots of learning will be going on at this Midwinter Meeting.

2011 also marks my Second Term as Chair of the Diversity Research Grants Advisory Committee and the Committee's DiversiTEA Program where the Call for Applications will be announced. I've been working with a dedicated Team of 14 professionals from around the country since July 2010 and will NOW get the opportunity to meet many of them face-to-face!

I hope to also hope to take in a little SIGHTSEEING! It has been six long years since I last spent any REAL time in the City of San Diego, so am hoping that the beautiful weather which the City is known for will shine brightly for all the librarians and library related professionals who will spend a few days admiring her FAIR BEAUTY!