Blogs. blogs, everywhere!

RSS feed readers, blogs, Tumblr....I can barely keep track of my Facebook newsfeed and the latest Librarian to follow on Twitter, much less the billions of beneficial blogs for librarians and educators. 

In this post, I'm going to break down what an RSS feeder is, share the one I've chosen to use, and also share with you a few of the blogs I am currently following. Also, my newly created Tumblr account will be at the bottom of this post if you want to follow my adventures in blog following.

According to zapier.com, an RSS feed reader stands for, "Really Simple Syndication. It's a file that most websites update with their newest blog posts, videos, deals and more, so you can "subscribe" to sites and have new content automatically pushed to you." Basically, if you want to have a place to read all the most recent posts from your favorite blogs, choose an RSS feed reader to put all of the most recent posts in a single feed instead of clicking on a ton of blogs just to read one post on a page. 

I chose to use Feedly as my RSS feed reader because of its simplicity. The layout is clean and the search function is simple to use. This is what my current Feedly looks like at the moment. Each blog that I've followed is listed to the left under a "collection" I've created. This keeps my blogs even more organized by keeping them grouped. So far I have "Library Displays," "Literature," and "School Library." I'm a pretty simple social media junkie: I don't need frills, advanced search features, costly upgrades, or lots of customization. I just need the facts, ma'am. 

Once my Feedly was set up, I went hunting for great blogs to follow. Here are a few that I chose to add to my librarian survival kit:

1. Awful Library Books at http://awfullibrarybooks.net/
This one is perfect for a good laugh or maybe a list of books to weed from your library IMMEDIATELY! 

2. LISNews at http://lisnews.org/
The subheading says, "Scandalous Since 1999," which should be enough to get you reading. If not, just check out the international library news, book recommendations, and how to select new software. 

3. The Absolutely True Adventures of a School Librarian at http://www.nikkidrobertson.com/
Nikki Robertson presented at TLA2017 this year and I've been hooked her ever since. She has a heavy Twitter presence and many of the things she shares there originate on her blog. Her tips for new librarians, empowering your library through social media, and reading focuses are very educational and fun to read. 

4. The Adventures of Library Girl at http://www.librarygirl.net/
A superhero librarian full of wisdom is worth following. She posts about #futureready initiatives, book talks, and creating different things using online tools. Her blog is eye-catching and informational, containing a wide range of library related information.

5. YALSA's blog at http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/
As a (hopefully) future secondary librarian, reading YASLA's posts keeps me in the know bout current YA lit and YA trends. This blog provides programming ideas for STEM-related activities, updates on their programs focus, and articles about YA services. 

I hope this brief review of Feedly and some of the blogs I follow can help get you into the world of educational blogs to expand your network! And as promised, here is my recently created Tumblr for your viewing pleasure. 

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/funkyfreshpages