This is the second in a series of posts for library and information students and new grads. Even though we can’t meet in person due to the impact of COVID-19, there are lots of ways to feel connected, keep learning and figure out what you’re interested in.
The first post was Feel connected #1 – Join Twitter, this post is about Twitter chats.
Feel connected #2 – Join a Twitter chat
Imagine if you could do this from home…
- Find out how library and information professionals feel about different topics
- Join in a community conversation
- Find voices that resonate with you
You can by following a Twitter chat. A Twitter chat is a scheduled gathering on Twitter, where participants discuss a specific topic. If you have a Twitter account you can participate and respond, but even if you don’t have a Twitter account you can still read the chat.
How do I find these chats?
- The ALIA New Generation Advisory Committee (NGAC) runs #AusLibChat every month across Australian and New Zealand. The upcoming topics can be found on the #AusLibChat webpage. I set a reminder in my calendar to remind me of when the next chat is. You can also read the past 4 years of #AusLibChat archives here – thanks ALIA NGAC!
- #CritLib is an international Twitter chat every 2 weeks – more info here. #CritLib means critical librarianship – “a movement of library workers dedicated to bringing social justice principles into our work in libraries” (from http://critlib.org/about/). They have also kindly archived the last few years of their past chats, so lots to read here.
Here’s how a Twitter chat works…
- Pick a chat
- Figure out when the next chat is on (might need some time zone maths for this)
- Get a cup of tea (or preferred beverage)
- Look at the questions on the chat website
- Follow along by searching for the # hashtag of the chat OR follow the account that is running the chat
- Reply to any of the questions or comments if you like – just include the chat hashtag and the question number
- If there’s something you want to say, or don’t have a Twitter account, the chat moderators usually provide a way for you to email them so that you can be anonymous.
A reminder to take breaks from Twitter especially during intense news cycles (like now). Look here for lots of mental health support resources.
Coming up next – Learn something #1 – Do a free online course
Niamh Quigley 