Personal Learning Networks: Professional Development for the Isolated School Librarian

Most school librarians are solo librarians working with little direct contact with their counterparts in schools or in other types of libraries. This makes it very difficult to keep up with trends and issues. Building a personal learning network will help overcome the isolation.

Most school librarians are solo librarians working away from little direct contact with their counterparts in schools and in other types of libraries. Sometimes this is geography and other times it is the lack of opportunities within their school districts or communities to become acquainted and communicate. It is very difficult to keep up with trends and issues, new methods or activities that should be tried in libraries. For those who did not learn the importance of professional development in their education programs, the author discusses the need for the solo librarian to remain current and to continue to find ways to use in continuing advocacy for their school library programs. Building a personal learning network can help overcome the isolation. Opportunities for becoming active at the state and national level are described as well as how to go beyond the library. Social bookmarking, social networks, and online conferences are discussed. Because many lack funds to attend conferences, readers will be pleased to learn that most of the activities can be done without leaving home.