Today’s journalism students are entering an industry that’s facing a crossroads. These days, newspapers and media in general are adapting and growing at a rapid pace, and it’s essential that students keep up, or they’ll be left in the dust. By reading these blogs, you can keep an ear to the ground on the latest developments that matter the most to journalism students.
General
These blogs offer general information to journalism students.
PoynterOnline: Read news and tips about writing, reporting, and more.
Common Sense Journalism: Doug Fisher’s blog offers a view of common sense journalism in new and old media.
The Editorialiste: Andrew Nusca offers his writing about media issues.
Lost Remote: Lost Remote discusses the future of TV and the business of journalism.
Institute for Analytic Journalism: This institute researches and develops non-traditional analytic methods and tools for journalism.
Innovation Journalism: Read this blog to learn about journalism, information, public affairs, and more on Innovation Journalism.
Online Journalism Review: Read this blog, the work of OJR readers and journalism students from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism.
Jschool Student Blog: This blog is maintained by journalism students at Jschool: Journalism Education & Training, Australia.
New Media
Many blogs that are important to journalism students today reflect what’s happening in new media.
Journalism 2.0: Mark Briggs’ blog writes about journalism in the digital age.
Journalistopia: This blog is written for online journalists.
Contentious: Contentious shares Amy Gahran’s discussion on communication in the online age.
Mashable: Mashable offers a readable guide to social media.
Socialmedia.biz: Get social strategies and social news from this blog.
Online Journalism Blog: Read the Online Journalism Blog to get a look into the future of journalism.
MediaShift: MediaShift is a guide to the digital media revolution.
Ricochet: Here you’ll find a home for ideas on online news.
paidContent: This blog writes about the economic evolution of digital content.
New Media Bytes: Read New Media Bytes to learn about online journalism, web production, and more.
Publishing 2.0: Publishing 2.0 covers the revolution of media.
Reportr: Reportr offers a blog to help make sense of how media, society, and technology work together.
BeatBlogging: BeatBlogging works to push the practice of beat reporting.
Online Journalism Review: Online Journalism Review works to support good journalism and help journalists thrive in the Digital Now.
Technolo-J: With Technolo-J, you can get in touch with your technical side.
Eat Sleep Publish: Read thoughts on publishing’s future on Eat Sleep Publish.
Journerdism: Journerdism discusses online journalism, multimedia, social media, and more.
E-Media Tidbits: In this group blog, you’ll learn about the intersection of news and technology.
MediaMemo: Find news, analysis, and opinion about the digital revolution in this blog.
10,000 Words: 10,000 Words is a blog at the intersection of journalism and technology.
Mediaweek: Mediaweek is an official media news magazine.
Newspaper Death Watch: Newspaper Death Watch will keep you up to date on the decline of newspapers.
Topix Journalism: Topix updates journalism news from thousands of online sources.
Romenesko: Follow Jim Romenesko’s blog to get a daily dose of media industry news, commentary, and more.
Evolving Newsroom: This blog shares links and observations on news and journalism.
I Want Media: Find media news and resources from I Want Media.
Journalists
Get your news straight from the journalists on these blogs.
Howard Owens: Here you can read the personal blog of Howard Owens.
Mediascaper: Anthony Salveggi is a Tampa Bay area journalist who is interested in online communication and press issues.
Invisible Inkling: Ryan Sholin writes about work as a Director of News Innovation, and how the news business is changing.
Buzz Machine: Jeff Jarvis, associate professor and director of interactive journalism at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, and author of What Would Google Do?, writes this blog about media and news.
Rob Curley: This Internet newsman writes about local news and the evolution of traditional media.
Abbey Anne: Abbey Anne’s blog discusses news, reviews, travels, and food.
DigiDave: DigiDave approaches journalism as a process, not a product.
Kelly Roche: Kelly Roche’s blog offers a look into the life of a journalist and producer.
Reflections of a Newsosaur: Read Alan Mutter’s blog to read the musings and warnings of a veteran media executive.
Steve Outing: Steve Outing shares musings on news in the Internet era.
One Man and His Blog: Adam Tinworth writes about bloggers, journalists, and "other media reptiles."
yelvington: On this blog, Steve Yelvington is a lifelong journalist and media company strategist.
Adrian Monck: Adrian Monck writes this blog about how we inform ourselves and why we do it.
Lucas Grindley: Lucas Grindley’s blog explores the new way for journalism.
The Linchpen: Greg Linch shares his thoughts about online journalism and journalism education.
Jon Slattery: Jon Slattery is a freelance journalist from London, England.
Charlie Beckett: POLIS director Charlie Beckett offers comments on international journalism, media, and society on this blog.
Mastering Multimedia: Read musings from Colin Mulvany, a multimedia producer on this blog.
Meranda Writes: Meranda Watling is a young reporter who writes about K-12 education.
You can find just about anyone on Twitter, and leaders are no exception. Whether you’re looking for motivational speakers, authors, social media experts, or politicians, you can find quite a few interesting personalities. Read on to learn about 100 leaders on Twitter that you can learn from.
Speakers
These speakers and experts offer inspiration and learning.
@johncmaxwell: John Maxwell is a bestselling author and speaker on leadership.
@RickM: Check out Rick Myers, founder and CEO of Talent Zoo.
@angiechaplin: Angie is a leadership presenter, practitioner and professor.
@MachenMacDonald: Follow Machen to learn from a #1 bestselling author, coach, and speaker.
@AndrewWindham: This professional speaker and entrepreneur can help coach you in your business.
@tonyrobbins: Tony Robbins offers loads of inspiration.
@KevinEikenberry: Kevin is a leadership expert, speaker, consultant, and more.
Business & Entrepreneurship
Learn about business from these entrepreneurs and other business experts on Twitter.
@raedsam: @raedsam is a businessman, leader, and humanitarian.
@cpoizat: @cpoizat is the Founder and President of International Network of Social Entrepreneurs.
@ramit: Follow Ramit Sethi to find loads of entrepreneurial knowledge.
@SDEntrepreneur: Follow James Hickey, an entrepreneur in Internet marketing and direct marketing.
@guykawasaki: You can learn about business and venture capital from Guy Kawasaki.
@StartupGuru: Follow Brian Tsuchiya to find loads of information about startups.
@mariaandros: Maria A. Andros empowers and teaches passionate entrepreneurs around the world.
@darrenmonroe: Darren Monroe can teach you about leadership and web marketing.
@EntMagazineAmy: Follow Amy Cosper, the editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magazine.
@LIW3: LIW3 is a global leadership consultancy supporting leaders around the world.
@el_maloush: Stephan Krause is a young entrepreneur, marketing expert, and opinion leader.
@JohnChow: Follow John Chow to learn about making money online.
@kevincottrell: Kevin Cottrell is a real estate media and economic expert who likes to share news and information about real estate and markets.
@charleneli: Charlene is the co-author of Groundswell and a thought leader on emerging technologies.
Religion
Learn from these religious leaders on Twitter.
@millerisms56: Here you can follow the founder of Godtube.
@TerryStorch: Follow Terry Storch to learn from a digerati pastor.
@bradpowell: Brad is a leader at NorthRidge Church.
Social Media
These leaders can help teach you about social media.
@DannyBrown: Check out Danny Brown, who provides business branding and social media consultancy services.
@problogger: Darren Rowse is a goldmine of information for bloggers.
@skydiver: Follow Peter Shakman, a social media CEO adventurist and founder of Help A Reporter Out.
@ScottAllen: Follow Scott Allen for insight into social media and entrepreneurship.
@JasonCalcanis: Jason Calcanis can teach you about social media, online entrepreneurship, and more.
@copyblogger: Follow Brian Clark to learn about new media.
Twitter offers a real-world education, right at your fingertips. It is a wonderful tool for collecting information, much of it educational. You can find educators, librarians, museums, and more on Twitter. Read on, and you’ll find 100 of the most educational feeds on Twitter.
Educators
Here are Twitter’s professors, teachers, and other educators.
@therefore: Read @therefore’s tweets to learn about emergent communications and new media.
@mweller: @martinweller is an Open University professor.
@drkent: Check out @drkent to learn about classical composition.
@ProfCarol: Carol Dickson-Carr is a part time economics professor.
@levarburton: LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow is an actor, director, and educator.
@lessig: @lessig offers a look into the posts of a Canadian law professor.
@hermida: You can learn about integrated journalism and new narrative styles from Alfred Hermida.
@vargasl: Learn about marketing communications from Lauren Vargas.
Blogs offer an excellent way for communities to come together over a common interest despite physical location. Educators can take advantage of this shared pool of knowledge to find inspiration, enhance their teaching, and help students learn more. The following blog posts come from a variety of bloggers sharing their passion and insight.
On Teaching
These posts take a look at what makes a good teacher and will inspire you to appreciate what you do or maybe even improve your style as an educator.
What Makes a Good Teacher. This post from The Reading Workshop includes six important elements of effective teachers.
"Steal". This teacher considers use of the word "steal" when discussing teaching ideas and urges teachers to embrace collaboration as a means to better teaching.
Reminders to teachers: Don’t get sick. This post highlights what can happen with a poor-quality substitute teacher and offers suggestions for the next time you must be absent.
Are you trained or educated?. This thought-provoking post asks you to consider whether you are trained or educated as an educator.
Home Ec Returns. Learn what Michael Mazenko says about the importance of teaching practical skills to high school students in this post.
Tutoring is like a GPS. This thoughtful post explores how teachers and tutors can work best to help students truly learn.
Why A Financial Education Should Not Be Postponed. Directed more specifically at parents, but an important reminder for educators as well, this post shares why children should learn about finances from an early age.
How DO We Learn Math?. This post explores the ways in which students learn math and how to incorporate these styles into effective learning.
When Parents do the Homework. This blog post offers a gentle reminder that the best way to get a student to do their own homework is by assigning child-appropriate tasks.
Knowledge is the Key. This teacher looks at the connection between knowledge and learning and shares some reading material that helped shape his approach as a teacher.
52 Teachers, 52 Lessons: Week 14. See what this teacher has to say about picking your battles in the classroom in this blog post that is part of an ongoing series intended to offer helpful information for teachers.
Ideas, Tips, and Resources for the Classroom
Find great suggestions and resources you can use in the classroom with these posts.
Essential Gardening Books for Kids. This list not only names some great gardening books to use in school, each is accompanied by an age level and what is special about the book.
Serial Success: 6 Strategies for School. These six tips offer suggestions for making the most of the students’ time in class. These tips are geared toward older students.
The Impact of Market Norms on Education…. Bill Ferriter shares his thoughts on an educational system that has moved from one based on social norms to one based on market norms.
The Need for Breakfast Clubs. This call for a Canadian breakfast program emphasizes the need for a healthy breakfast each day to ensure the best start for students.
A Dozen Ways to Save Dough. These twelve tips offer suggestions for administrators to consider when feeling the financial pinch.
The Union President’s Dilemma. Take a look at how the current financial crisis is impacting school districts and some of the tough choices that are being forced on educators.
Work-Study Will Get a Boost. Referencing a recent article in the New York Times, this post illustrates the importance of work-study programs for students.
Many feel that the educational system is in need of reform. Others may not see that need so much, but recognize changes that are coming. Find out what people are saying about the current and future issues central to education.
Let’s just put them all in jail 24/7. This post offers a thoughtful counter-position to Arne Duncan’s statements that schools should be open 6 days a week for 11 or 12 months of the year.
Newton lectured to empty rooms. Not only does this post warn against the dangers of boring lectures, it also theorizes on why some lecturers prefer this manner of teaching.
International Tests of Mystery. Nancy Flanagan writes an intelligent post examining the differences behind various tests and what they measure and argues for investing in education of all students, regardless of their scores.
Jacks of All Topics, Masters of None. Based on a recent study that shows high school students who study a topic deeply perform better than those who do not, this post explores the downfalls of teaching to the test.
Curricula: a short essay about education. This post advocates restructuring education so that it is a more natural form of learning and teaching–with better results and less work to make it happen.
The Retention Myth. This post reflects on current thinking about retaining science and math teachers.
John Rawls is Twisting in His Grave. Read about the voucher system in connection with providing appropriate education for children with disabilities who cannot afford private education here.
Innovation And It’s Discontents. This post provides links to several other posts discussing innovation, teacher satisfaction, private capital in education reform, and more.
Every teacher knows that behavioral issues can disrupt class. Read these posts to learn effective classroom management techniques to enhance what you already know.
Catch them Doing the Right Thing. This veteran teacher explains why this method of positive reinforcement works well to encourage effective learning and better classroom behavior.
Where Does Hard Work Come From?. Mr. McGuire ponders from where student motivation derives and opens the comments up to hear from readers.
Lost My Cool. This teacher shares her frustration and how both she and her classroom came through the incident successfully.
Self Esteem: Part 1. Exploring the connection between low self-esteem and behavior issues, this post proposes that relying on teachers to raise self-esteem through feel-good tactics is not an effective method of dealing with these situations.
Technology is the topic among these blog posts–from blogging to Internet safety to making the most of your technology funds.
Chatting Up Internet Safety. This teacher explains how she used Chatzy with a 7th grade class to work on Internet safety and technology.
Keeping students cybersafe!. This blog post offers suggestions on how you can protect your students while enjoying blogs in the classroom.
Responsible blogging. Based on a collaborative effort between a teacher and his 10th grade students, this is the list of rules they developed for safe blogging.
Around the World with 80 Schools. Read this post for an inspirational way to use Skype in the classroom to connect your students with others around the world.
TECH & TE(A)CH. Explore how technology has become an important element in education and think about ways in which it can best be used.
50 Awesome Semantic Apps for Educators. Educators who are looking for ways to take advantage of the semantic web will appreciate these tools to help get the job done.
Taking It Global with TIGed. This program allows students to connect globally with others. Learn how you can incorporate the same technology and learning in your classroom.
Your Digital Dossier. Learn about digital portfolios and why they matter to you as an educator.
Copyright for Educators. This blog post includes an hour-long presentation on copyright issues specifically for teachers.
Preparing Students for Life after High School
Whether you are a high school teacher or counselor, if you are in a position to help students make the transition to life after high school, then you should check out these posts.
who says you have to go to college?. Advocating preparing students for life and successful careers doesn’t have to depend on college, this blogger explores the possibility of students who are not college material still succeeding.
Don’t Go to College. This article proposes an alternative method for those who choose not to go to college to showcase their skills and talents without the negative connotation of not having a degree.
23 Warning Signs of Scholarship Scams. Scholarships offer promise to those who may not be able to afford college, but help ensure your students are applying for legitimate scholarships with the help of this article.
How to Get off the College Wait List. This article offers suggestions to help students get off the wait list and accepted into a college of their choice.
Links to Resources
The following blog posts provide lists and links that offer plenty of additional resources on everything from online lectures to tools for using Twitter.
100+ Open Courseware Resources for Teachers. Teachers using open courseware material to enhance their personal knowledge or to use in the classroom will find useful information here.
Student Tools - Let them fly!. This teacher has compiled a good list of web 2.0 tools students can use in the classroom to enhance their learning.
Open courseware classes offer a great opportunity for educators to expand their knowledge base while working at their own pace–and without spending any money. The following classes provide an opportunity for you to learn creative approaches to teaching various disciplines, reach special populations among students, bring technology in the classroom, and strengthen your abilities as an administrator or teacher.
Creative Approaches to Teaching Core Curriculum
These classes let teachers go back to school in order to bring fun ways of teaching the standards. From chemistry in the kitchen to using visualization to teach math, these classes will help you learn new ways to present old material.
Kitchen Chemistry. Practice cooking experiments while learning basic chemistry principles that you can share with your students in this course. [MIT]
Advanced Kitchen Chemistry. A follow-up to Kitchen Chemistry, this class examines topics such as cheese making, joys of tofu, and the science of spice. [MIT]
Lego Robotics. Design, build, and program functioning robots using Lego robotics, then take your knowledge back to share with your students. [MIT]
Introduction to Robotics. Find out what the class at MIT built, then learn to design and build your own robotic system in this class. [MIT]
Toy Product Design. Learn to design and prototype toys in the mechanical engineering class. Modify what you learn to create hands-on projects in your classroom. [MIT]
How to Make (Almost) Anything. Using several types of CAD/CAM machines, learn how to make almost anything in this design class. [MIT]
Practical Electronics. Learn to create practical electronic devices in this class that teaches how to create such items as remote controls, timers and clocks, and light or sound activated devices. [MIT]
Concept-Centered Teaching. Find new ways to engage your science students by helping students to better understand key concepts and eliminate student misconceptions of science education when you take this class. [MIT]
Using visualisation in maths teaching. Learn the basics of visualization, how it affects learning in mathematics, and strategies to implement visualization in the classroom. [The Open University]
Incorporating the Arts
Take these art classes that will allow you to bring something special and creative to your classroom.
Furniture Making. Study the history of furniture making, then learn how to design and build a functional piece of furniture of your own creation. Take what you learn back to your classes for a great hands-on project. [MIT]
Introduction to Sculpture. Using a variety of mediums, you will learn about sculpture while you create a piece of your own. Share this knowledge with students to expand your history, social studies, or English classes. [MIT]
Creating musical sound. This class makes a scientific exploration of the many ways sound is made on musical instruments. Incorporate what you learn in science, history, and social studies. [The Open University]
Documentary Photography and Photo Journalism: Still Images of A World In Motion. Gain an introduction to documentary photographers and photojournalists while also creating your own photo documentary in this class. This is great for sharing with students who may be working on family history or community projects. [MIT]
Picturing the family. A good class to help learn about history and culture, this course provides an in depth analysis of historical family photos including technical details as well as several cultural aspects captured in the photos. [The Open University]
Introduction to Video. Learn about video recording and editing and about telling a story through videography in this course. [MIT]
Producing Films for Social Change. Here you will learn how to create a film promoting positive social change and also gain production and editorial skills in the class. [Tufts University]
Using film music in the classroom. Use familiar film music as a tool to teach various aspects of music to students or to open up discussion on art and culture. [The Open University]
Reaching Special Populations
From early childhood to bilingual students to those in special education, learn how to connect with students in a new way.
Infant and Early Childhood Cognition. Learn how infants and young children’s minds perceive the world while also learning about research within this field. [MIT]
Understanding dyslexia. Learn about dyslexia as well as treatment and management techniques in this course. [The Open University]
The Linguistic Study of Bilingualism. Learn about the roots of bilingualism, various implications of bilingualism, and educational repercussions of bilingualism in this class. [MIT]
What children’s perspectives tell us about inclusion. Meet children learning in inclusion classrooms and learn their perspectives on such issues as play and learning, gender, and mixed-abilities within the classroom. [The Open University]
Inclusive education: knowing what we mean. This course explores the definition of inclusion, the various models, and several inclusion topics–including determining which students should be involved in inclusion and the potential implications of inclusion. [The Open University]
Autism Theory and Technology. Learn about autism, working with autistic students, and current technology that works to improve opportunities for autistic students in this course. [MIT]
Accessibility and eLearning. Study accessibility, assistive technology, and how it enhances the educational experience of student with disabilities. [The Open University]
Technology in the Classroom
These classes will help you bring technology into your classroom to enhance your students’ learning experience.
Art and Technology. Find out about the relationship between art and technology both throughout history and as it presents itself today. [Capilano University]
Blogs, Wikis, New Media for Learning. Learn the basics for many different web 2.0 technologies that you can implement in your classroom such as blogging and using wikis. [Utah State University]
Understanding Online Interaction. Explore how people communicate online as well as learn how to design environments on the web that are conducive to learning. This is a great course for teachers who enjoy incorporating blogs or web sites in their classes. [Utah State University]
Take these courses to help strengthen your abilities as an administrator. Both your students and teachers are sure to benefit from your new knowledge.
Economics of Education. This course studies the implications of various educational issues on economics and explores such issues as the effectiveness of mid-career training for teachers and the implications of college financial aid. [MIT]
School business manager: developing the role. This British course explores the reasons that managing the school as a business has become necessary as well as effective ways do so. Much of this class can also apply to American school systems. [The Open University]
Technological Tools for School Reform. By looking at progressive charter schools, examine a case study of school reform using technology as the basis of change, look at the state of school reform, and think about ways to positively shape school reform. [MIT]
School governors: planning for improvement. This course offers suggestions for ways to plan for improvement in your school while taking into consideration the needs of all those involved from teachers to students and beyond. [The Open University]
School governors: organisation and practice. This model from the UK offers an overview and roles of each player in the school governance body and provides tips on effectively using each to the best of their ability. American teachers don’t have to worry about the British content as much of the information carries over. [The Open University]
Communicating Across Cultures. As globalization has become a reality, learn its effects on society and find out how you can become more culturally sensitive to those around you, including students and teachers at your schools. [MIT]
The Art of Teaching
Teaching is an art form in itself, so take these classes to continue learning and shaping the talent you already share with your students.
Gender Issues in Academics and Academia. Gender differences in learning and how it impacts the classroom experience is the focus of this class, as well as how gender issues affect those in academia. [MIT]
Thinking about how I work with other professionals. This course allows self-exploration as you examine the ways you work with other teachers and administrators. It also allows for self-reflection on how to improve your working relationships while maintaining your values and beliefs. [The Open University]
Introduction to Teaching and Learning Mathematics and Science. This course takes the student through the experience of teaching and offers hands-on opportunities to learn about both teaching and the students’ learning in the classroom. This may be a good refresher course for teachers who have been out of school for a while. [MIT]
Working with young people: roles and responsibilities. Learn about the different roles adults play in the life of young people, discover the role you play as a teacher, and learn to develop the role model you wish to be for your students. [The Open University]
Teaching for good behaviour. This course explores the ways you can set up your lessons to engage students while minimizing problem behavior. Learn to adjust lesson format, delivery, and content for great results. [The Open University]
Evaluating school classroom discussion. Discussion is an important part of the classroom experience. Find out how to successfully implement discussion in your classroom to better facilitate the learning process for your students. [The Open University]
Enhancing pupil learning on museum visits. It’s no big news that students learn in different ways. This class helps you embrace these differing learning styles while on museum field trips. [The Open University]
Teach Global. Learn about the Teach Global program in this course where you can also find resources about the program and learn about other similar courses. [The Open University]
Introducing observational approaches in research with children and young people. Observation and research are the focus of this class where you will learn about observation as a research tool, the differences between quantitative and qualitative research, and learn the difference between describing and explaining in a research study. [The Open University]
Exploring K-12 Classroom Teaching. This course takes a look at methods of teaching student-centered classrooms while examining various student needs within those classrooms. [MIT]
How to Learn (Almost) Anything. This class looks at learning as a process through hands-on activities. You will participate in a variety of learning situations as a part of the class. [MIT]
The Creative Spark. This course teaches about the creative process–what it is, how it’s valued, and how it grows. Students will create journal writings and study artists of various media to explore creativity. [MIT]
Those who constantly strive to learn more from the world around them, who can’t pass up an opportunity to pour over a book or dictionary, or who take classes just to learn a bit more are a special breed. For those with an iPhone, the chances for learning just got a lot greater. No matter if you love literature, science, nature, arts, foreign languages and travel, medicine, or Christian studies, there are apps that will enhance your ability to expand your knowledge base.
Literature
While the number of books and study guides available for your iPhone are just too numerous to list, the following apps offer fun and educational opportunities for those who love literature and want to learn more.
Daily Haiku. Explore traditional Japanese haiku with a new one delivered every day to your iPhone.
Stanza. This e-reader allows you to download free or paid books from a variety of places and has plenty of options such as varying fonts, sizes, bookmark, definitions, screen brightness, and more.
Narrator. If you like hearing books while reading along or if you have children who enjoy looking at picture books, then this multimedia storytelling app will be a great addition to your library.
Aristotle’s complete works (with search). Study the teachings of one of the most respected thinkers of all times with this app that allows for searching within the texts.
Margins (book notes). If you like to take notes in the margins of your books, then try this app that keeps all your margin notes together on your iPhone.
Book Quiz. Get quizzes with ten multiple-choice questions to test your knowledge of literature.
The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Avid readers and literature students will benefit from this comprehensive text that provides insight to almost 1,200 troublesome literary terms.
Zen Proverbs. Shake or tap your iPhone to get a new Zen proverb upon which to meditate each time.
World Proverbs. Get almost 4000 proverbs from cultures around the globe that you can search, shake to find a random proverb, or swipe to go to the next one.
Confucius. Find inspiration in this collection of meaningful sayings from Confucius.
Arts
The following apps range from learning about famous paintings by the masters to creating art through a variety of media.
Art. Learn all about great artists and their works with this factbook app that also lets you quiz yourself to see how much you are learning.
Art Gallery Premium. With over 7,500 works of art in their database, you can bring up your favorite famous work of art on your iPhone or browse to learn about artists you might not know.
Art Envi Deluxe. Like having a giant museum in your phone, this app contains works by famous artists as well as specialized categories such as Japanese art.
Kaleido. While not high on boosting knowledge, any art lover will appreciate taking photos and creating kaleidoscope effects with them.
Photo Lab Daily. This free version allow you to take a photo with your iPhone and once a day you can use the Photo Lab tools to enhance your photos. There is a version available for a fee if you want to do more than one a day.
MyPaint Free. Finger paint on a blank canvas or use one of your photos from your photo roll to find your artistic talent with this app.
Pencil Pusher. This app allows you to draw as if with a pencil. Write, erase, choose from a variety of backgrounds, choose colors, and more.
Bonsai. Learn the traditional art of bonsai care with this app that provides you the opportunity to adjust water, trim the tree, and monitor its overall health.
Foreign Languages
Whether you are planning to travel or just love learning languages, these apps will help you learn to speak whatever language your heart desires.
Jourist Visual PhraseBook English. Use this visual aid with 20 different languages to help you show the person what you mean. It also include the written phrase in both English and your target language.
iTranslate Ultimate. Translate words between English, Spanish, German, French, and Italian, then have the words repeated back to you in the target language with this app.
Translator with Voice. Get translations in 34 different languages with voice support on most of them.
DragonDian. Use this dictionary to draw Chinese characters to quickly and easily find an English translation.
WordPower Lite - Italian. This free app gives you one Italian word a day to practice and master by listening to audio, recording and playing back your own voice, and using flashcards.
iSpeak Spanish. Translate between Spanish and English with this app that also allows you to hear words spoken in high quality English and Spanish voices.
Gengo Flashcards - French. This app uses visual cues and the voices of native French speakers with flashcards to help you learn French. Take a picture of any object, then add the French and English words to it, and you have created your own flashcard to add to the stack.
Lonely Planet Japanese Phrasebook. Whether traveling or learning Japanese, use this app to get over 600 written and spoken Japanese phrases.
Byki German. Learn German in no time with this app that includes native speakers, quizzes, and a phrasebook.
WordPower - Thai. Listen to 2000 Thai words for proper pronunciation and see the words and phrases in three versions–original Thai, Romanized, and English.
Travel
Some say the best way to learn about the world around you is through travel. If you abide by this philosophy, then check out these apps.
The World Factbook ‘09. Learn all you want to know about over 250 countries and territories around the world with this app.
USA Factbook and Quiz. Not only can you learn plenty of facts about the US, you can also get information by state, maps (highway and topographical), flags, major cities, and more.
Wine Enthusiast Guide. No matter where you are in the world, learn about wine, get expert reviews, and much more with this app that adds almost 1,000 new reviews each month and will help you sip just the right wine during your travels.
plan.pack.go - your packing companion. Whether you are planning a business trip or a weekend vacation, this app will help you plan, organize, and pack so that you don’t forget to take care of anything–including bringing gifts, unplugging appliances, and more.
Where To? - GPS points of interest. Use this app in conjunction with your current location ability in the iPhone to find restaurants, shopping, entertainment, transportation, and more.
Travelocity TravelTools. Get flight information, hotel locators (with reviews and photos), and personalized itinerary information with this free app.
Travel. Never carry a bulky travel guide again with this app that includes travel guides for 227 country destinations with more being added with future updates.
Urbanspoon. If you are unsure about where to go or just can’t decide, use this app to narrow your restaurant choices based on criteria such as price or type of food, shake your phone, and get recommendations based on your location in North America, London, Sydney, and Melbourne.
Tipulator - The Fun Tip Calculator. Enter the total of your bill and the percentage you wish to tip easily find out how much tip to leave. Have a whole group? It will also break down the total due depending on how many people you indicate are in your party.
Travel Help!. Use this app to get emergency numbers (like 911 in the US), contact information for your home embassy, plus any other custom information you wish to add for over 260 countries.
Science
Chemistry, biology, and physics are represented in the apps below as well as quizzes and science facts of the day.
iAmino. Easily learn about the 21 proteinogenic amino acids with this program that promises a fun method of learning.
AA+ Chemistry Study Cards (Exambusters). Get an entire chemistry course with this one app that can help prepare you for an exam or work as a supplement to a course you are already taking.
Chemistry Formulas. This app provides an instant library of formulae that also allows you to add your own descriptions on the entries.
Solutions. Calculate volume, weight, and molarity of chemical solutions as well as have access to two databases of Molecular Weight.
EleMints. Try out this interactive periodic table that allows you to easily learn about all the elements.
AA+ Biology Study Cards (Exambusters). Just like the chemistry version, this app brings you over 450 questions to help build your biology knowledge.
AA+ Physics Study Cards (Exambusters). Here’s the physics version of the app too. This one provides over 600 questions that cover several topics in the field of physics.
Science Fact of the Day. Get a fun science fact each day with this app that offers a great way to easily expand your knowledge of science.
ScienceFacts. This app provides facts from biology, chemistry, and physics to help boost your science knowledge.
Science Quiz. Each of these quizzes provides ten multiple-choice questions on topics including biology, zoology, astronomy, technology, anatomy, and chemistry.
Medicine
Whether you are a medical professional or just want to expand your personal knowledge, these apps are sure to provide plenty of knowledge.
Taber’s Medical Dictionary. Touting 30% more medical terms than other medical dictionaries, this one offers definitions, photos, Patient Care Statements, and more.
Registered Nurse. Any nurse studying for the NCLEX exam will love this app that provides a practice exam that test you in over 20 different subjects.
Normal Lab Values. Medical professionals or anyone interested in learning more about laboratory results will appreciate having normal values readily available.
Medical Drugs. This app provides detailed information on hundreds of pharmaceutical medications.
Diagnosaurus DDx. With over 1,000 diagnoses, anyone can perform differential diagnosis quickly and easily with this app.
MedCards. This app replaces the laminated cards physicians carry around and also allows anyone interested in learning to have instant reference to such things as EKG values, Mental Status Exam guide, Snellen chart, and more.
MedAbbreviations. Get over 13,000 medical abbreviations with definitions, explanations, a search feature, and more.
Skyscape Medical Resources. Find all kinds of medical information such as drug information, evidence-based clinical information, medical calculator, and a med-alert based on a specialty of your choosing.
Human Atlas. Geared for medical professionals, patients, and consumers, get a 3D explanation along with over 150 common medical treatments and conditions.
Medical Exam. Whether you are studying for your medical exam or just want to have a profound knowledge of medicine, this app helps you learn from 14 different categories.
Math
From calculators to math quizzes to flashcards, these math apps will have you learning more than you knew.
MathU RPN Calc. Get this calculator developed by a PhD student at MIT and based on Reverse Polish Notation with over 80 functions available.
Slide Rule. Check out this fun app that simulates a slide rule.
Protractor. Have a protractor with you always in the palm of your hand that can measure anything and works with the camera in your iPhone.
Abacus. This abacus is customizable and allows you to change the number of rows, beads, and more to have a working abacus anywhere you go.
Math Quizzes for All Ages. Recommended from Kindergartners to senior citizens, this app will have you practicing addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, squares, and square roots.
Geometry Facts Flash Cards. Learn shapes and the formulae commonly used with each using the flashcard interface of this app.
Nature
Nature lovers can learn more about stars, birds, wild animals, herbs, or find campgrounds and use water maps and tide graphs to explore for themselves.
Star Walk - IYA2009 OFFICIAL PRODUCT. Take this app with you for a romantic stargazing or a walk with the family to understand what you see in the sky above you.
Peterson Field Guide to Backyard Birds. Based on the first two digits of your zip code, learn all about the birds in your region, including images, range maps, descriptions, recorded bird songs, and a personal checklist to track your sightings.
iLove Nature. Photographs and sounds recorded outside Taipei, Taiwan make up this app that includes animal identification and wiki links.
Exposure Calc. Nature photographers can take advantage of this app that helps determine the proper exposure settings for any given scene.
Wild Animal Wild Tones. Get 12 professional photographs that are accompanied by high quality sound recordings and information to learn about each of the animals.
Natural Herbal Cures and Remedies. Learn all about herbs and how you can incorporate them into your life as a supplement to natural healing.
iAroma. This app will help you learn all about the healing and restorative properties of aromatherapy with information on 95 essential oils.
CampgroundsNearMe. Use this app to find campgrounds located near you within a 100 mile radius.
US Rivers - Water Map Navigator. If you boat on any major rivers in the US, then this navigation map app is a great find for you. You can also geotag your photos into the maps.
Tide Graph. Coastal dwellers or campers can get tidal information, moon phases, and sunrise and sunset times.
Christian Studies
Immerse yourself in the study of Christianity with these apps that range from full Bibles to Bible verses and quotes to prayers and texts.
Touch Bible LE. Read both King James Version and New English Translation of the Bible with this app that also provides a place to keep notes and functions such as search, bookmark, and the ability to change font sizes.
BibleXpress. Select from ASV, ESV, KJV, LBLA, NASB, NRSV, and TM versions of the Bible with this app.
God’s Word. Manage daily devotionals and read, perform full text search, and bookmark the American Standard Version of the Bible.
The Bible. Get customizable features with this King James Version of the Bible such as the ability to change fonts and colors, easy searching, auto scrolling, highlighting, and more.
KJV Bible Audiobook. Listen to the King James Version of the Bible and choose to read along or read only as well.
Top 100 Bible Verses. Find well-known Bible verses among others less common with this app.
Bible Wisdom. Get quotes from Jesus and Old Testament prophets straight from the Bible.
The following reference material will appeal to anyone interested in gaining more knowledge. Ranging from dictionaries and thesauri to phrasebooks to quote books to handy facts, the following apps provide a plethora of information.
WordBook English Dictionary & Thesaurus. Get definitions, history of words, pronunciation help, words of the day, crossword solvers, and more with this amazing dictionary app that is fast and easy to use.
Roget’s II - New Thesaurus. This app provides the full text in an interactive platform for a complete thesaurus experience that also works along with the American Heritage Dictionary.
Spell Check. Type in a word to see if you spelled it correctly and get suggestions for correct spellings. This app also doubles as a dictionary.
Conversation English. If you are learning English as a second language, try out this app that will help develop listening and speaking skills as well as teach about common idioms and more.
wurdle. Play this word game to pass some extra time and help expand your word knowledge.
Wiki Mobile. Easily access and browse Wikipedia with this app.
iVocabulary. Boost your vocabulary in English, French, Spanish, Italian, or German with this app that even records your history to show how much you are improving.
English Phrasebook (Idioms). No matter if you are learning English or are a native speaker who just loves idioms, this app provides a complete definition as well as quizzes.
15,000 Useful Phrases. Writers, public speakers, and wordsmiths of any kind will love having access to this app that will help you select the perfect phrase for any occasion.
Quote Book. With over 3,000 quotes, you can search and browse to find exactly the quote you want from over 400 different authors.
HandyFact - Important Facts that Matter. This amazing app includes reference material for everything from slang terms to time zones to cocktail recipes to ingredient substitutions to a basic first aid sheet and much more.
Librarians need to be on the constant cutting edge in terms of technology, researching, web tools and even architecture and design. But libraries are also a great place to educate the public and your students about the environment, from eco-friendly lifestyle choices to organizations that promote green causes. Here are 100 ways to make your library a little greener.
Maintenance and Green Building
Keep your library clean and eco-friendly with these tips.
Turn down the heat one or two degrees: Care2 writes that "each 1-degree drop for an eight-hour period reduces your fuel bill percent," saving you money and cutting down on electricity usage.
Use fans: If you can, install ceiling fans to cool down the library without overusing the A/C.
Take advantage of windows: Strategically placed windows will provide natural light and may help with heating or cooling costs.
Use eco-friendly light bulbs: Switch to eco-friendly light bulbs that save money and electricity.
Use Energy Star products: Products with the Energy Star have been approved by the U.S. government as energy-saving products.
Switch to safe cleaning products: Use cleaning products that are safe for your library materials, your patrons, and the environment.
Use recycled paper: Put recycled paper in the printers, and use recycled notebooks, poster board, napkins, and more.
Keep up with the U.S. Green Building Council: Join a local chapter, find building guidelines, look for builders, and more.
Recycle ink cartridges: Recycle your library’s ink cartridges instead of just throwing them in the trash.
Re-insulate your library: Re-insulate your roof, windows and any other openings to cut down on excess electricity costs.
Fix leaks: Stop wasting water by fixing any leaks in bathrooms, kitchens and in the basement.
DIY your own green remodeling project: Even if you don’t have the budget for a whole new building, follow these guidelines for small but significant steps you can take to remodel your library so that it’s greener.
Hardware
Learn how to choose the right computers and resources by reading this list.
Purchase eco-friendly computers: When you need new computers, search for eco-friendly versions.
Use laptops: Laptops use less electricity than desktop versions.
Know how to clean your computers: Eco-friendly, safe computer cleaning tips include using biodegradable dust cloths and old t-shirts.
Recycle computers: Safely recycle computers instead of harming the environment when you throw them away.
Buy recycled items: Buy recycled ink cartridges and other supplies.
Consider the Kindle 2: It’s expensive and may upset some reading purists, but the Kindle 2 is an eco-friendly reading tool. Purchase one for the library to spread awareness to readers.
Turn off computers: Save energy and money by turning off computers at night.
Special Events and Projects
Host special events like contests, and go after environmental grants to raise awareness and become a greener library.
Apply for grants: Certain grants awarded by environmental agencies or the government will help your library with funding for green projects and renovations.
Start a paper drive: Ask the public and your students to bring in old newspapers and other papers to recycle: they may even be turned into books one day!
Hold recycling contests: Hold recycling contests between grades, individuals, or against other libraries.
Apply for green awards: Find out if your state or community offers an award for libraries who go green.
Put up a display about reducing your carbon footprint: Put together a presentation or display to discuss each person’s carbon footprint.
Sponsor a field trip: Whether you’re a public library or an academic or school library, sponsor a field trip to an environmental agency or project in your area. Car pool if you can.
Invite special guest speakers: Educate your patrons by inviting professionals who work for environmental causes to give a presentation.
Make your own paper: Show kids and patrons what it takes to make your own recycled paper.
Start an arts and crafts event: Show patrons the cool items you can make out of recycled items, including recycled books.
Sponsor an essay contest: Sponsor a kids’ essay contest, and ask them to write on any environmental issue they care about.
Write a petition: If your library needs help raising money or supporting an environmental cause, ask your patrons to sign a petition.
Support local artists: Sponsor an artist’s fair at your library every so often as a fundraiser and a way to show off artists’ eco-friendly designs.
Awareness
Spread awareness about your green policies through these projects.
Sell Fair Trade coffee in your snack area: Fair Trade coffee is used in many academic libraries and is made in humane, eco-friendly conditions.
Go all out for Earth Month: It’s not just about Earth Day anymore. Use the whole month of April to showcase your library’s green progress.
Sell eco-friendly snacks and drinks: Sell drinks and snacks that are bottled and packaged in eco-friendly materials.
Use an eco-friendly car as your bookmobile: If your budget allows for a bookmobile, lobby for an eco-friendly vehicle to drop off books.
Abide by the 100-mile rule: Provide food that is from within 100 miles of your community to ensure that you’re supporting local farmers and cutting down on pollutants from shipping food.
Start a blog: Spread awareness about your library’s green activities by blogging about it regularly.
Honor your "greenest" library patrons and professionals: Instead of Employee of the Month, fuss over the employees and patrons who are the most supportive of your green policies each month.
Support the EPA National Library Network: The Environmental Protection Agency is building up its resources on environmental protection, the basic sciences, engineering, and more.
Celebrate reading: Reading is a relatively eco-friendly activity, especially when books are made out of recycled materials and are checked out by more than one person.
Highlight environmentally-conscious writers: Authors who write extensively about nature, land and the environment–like Steinbeck or Wordsworth–deserve recognition, as do more contemporary writers.
Customize your home page: Customize your library’s home page to underscore all that you’re doing to go green.
Using the Web
Take advantage of all the web tools and sites you can use to cut down on paper.
SecondLife: Hold meetings and organize training workshops online through the virtual world SecondLife instead of requiring employees to drive to retreats.
Move accounts online: Cut down on paper notices and make it easier for patrons to keep up with their accounts by making them accessible online
Create an online catalog: Cut down on paper by moving your catalog onto your website.
Send e-mail updates: Instead of mailing out paper newsletters, create e-mail campaigns to announce special events and keep in touch.
WorldCat: Connect with other libraries around the world to share information electronically.
Move archives online: Put newspaper and magazine archives online to help preserve the originals.
Monkey on Your Back: Send memos and reminders via this online service, rather than wasting paper and sticky notes.
Backpack: Use Backpack to share information, announcements, task lists and files with those who work in your library. It’s all online, cutting down on paper and clutter.
Facebook: Create a Facebook page for your library to keep in touch with patrons, list events and announcements, post pictures, and more.
Basecamp: Basecamp is another online tool that lets you organize your team.
Outdoors
Don’t forget to turn your outdoor environment into a greener, more sustainable spot.
Start an organic garden: Grow a garden to spread awareness on sustainability and provide a healthy eating option for participating library patrons and workers.
Plant flowers: Show pride in your environment by planting in-season, local flowers and shrubs.
Use safe pesticides: Safe and/or natural pesticides will help keep your plants healthy without damaging your health or the environment.
Compost: If you’re allowed, get rid of waste by composting.
Minimize formal landscaping: Cut down on excessive landscaping that rips up the natural environment.
Plant trees: If you do need to eliminate trees from your building project, plant a new one in a better spot.
Host events outdoors: Get people outside and aware of their environment by hosting special events, like reading days, outside.
Be aware of dumping and runoff laws: Make sure your library isn’t leaking any pollutants into a nearby water source, and that you dump trash in zoned areas.
Pick up trash: Keep empty trash cans around your premises so that it’s easy for patrons to properly dispose of garbage.
Networks
Make sure your library is tuned in to the latest environmental news and trends by networking with these organizations and through these platforms. You’ll find materials for educating and engaging your patrons, too.
Care2: Care2 is a social network that organizes people who want to make a difference by living green.
TreeHugger: Learn about the latest trends in green design, food, fashion, building, travel and technology.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Learn about environmental contaminants, pollutants that hurt animals and natural ecosystems, and how you can help.
United Nations Environment Programme: This network discusses natural disasters and global conflicts, ecosystem management, pollutants, resource efficiency, climate change, and more.
EnergyStar: Learn about environmentally safe electronics, lighting solutions, heating and cooling resources, and more.
National Audubon Society: Discover how your library can support this wildlife protection agency through special projects, field trips and sponsorships.
Natural Resources Defense Council: This organization tackles everything from global warming and green living to environmental policies and more.
The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy has lots of information about protecting the environment. Your library can pick from lots of different causes to support, like the Atlantic forest, the fresh water initiative, global warming, and more.
National Geographic Society: The National Geographic Society is an educational organization that has plenty of tools and materials for learning about the environment and discovering how to care for it.
Earth 911: Get your patrons involved on this site, which explains how to recycle different materials and where to find recycling centers in your area.
Must-Read Resources
Librarians conscious about green projects will need to keep up with these blogs and resources.
The Green Library Blog: Read this blog to learn about green library news and to get tips on how you can improve your library.
Encourage employees to car pool: Help your employees set up a car pool or van pool so that they can cut down on pollutants.
Support local businesses: Try to buy supplies and other items for businesses in your area.
Turn out the lights: Turn out lights when they’re not being used, especially in conference rooms, special collections rooms, and study rooms.
Recycle paper into notebooks: Use these recycled notebooks for memos and scratch paper.
Purchase recycled books: If you can, start purchasing books made out of recycled materials for your library.
Hook up several computers to the same printer: This popular method saves electricity, paper (since you don’t have to continuously stock several different printers), and money.
Use eFax: This online version of a fax service cuts down on wasted paper.
Reward green drivers: Reserve the closest parking spots for those who car pool and drive eco-friendly cars.
Use hand sanitizer: Put out hand sanitizer to cut down on over-washing your hands in the bathroom.
Set up a bike rack: Set up a large bike rack in front of your library to encourage patrons to ride their bikes instead of drive to the library.
Write on both sides of the paper: Use up every inch of scratch paper before throwing it away.
Subscribe to newsletters, magazines and special catalogs online: Many catalogs and newsletters offer an online or eco-friendly option that saves wasted paper and eliminates junk mail.
Set up recycling bins outside: Besides encouraging patrons to recycle indoors, turn your parking lot into a community recycling center, with bins for newspapers, aluminum, glass, and more.
Buy pillows and furniture made of eco-friendly items: Support local furnishers and companies that use eco-friendly, humane methods for manufacturing eco-friendly items.
U.S. Presidents have to manage a mind-boggling range of issues, from international affairs to domestic cultural issues to the environment to national security to economics. And just as no presidents deal with the same exact issues in the same circumstances, no presidents have prepared for the job in the same way. Some presidents enjoyed long careers in politics and studied political science, U.S. history and international relations, but others had careers in journalism, education and even geology before entering into politics. Read on to discover the 10 most surprising majors in presidential history.
William Henry Harrison: William Henry Harrison is unfortunately most famous today for dying in office after contracting a bad cold virus. The ninth President of the United States, and the last president born before the American Independence was also a medical school dropout, and only boasted 32 days in office.
Ronald Reagan: Ronald Reagan’s legacy includes the end of the Cold War and the toppling of the Soviet Union, as well as the U.S. Republican Revolution, which re-strengthened the Republican party for decades. Before getting into politics however, the 40th President of the United States was an Illinois-born actor who enjoyed a successful film career in Hollywood in the 1930s - 1940s, even serving as 3rd Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild after serving in the military. His dual major at Eureka College in sociology and economics no doubt helped him for each of his future careers.
Jimmy Carter: Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, is still regarded for his peace-keeping projects and sensibility. The Georgia-born Carter was actually the first president born in a hospital, in 1924. He attended Georgia Southwestern College and Georgia Tech, studying mathematics but never graduating from either. Ultimately, Carter enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated 59th out of 820 students.
Warren G. Harding: Warren G. Harding, the 29th U.S. President, does not have a very positive political legacy and favored friends from his Ohio circle when picking Cabinet members. But before entering politics, Harding was a prominent newspaper publisher in Marion, OH. He attended Ohio Central College in Iberia, where he studied printing and journalism.
Lyndon B. Johnson: LBJ is one of U.S. history’s most controversial presidents, due to his failure in Vietnam. But LBJ also played a significant role in progressing the civil rights movement and NASA. Johnson–who, as Vice President, succeeded President John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated–had humble beginnings and was born in a farmhouse in south central Texas. Johnson studied education at the Southwest Texas State Teachers’ College and favored teaching Mexican immigrant children in Cotulla and Pearsall, TX, before taking a position as a public speaking teacher in Houston. As President, Johnson continued to support education and even signed the Higher Education Act of 1965, which created scholarships and increased the amount of federal money given to colleges and universities.
Herbert Hoover: Though when he was sworn in to office as the 31st President Hoover had no previous experience as an elected official, Hoover was a Renaissance man for the times. He was an author, a mining engineer and had served as the United States Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Harding and Coolidge. He was also in the first class at Stanford University in 1891, where he studied geology. As for his legacy, Hoover was harshly criticized during and after his Presidency for his treatment of the 1929 stock market crash and heavy taxation laws.
George H.W. Bush: George H.W. Bush was the 41st U.S. President and had served as Vice President under Ronald Reagan and as Director of Central Intelligence under Gerald R. Ford. He was part of the Republic Revolution inspired by Reagan but was unable to get reelected against Democrat Bill Clinton after his first term. After World War II, during which Bush served as a naval aviator, he attended Yale University, where he studied economics, perhaps a surprise since Bush’s economic legacy was used against him by the Clinton camp during the 1992 presidential campaign.
George W. Bush: George W. Bush, 43rd President of the U.S. and son of President George H.W. Bush, enjoyed serving for two terms but has an uncertain legacy as the Commander in Chief who started the second Iraq War, detained prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and pursued the phantom Weapons of Mass Destruction. Bush, considered to be the cowboy president, is also the only president to have an MBA, which he earned in the 1970s from Harvard Business School.
Harry S Truman: Harry S. Truman was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Vice President and succeeded him after he died during his third term, in 1945. When Truman became President, he was almost immediately in charge of making the decision to drop the atomic bomb in Japan. Though Truman studied law for a couple of years and had solid experience in politics–serving as county judge, U.S. senator and Vice President before becoming President–he never earned a degree from college.
Woodrow Wilson: President Wilson, most famous for helping resolve the post-WWI treaties and helping start The League of Nations (which the U.S. never joined) also has a Nobel Peace Prize and was the President who first declared national Mother’s Day. Earlier in life, however, Wilson was an esteemed faculty member at Bryn Mawr College and Wesleyan University, as well as the first Constitutional Law lecturer at New York Law School, which is better known today as New York University School of Law. The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University is also named for him. Wilson was himself a dedicated student. He graduated from Princeton in 1879, attended one year of law school at the University of Virginia, and ultimately earned a Ph.D. in history and political science from Johns Hopkins University in 1883. He is the only U.S. President to have earned a doctorate degree.
Librarians are embracing Twitter as a helpful tool to bring together community and make work easier. Whether you are just starting out with Twitter or are looking for ways to improve your existing Twitter experience, the following tips, tools, and resources will have you Twittering like a pro in no time. Dive into this list to find everything you will need to use Twitter in your library.
Resources for Learning Twitter
If you are just beginning, take advantage of these resources to help you learn how to get started on Twitter.
Birds of a Feather Twitter Together. This article will have novices feeling comfortable by cutting through some of the confusion on how to use Twitter.
Twitter Etiquette. This wiki page offers plenty of information on Twitter etiquette.
VIDEO: A beginner’s guide to Twitter. The video is specifically for business use for Twitter, but the accompanying article offers helpful suggestions for those just starting out.
Here are some simple suggestions to get you started using Twitter in your library.
New book arrivals. Let your patrons know what new books arrive at your library by Twittering the information.
Library Events. Keep followers current on all the fun events occurring at the library.
Take a poll. Use PollDaddy to ask your patrons for their opinions or get feedback on what’s happening at the library.
Stay in touch. Keep up with other librarians so you can share ideas and projects and learn from each other.
Send alerts. Allow patrons to sign up to be notified when requested material is available.
Send past due notices. Tweet past due notices to patrons as a gentle reminder that they are late.
Create alerts for specific groups. Announce news and events meant for specific groups such as teens, children, or book groups.
Announce closing time. Let patrons know when the library is about to close.
Send computer alerts. Whether someone’s allotted time on the computer is about to end or if several computers have suddenly become available, let users know.
Librarians Talk About Twitter
These librarians share their suggestions, experience, and opinions on using Twitter.
two notes about twitter. Jessamyn West offers a link to an interesting library Twitter feed and also discusses the criteria she uses when selecting who to follow.
A Guide to Twitter in Libraries. This article from iLibrarian offers plenty of information and resources to effectively use Twitter in the library.
How to Use Twitter as a Twool. Find out how to optimize your Twitter experience with this post from the Stark County Law Library.
Tools to Enhance Your Twitter Experience
These tools and apps will help make your Twitter experience easier and more convenient.
TweetDeck. This app allows you to create groups of Tweets to better manage your information.
GroupTweet. Create groups to facilitate Tweeting. This is a great tool for specialty groups such as young adults, book clubs, or library employees.
bit.ly. With character count being so important, this service shortens URLs so that you use fewer characters when sharing web links.
tweetparty. This tool creates Twitter groups and allows you to communicate directly with them.
TweetGrid. Create a customized search dashboard to create easier Twitter searches.
Tweetree. This tool puts your Tweets in context so when an entire conversation starts, everything is grouped together.
TwitterFone. Call and leave a voice message that will be turned into a Tweet with this tool.
Tweet Later. Write Tweets that you can schedule for posting at future times. This is a great way to line up reminders and announcements that are tied to specific dates.
TwitterNotes. Use this app to keep notes among your Tweets that are only for you to read.
LoudTwitter. Send Tweets to your library blog with this tool.
Password protected text notes. If privacy becomes an issue, use this tool to send notes to Twitter that only those with the password can read.
postica. Use this app to post sticky notes on Twitter for a visual reminder.
Twishlistter. Create a Twitter wish list with this tool to let your patrons know what your library may be needing.
Educational Twitter Tools
Share these fun and educational tools with patrons or use them yourself.
Atlas. Explore the world with Tweets that are shown on a map. You can also explore nearby places in that geographic location.
weather. Get weather news and weather events occurring around the world from the Science News Blog.
EarthquakeNews. From the USGS Earthquake Center, get Tweets on any earthquake that hits around the world and registers over 2.5.
Twitxr. Send photos from your mobile phone to your Twitter account with this app.
Plinky. Each day this app provides a prompt in the form of a question or challenge, then you can reply by posting text, photos, maps, or whatever you can use to answer the prompt.
QuoteURL. Put many different Tweets together on one page with this app. Libraries with several different Twitter groups will like this.
TwitPic. This app lets you share photos on Twitter.
Outwit Me. This site offers "intelligent Twitter games" and is a great way to bring Twitter into the library for the younger crowd.
twiggit. This tool combines Digg with Twitter and lets you find news articles and more.
TwitterLocal. Use this app to find Tweets from a specific geographic location.
TweetScan. Type in keywords and have Tweets that match your keywords emailed to you. Use this as a Twitter research shortcut.
Tweetizen. Find specific groups on Twitter that share the same interests or start your own group.
Twrivia. Get a new trivia question each day with this tool.
Find Twitter Apps
Applications can enhance your Twitter experience, so use these resources to find great apps or learn how to stay up-to-date with the latest apps.
Top 10 Twitter Hacks. This blog post offers more than ten suggestions, so check out several ways to make Twitter work for you here.
Twitter Fan Wiki Apps. Here’s an huge listing of Twitter apps grouped by Desktop, Web, and Mobile apps, then further sub-grouped by Windows, Mac, or specific topics.
These resources offer plenty of advice to help you make the most of Twitter.
How to Succeed at Twitter. Mitch Wagner discusses the personal and professional connections made through Twitter versus simply boosting the number of your followers.
If you’re feeling the pinch in your paycheck, you may or may not feel comfortable going back to school right now, even if it can help your career prospects in the long run. You can, however, visit iTunes U for free access to helpful courses that will enlighten you to the state of the economy, inspire you to start your own business, and give you a little more perspective on what you should be doing with your money.
Politics, Economics and Social Issues: Watch these lectures to learn how politics and economics are intertwined in the modern age. [Vanderbilt University]
Politics and Policy: Take a look at globalization and welfare states in this lecture series, which includes topics like controlling health costs, education costs, pension policy and more. [University of Warwick]
Ethical Principles: Apply fundamental ethics principles to the reactions and responses of corporate America, everyday citizens and anyone else affected by the financial crisis. [Florida Institute of Technology]
Happiness, economics and society: Consider whether or not focusing on happiness rather than economic growth would prove beneficial to society. [University of Warwick]
Finance
These financial planning and management lectures from speakers at Loyola Marymount, Wellesley, and the London School of Economics coach you during this volatile time.
Market Journal 336: Learn about the stimulus package and surviving the financial crisis. [University of Nebraska]
Financial Management: This series of lectures can help you analyze risk, stocks and budgeting. [ACU]
Financial Planning and Control: This lecture series covers bonds, stocks, portfolio theory, investment basics, tax planning, and more. [Loyola Marymount University]
The Credit Crunch and the U.S. Economy: Find out what this lecturer has to offer in terms of perspective on the financial collapse. [London School of Economics]
The Credit Crunch and Global Recession: Understand how the credit crunch is affecting markets around the world and what it means for the future of the current recession. [Oxford University]
Globalization and Business Practices: Discover how business, technology, politics and even culture are intertwined due to globalization. [Georgia State University]
These business lectures will inspire you to start your own business, grow the one you have, and become a better manager and business leader.
Building a Business: Learn about the science of entrepreneurship as well as basic business skills that will keep you afloat. [Oxford University]
Ethics and Corporate Responsibility: Here you will be challenged to uphold ethical standards while trying to manage the economic crisis. [Georgia State]
W.P. Carey Monthly Speaker Series: Business professionals and policy makers share their experiences in this speaker series. [Arizona State]
Business Planning: Strengthen your business plan with this lecture. [Ludwig-Maximilians-University]
Entrepreneurship: Consider starting your own business with this lecture. [Cambridge University]
Small Business Management: Here you’ll learn all about business planning, human resources, exporting and more. [Southern Institute of Technology]
