Feed Readers and Library Blogs

RSS or Feed Readers are completely new to me. I was surprised to find out how long they have actually been around because I had never heard of them before now. If it is new to you too, let me try to give you a quick summary. Let’s say you check multiple blogs daily, and to do so, you visit each site one by one looking for new content. That could be time-consuming, right? Well, with RSS feeds, all your blogs and content you subscribe can all be in the same place. You can make that place your homepage, desktop icon, or an app on your phone.

 

Inoreader

After reading this article and researching a few other Feed Readers, I found Inoreader to be the one that I liked the most. Right away, I liked how Inoreader provides a How-To Guide that is very helpful for beginners. Paid premium plans are available, but you can get plenty of content without having to upgrade. You can follow up to 150 feeds without paying anything! Inoreader doesn't have limited-time archives, so even content you have already read is permanently stored and can be searched for within your subscriptions. You can also keep up with your content on the go through Inoreader's mobile apps for iOS and Android. 

Blogs

After diving into Inoreader, I've decided to share some blogs that have been helpful to me since I have moved into the Media Specialist position at my school. These blogs are mostly geared towards elementary school librarians and teachers. 

1. Staying Cool in the Library Kathy Cool is a K-5 school librarian in Virginia. She created a blog to help school librarians learn and grow together. She shares resources for many of the units and activities she does in her own library, and she also has a Teachers Pay Teacher store. 

2. Romona Recommends  Courtney Hinshaw is a fifth-grade teacher from Southern California who shares tons of reading lists for all different occasions throughout the school year and discusses using picture books for older elementary students. 

3.The Book Wrangler Michael Rawls is amazing! I first found and followed him on Instagram. He is a K-5 school librarian and shares tons of book lists and resources. I absolutely love following him, and I get a lot of great ideas for my own library.    

4. Teaching with Tiff Tiffany Williams is a K-2 Library Media Specialist in Arkansas. Her blog is full of book displays, book recommendations, library organizational tips, and how she promotes her love of literacy and reading to students and her colleagues. 

5. The Library Voice Shannon McClintock Miller is the Innovation Director of Instructional Technology and Library Media at Van Meter Community School in Van Meter, Iowa. She has authored books about library skills and makerspaces. Her blog is full of ideas and her experiences as a librarian. Funny side note: The other librarians in my district are not fans of hers. I didn't really understand why until I heard her speak (virtually) at TCEA this past year. She likes to "toot her own horn" a lot, BUT I still think her blog can be helpful to librarians, especially, if you are just starting out.

A school librarian’s time is valuable, and it can be difficult to stay ahead of technology treads and even the latest reads your students might enjoy. Following blogs and using Feed Readers can help make your life easier and keep you in the know!

Check out more library-related content on my Tumblr!