I graduated with my master’s in library science in May 2024, but I find myself in class once again, as I take a few additional courses to get my school library licensure.
I’m currently taking a course called “Integrating Technology Into Programming, Services & Instruction,” and the class assignments call for making a blog. Enter, The Queer Librarian.
I had to think through a bit which platform to use, but I ended up coming around to WordPress for a couple of reasons:
A new blog, an old blogger
I have made a blog before, and am comfortable with basic web design, so I have preferences for how this will look that are more difficult to execute on platforms such as Blogger, Medium or Tumblr.
I use Tumblr to find fan-fiction to read, so I’d rather leave that particular platform for personal interests, rather than professional ones.
Blogger and Medium are easier to set up than WordPress, so I considered using them, but WordPress has so many themes and so much flexibility to offer, that I couldn’t resist its siren call.
Bye bye, blocks of text
I love the interactive features WordPress offers, such as embedding and widgets. Making your blog interactive is relatively easy to do in WordPress.
Here’s the menu for adding different kinds of content. You hit the plus sign (+) on the content block, and choose the type of media you want to add. Some features are only available with certain types of subscriptions.
Developing my PLN (Personal Learning Network)
I am hoping that taking some time to develop The Queer Librarian will, in turn, help me develop my PLN. I would really like to connect with other queer librarians in schools or public libraries. I’m aiming for this platform to be a way for us to share information and insights with each other.
When I was trying to decide if I wanted to be a school librarian I spent a lot of time listening to the podcast School Librarians United. The host Amy Hermon often interviews other librarians and the podcast seems to be a great way for her to build and maintain her PLN. I am hoping this blog will be a way for me to do the same!
Building my knowledge to better serve patrons
I will be starting a new role as an elementary school librarian in the fall. This will be my first time working in a school as a librarian, and I am really excited to get started. I plan to share here what I’m learning on the job, and from reading to prepare.
When I’m learning how to do something new, I really like to dive into research and read books, blogs, websites, listen to podcasts, and more. I hope that having a dedicated space to share what I’m learning will help me absorb all of this reading/listening/watching and apply it directly to what I’m doing in my home library.
If I do a lot of reading, but don’t apply it to the library, then I’m doing my students, and myself, a disservice!
The Queer Librarian 
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