Twit-Wits

In case you haven't heard of Twitter or microblogging, let us start there:

What is a microblog? What is Twitter?

Just as a blog is an easy means of communicating one person's message out to an audience of many subscribers, a microblog is a means of sending your message to many subscribers. The difference is microblog messages are much, much smaller.

Microblogs, such as Twitter, limit users to a number of characters, so the entries are shorter and more frequent. Microbloggers can use the Twitter Web page, a cell phone, or other third-party software to enter their messages to their subscribers, or followers.

How are people using Twitter? Why should I use it?

People are using Twitter in a number of ways:

• Everyday chit-chat.
• Posing a question to a large audience.
• Sharing links and pictures of interest immediately.
• Discussing a conference or presentation as it happens.

There are a number of reasons why Twitter could be useful to you:

• You can feel like people at another location are right in your office (shorten the "virtual distance"—consider colleagues from other campus locations).


• You can ask post a question to a large group of people and get nearly immediate feedback.


• You can share notes about important work-related events, just-in-time so that when you go back to formally report on them you have been taking notes all along.

I'm ready to give Twitter a try. Now what?

Download the Using Twitter instructions at https://intranet.libraries.psu.edu/home/itech/training/archives.html to set up an account and install the third-party application of your choice.

Then, if you would like to be part of the directory of PSU libraries users, send an email to Nikki Massaro Kauffman. Your Twitter handle will be listed on our Intranet for other PSU libraries users to find you.