I've used twitter for more 3 years. "Used" is a huge overstatement. I only get on when I have to find information for my work newsletter and/or when I want to see what my co-workers are up to when they are away on business trips. I pretty much only followed people in my field (web accessibility), with the exception of "E!" entertainment and The Wall Street Journal.
Little did I know that I can follow a library. A LIBRARY! Wow! I'm embarrassed by how little I know about something I have used for more than 3 years...
Anyway, I found some awesome people/institutions to follow. Like YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) and Library Journal (they do book reviews, and I am a sucker for book reviews).
But my favorite, by far, is NPR. What "bookish" person doesn't like NPR?! None, I say. So now I follow NPR, and I find out all their exciting news/latest posts without having to search through their site. I am so happy.
I think that twitter is essential to any job at this point- it's a great way to network and keep track of your field. But I think a librarian can use this to show students how to follow each other, and then glean information from each other that way. I also think librarians could use twitter to keep parents updated on what books they are getting, if parents have any suggestions for books the library should invest in, etc. Twitter is a great place for a community to communicate quickly and collectively. Social media is a two edged sword, and if we teach kids from a young age that twitter/facebook/blogs aren't for bullying or back biting, but a great way to meet new people and learn new things.
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