I think, at least for now, I’m all the way done with Twitter. I think it took me a while to come to terms with that decision. It’s been such a great tool for learning and connecting with other educators, but it is basically unusable at this point. Enough of that…

I tried Bluesky about a year ago, but it was just one of a number of options that just weren’t living up to my expectations. Maybe it’s time, more folks joining, but right now it feels a lot like Twitter in 2012 or so. 😂 I so appreciate Dr. Steve Tetreault for getting so many teacher librarians on there, back when you needed a code to join. Now, it is totally open!

My favorite parts so far… It’s not too overwhelming. Way less spam/bots (like zero so far 🤞). I’ve found some new and interesting people to follow. I’m cool with ads, when that becomes a thing maybe, but I’m hoping I will have more control over those than I do on the Twitter. Try this out. Connect. Share. Learn. Have fun!

Here are some directions and resources to get you started. (If you are already on there, here is the link to the Starter Pack I put together, still adding to) These directions were made on a computer, but there is also an Apple iOS application, and an Android application.

Visit https://bsky.app/ and click on Sign up.

Next, you enter your email address (I would highly recommend that you NOT use a school-provided email account). Then, password and birthdate. Click Next.

Now you will choose your handle. I used the same one I used for the Twitter.

Next, there might be a step to prove that you are a human!

Bluesky will ask you to give your profile a face. I totally get why someone would rather not use their actual photo. I would suggest putting something there. I’m wary of accounts that have the default image for their profile.

Once you have your profile image uploaded, click on Continue.

Next, you be asked for some interests. Choose a few and click Continue.

That’s about it! This part is a little different than some platforms. Note that your posts, likes, and blocks, are public.

Next, you will be logged in, and it will walk you through a few things.

Next, I chose to confirm my email address. (for those rare occasions when I forget passwords) Click on Settings, and then Verify My Email.

Now click on Send Confirmation Email.

Then, check your email for the code, and enter it here. Easy-peasy.

Now… this next part… is not a requirement. I created a “Starter Pack” to help teacher librarians get started on this platform. Click here for my Starter Pack. This will take you to a page where you can click to “Follow all” in my list of teacher librarian friends, or choose them individually.

Next, you can add a “Feed” that I put together. It reminds me of Twitter “lists.” If you add this feed, you can quickly get to posts that are tagged with #TLChat, #SchoolLibrary, and the like. Right now, I just have the one feed there for School Librarians, but I might add a few more.

That School Library feed will be a the top of your Bluesky home page.

Creating posts is pretty intuitive, and much like all the other platforms you have likely used. Just click on New Post.

Once you type your post up, don’t forget to add one of the tags that the School Library feed is pulling. (#TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian)

Although your posts are public, you can choose who can reply by clicking on the “Everybody can reply” button.

Here are the options…

You can’t add videos, but you can add images.

By clicking on your profile image, you can see all the places. (it’s a little different than clicking “Home.”) You can see your *2, posts, replies, and media, *3, your likes, *4, your Feeds (hopefully the School Library one you just added), *5, you can edit your profile and add a fun header image, and *6, you can build your own Starter Packs if you want. (I’ve never even clicked on Lists, yet, 😅)

Here is what the “Edit Profile” option looks like. Like the profile photo, I’m a little wary of accounts with empty descriptions. You do what works for you, though.

Clicking the three little dots on a post gives lots of options. This is how I embedded a post here on my website.

Click on Copy code, and paste away.

On the Feeds menu, you can search for new ones but also choose which ones you want “pinned” to your Home page.

After clicking Edit, you can change the order, and pin your favorite feeds.

That’s about it! The rest kind of just works like the tools we are used to. Good luck!