Professional Learning Networks and their impact on your career and professional development

What is a professional learning network (PLN)? Up until now, I was unaware of PLNs, what they consisted of and how they were used. Professional learning networks include 
  • Like-minded peers
  • Peers who challenge you by pushing and stretching your thinking 
  • Peers that encourage you, holding you accountable while also lifting you up
  • Opportunities that help you grow professionally and personally. (Wakelet, 2022)
Personal Image


Using myself as an example, my 
  • Encouragers are my family and friends. They remind me of what I am capable of when I am feeling overwhelmed with work.
  • Challenger: N/A
  • Advocate has varied throughout my life. This role has been filled by my undergraduate and graduate school advisors, teachers, and managers at previously worked jobs
  • Technical advisors have also varied including the IT team at my job, as well as my colleagues on my team at work. 
As you will notice from the list above, I do not have a “challenger”. In fact I’ve never had a “challenger”. Curious as to why, I took a personality test to get better insight into how my personality affects how I communicate professionally. According to 16 personalities’ test, I am an advocate (INFJ-T). 

Personal Image; Source information from 16personalities.com

  • My energy = 94% Introverted: “you likely prefer fewer, yet deep and meaningful, social interactions and feel drawn to calmer environments.”
  • My mind = 74% Intuitive: “you’re likely very imaginative and open-minded, focusing on hidden meanings and distant possibilities”
  • My nature = 65% Feeling: “you likely value emotional expression and sensitivity, prioritizing empathy, social harmony, and cooperation.”
  • My Tactics = 78% Judging: “you’re likely organized, decisive, and thorough, valuing structure and planning over spontaneity.
  • My Identity = 100% Turbulent: “you’re likely self-conscious, sensitive to stress, success-driven, perfectionistic, and eager to improve” (Free personality test, type descriptions, relationship and career advice, 2025).
I completely agree with the results above. After analyzing them, I can see why I have yet to include a “challenger” in my PLN, albeit unintentionally. Not including a “challenger” lines up with the results as I sometimes struggle with accepting constructive criticism due to my perfectionistic tendencies. It’s also difficult for me to make connections, personally and professionally as I am an introvert. This is something that I would like to work on. Not changing myself from an introvert to an extravert but using my strengths to my advantage to help me build my PLN authentically. From past experience, I have learned that I am an advocate, an encourager. I can play those roles in the PLNs of my peers, while they play a different role in mine.

These results inspired me to create a new professional learning network and improve my current network. I will do this by creating professional social media accounts to meet contacts online initially rather than in person. This method serves to breaks the ice to form better connections (Wakelet, 2022). It’s no surprise that this method is preferred by me given the results of my personality test. 
In my opinion this method of breaking the ice virtually is becoming more effective than an initial in person meeting as familiarity puts everyone at ease. This fosters an environment for in-depth discussion on day-to-day work and how to improve the field overall, securing genuine connections.

While I prefer an initial virtual meeting, I recently read a study that was inspired by the idea that book clubs can also be used as LIS professional development spaces. Developed my LIS professionals Laila M. Brown and Valerie Brett Shaindlin, this study discovered that librarians are indeed using book clubs for professional development. Among the qualitative results, it is shown that the top four factors motivating librarians’ participation in book clubs are “. . . to learn from and with others, to engage with content, to practice professional development, [and] to foster social connections. . .” (Brown & Shandlain, 2021).

From these results, it’s clear that librarians find similar value in book clubs as they do in more traditional PLNs. However, book clubs have the advantage of using book discussions to form genuine connections amongst participants. This environment creates familiarity among participants without the added pressure that a conference might bring. I find this similar to the method of “breaking the ice” virtually, in that both methods allow for a warmup so to speak rather than meeting someone cold at a conference. I will definitely consider this method on my journey to creating/improving my PLN.

In summary, to create/enhance your PLN you need to 
  • Take a chance and connect; “The best learning can happen with those who you surround yourself with” (Wakelet, 2022). 
  • Gain familiarity. This will help increase your confidence in getting out of your comfort zone to try new things, helping you grow personally and professionally; “. . . seek out uncomfortable moments like oh that makes me scared I'm going for it” i.e. Presenting to large groups, attending a conference (Wakelet, 2022).
If you are looking to create/update your PLN, check out the following videos below on the benefits of PLNs and how to create them.

References
Brown, L. M., & Shaindlin, V. B. (2021). Not just for patrons: Book club participation as professional development for librarians. The Library Quarterly, 91(4), 420–436. https://doi.org/10.1086/715924 

Free personality test, type descriptions, relationship and career advice. 16Personalities. (n.d.). https://www.16personalities.com/ 

Hurt, K. (2021, September 6). How to Build a Better Network of Peer Relationships. Let’s Grow Leaders. 2025, https://letsgrowleaders.com/2021/09/06/how-to-build-a-better-network-of-peer-relationships/ 

Wakelet. (2022). The Benefits of Growing your Network & PLN! YouTube. Retrieved 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEa8JgAE_qM&t. 

What is a Professional Learning Community (PLC)? | Kathleen Jasper. (2024). YouTube. Retrieved 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ay4Z83ESAg. 

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