Workshops:
Finally the demand for workshops has lessened for the first time this term. However I did run a couple of drop-in sessions for 3rd year dissertation students. I've tweaked the content of these one-to-one meetings since attending a course at CILIP last year. I've now got a set of questions that I run through with the students when they turn up. I quiz them on what their topic is really about, what searching they've done so far, what databases they have used, why they haven't searched using some other tools and why they chose to search like that etc. This has helped to engage them a little more and helped them to realise that I'm not going to do the search for them. Verbal feedback has been positive and the numbers dropping by remains good - it seems that I can promote these sessions on the VLE but then word-of-mouth takes over in terms of advertising.
Many meetings this month:
Disabled services group, programme management committees, team meetings, Quality committee and Faculty Board. Some of these meetings are tedious but you always gain a small nugget of exceedingly useful information so it's worth sitting through everything. The most informative meeting was our team meeting about blended learning where we looked at what it is and how we might engage more with it in the Library. We shared some of the audio PowerPoints/screencasts that we have developed for our subjects.
Meeting people:
I've met a couple of new members of library staff and told them about the work that I do on daily basis.
I've had two student tutorials - one for a dissertation and one for a PhD student. It never ceases to amaze me how little some PhD students know about searching - not the one I met this week as they were very clued up and just needed a few pointers - it just goes to show that you should never assume that someone studying a 'higher' degree knows how to search.
I've been involved in a focus group for the Investors in People quality mark that the Uni is applying for. A diplomatic but frank discussion of management styles etc was had.
Appraisal:
I like appraisals. I find it makes me reflect on what on earth I have been doing all year and it gives me a chance to get some training plans/events in to the diary. I struggled with the question about 'where do you see your career going in the next 5 years' because I'm actually quite happy where I am. I've asked to gain some sort of credit/certificate for all the teaching that I do as this is something that's missing from my portfolio.
Extra-curricular:
I've managed to rack up 4 Christmas parties at work so all in all a successful and sociable month.
Friday 23 December 2011
Friday 2 December 2011
Canterbury's Beaney Institute - nearly finished
I saw these pictures on the BBC news site this week. It's nice to able to see what's behind the scaffolding that I walk past every morning. I'm looking forward to the library re-opening again, although I am starting to use the KCC Libraries' e-books, it will be good to get back to browsing the shelves on my way home from work.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Thing 23: Reflection - What next?
I've enjoyed the cpd23 Things course. I got a little behind during September because that's the busiest time of year in my workplace but have managed to get back on track. It felt like there was real community spirit with people posting supportive and friendly comments on each other's blogs. People were prepared to share experiences and knowledge - tentatively at first and then it grew to be the norm.
I like the fact that the course has made me try new tools - not just tried a tool once but encouraged me to reflect on it and to keep trialling something until I'm comfortable with how to use it. I've used some of the tools at work and also at home plus I've passed on the info to others and they now use some of the tools for their own purposes.
Reviewing my previous blog posts has helped me create a personal development plan (pdp). This was a good way to make sure that all the things I said I'd do or would like to do in the blog posts are collated and put into action. Hopefully this will help with my revalidation activities. Writing a pdp is a little like the preliminary forms you fill in for an appraisal - what have I done, did it go well, what do I need to do now, how am I going to achieve the goals - no bad thing to help you focus on the future.
I like the fact that the course has made me try new tools - not just tried a tool once but encouraged me to reflect on it and to keep trialling something until I'm comfortable with how to use it. I've used some of the tools at work and also at home plus I've passed on the info to others and they now use some of the tools for their own purposes.
Reviewing my previous blog posts has helped me create a personal development plan (pdp). This was a good way to make sure that all the things I said I'd do or would like to do in the blog posts are collated and put into action. Hopefully this will help with my revalidation activities. Writing a pdp is a little like the preliminary forms you fill in for an appraisal - what have I done, did it go well, what do I need to do now, how am I going to achieve the goals - no bad thing to help you focus on the future.
Monday 14 November 2011
Thing 22: Volunteering to get experience
Volunteering is a hot political potato at the moment.The Big Society, community-run libraries/volunteer-run libraries etc are high on the agenda in terms of public libraries. I have worked with volunteers in a library where their time, input and skills were invaluable.
In an earlier post I talked about working in a hospice. Hospices do lot of fundraising in order to be able to deliver their important services and quite rightly the money is directed to core services for patients but there are many other important services that rely on volunteers to keep them going - they might be peripheral to the core but they are still important services for those that use them. At the hospice I worked in we had volunteer drivers to transport patients/families, there were gardeners, flower arrangers, people to read to patients etc as well as offer admin support in the office areas. Without these volunteers the hospice would not have been such a vibrant, caring, well run and resourced place. The library also benefited from a bunch of cracking dedicated volunteers - between them they sorted out the loans, shelved books, requested inter-library loan material, checked in periodicals.... Having a small team of volunteers (1 for a couple of hours a day) meant the two professional librarians were able to do skills training, put together search strategies, answer enquiries... and still maintain their sanity. The volunteers had not replaced a full time post - there had never been anymore to employ to more than the two professionals and yet as alwyas the professional roles had expanded to a point where they needed help with some tasks. There are many issues surrounding the use of volunteers in libraries and I'm finding some of the current proposals to use volunteers to save money on full-time staff difficult to support. I think the ideal is that public services (and I'm including hospices here) are properly funded but we all know that money doesn't grow on trees. The volunteers I used to work with really enjoyed their roles but they liked to know that there was someone else there to show them how to do things/take the bulk of the responsibility etc. Volunteers are an excellent addition to a workplace but I think they need to be working in tandem with full time professional staff and surely that gives everyone the best of both worlds.
In an earlier post I talked about working in a hospice. Hospices do lot of fundraising in order to be able to deliver their important services and quite rightly the money is directed to core services for patients but there are many other important services that rely on volunteers to keep them going - they might be peripheral to the core but they are still important services for those that use them. At the hospice I worked in we had volunteer drivers to transport patients/families, there were gardeners, flower arrangers, people to read to patients etc as well as offer admin support in the office areas. Without these volunteers the hospice would not have been such a vibrant, caring, well run and resourced place. The library also benefited from a bunch of cracking dedicated volunteers - between them they sorted out the loans, shelved books, requested inter-library loan material, checked in periodicals.... Having a small team of volunteers (1 for a couple of hours a day) meant the two professional librarians were able to do skills training, put together search strategies, answer enquiries... and still maintain their sanity. The volunteers had not replaced a full time post - there had never been anymore to employ to more than the two professionals and yet as alwyas the professional roles had expanded to a point where they needed help with some tasks. There are many issues surrounding the use of volunteers in libraries and I'm finding some of the current proposals to use volunteers to save money on full-time staff difficult to support. I think the ideal is that public services (and I'm including hospices here) are properly funded but we all know that money doesn't grow on trees. The volunteers I used to work with really enjoyed their roles but they liked to know that there was someone else there to show them how to do things/take the bulk of the responsibility etc. Volunteers are an excellent addition to a workplace but I think they need to be working in tandem with full time professional staff and surely that gives everyone the best of both worlds.
Thing 21: Promoting yourself in job applications and at interview
I made a list of my interests and activities and of course being tidy was top of the list. However, it turns out that I like a good project to work on. I have long suspected this - I do like a tick list of things to be done. My favourite activity is throwing stuff out/eliminating clutter. If I ever leave the library world I think I'd be just at home in the house clearance trade! Other people have asked me to help them clear out their stuff because they need someone to spur them on. The psychology aspect interests me too - why do people gather all this stuff?
Projects and eliminating clutter both transfer to work. I like to have something to work on aside from the on-going user education tasks. A long thin project that makes me learn something new or gains me a new perspective. In particular, I love stock editing at work - it's essential to maintaining a healthy, living collection.
I've been updating my CV lately, not because I'm looking for a new job but so that I can keep track of everything I've done. With the changes to Uni funding in 2012 I thought I should be prepared to move quickly - just in case Liaison Librarians are not seen as value for money.
I also love shopping. This means I can quickly conjure up a book order to spend the last bits (and more) of the budget at the end of the year. What starts as a couple of new editions turns into a supermarket sweep.
One job interview sticks in my mind and it was for a job that I didn't want. I had applied and gone to the interview in order to gain some real-life experience after library school. The interviewer asked the standard question 'why do you want this job?' and my mind went blank apart from one thought that in my head said - 'but I don't want it'. There was a long pause and I couldn't think of anything sensisble to say. I must have said something but it escapes me now. After that I have only gone for jobs that I really wanted - no messing about.
Projects and eliminating clutter both transfer to work. I like to have something to work on aside from the on-going user education tasks. A long thin project that makes me learn something new or gains me a new perspective. In particular, I love stock editing at work - it's essential to maintaining a healthy, living collection.
I've been updating my CV lately, not because I'm looking for a new job but so that I can keep track of everything I've done. With the changes to Uni funding in 2012 I thought I should be prepared to move quickly - just in case Liaison Librarians are not seen as value for money.
I also love shopping. This means I can quickly conjure up a book order to spend the last bits (and more) of the budget at the end of the year. What starts as a couple of new editions turns into a supermarket sweep.
One job interview sticks in my mind and it was for a job that I didn't want. I had applied and gone to the interview in order to gain some real-life experience after library school. The interviewer asked the standard question 'why do you want this job?' and my mind went blank apart from one thought that in my head said - 'but I don't want it'. There was a long pause and I couldn't think of anything sensisble to say. I must have said something but it escapes me now. After that I have only gone for jobs that I really wanted - no messing about.
Thing 20: The Library Routes Project
I've added a link to the Library Routes wiki and have looked at some of the other posts. Seems like a lot of people stumbled upon the profession but once people grab onto that first rung of the ladder they're hooked.
I think my career path has been fairly typical - or rather a bit textbook. Gradutate trainee, Masters, Chartership and now revalidating. I've mostly stuck to academic libraries with the hospice as the exception (although we did a lot of work with the palliative care students from the local Uni). I did a bit of moving around in the beginning to move up a few rungs on the ladder but I think that's ok. I knew I wanted to be a subject librarian but couldn't decide which subject. After dabbling in health, nursing and then drama, I knew health was the one for me.
In terms of advice for people at the early stage of their career, the following are things that have stuck with me over the years:
1. Get stuck in - yes, long stints on the issue desk can be a bit boring but it helps later on. You get customer care training, often gain experience of supervising a team or even just supervising the desk for one evening a week and meet the users in their good and bad guises. People (users and colleagues) can be odd, funny and/or quite cross - and in my experience they don't change so you might as well get to grips with these things early on.
2. Remember that librarians are part of an enormous network. You are bound to keep crossing paths with the same people. You might arrive at a new job miles from home only to spot a name on the staff list that you recognise - in my case I realised I had conversed with them about inter-library loans for many years. When you're starting off there will always be someone who knows someone else that will let you shadow them for the day or visit their library. This is good news for the Charterhsip process and for getting experience in different sectors.
3. Be willing to change. When I started there was a lot of paper - forms, forms and more forms. Now we are a bit sniffy about paper and in some cases have reached e-only. Courses like cpd23 make you think about what's happening now and how you can keep up with the pace of change.
2012 will be an interesting year in academic libraries and so I shall have to see what paths remain open to me in the future.
I think my career path has been fairly typical - or rather a bit textbook. Gradutate trainee, Masters, Chartership and now revalidating. I've mostly stuck to academic libraries with the hospice as the exception (although we did a lot of work with the palliative care students from the local Uni). I did a bit of moving around in the beginning to move up a few rungs on the ladder but I think that's ok. I knew I wanted to be a subject librarian but couldn't decide which subject. After dabbling in health, nursing and then drama, I knew health was the one for me.
In terms of advice for people at the early stage of their career, the following are things that have stuck with me over the years:
1. Get stuck in - yes, long stints on the issue desk can be a bit boring but it helps later on. You get customer care training, often gain experience of supervising a team or even just supervising the desk for one evening a week and meet the users in their good and bad guises. People (users and colleagues) can be odd, funny and/or quite cross - and in my experience they don't change so you might as well get to grips with these things early on.
2. Remember that librarians are part of an enormous network. You are bound to keep crossing paths with the same people. You might arrive at a new job miles from home only to spot a name on the staff list that you recognise - in my case I realised I had conversed with them about inter-library loans for many years. When you're starting off there will always be someone who knows someone else that will let you shadow them for the day or visit their library. This is good news for the Charterhsip process and for getting experience in different sectors.
3. Be willing to change. When I started there was a lot of paper - forms, forms and more forms. Now we are a bit sniffy about paper and in some cases have reached e-only. Courses like cpd23 make you think about what's happening now and how you can keep up with the pace of change.
2012 will be an interesting year in academic libraries and so I shall have to see what paths remain open to me in the future.
Thing 19: Catch up week on integrating 'things'
So far, so good....
Blogs - as well as updating my own for 23Things I have been busy reading other peoples' blogs using the Google Reader widget on iGoogle. I need to be brave and start blogging about non-23Things stuff.
Twitter - still using this to keep up to date with library news. Have been following some of the #savelibraries stuff. Had one tweet retweeted to about 800 people! I remain selective about who I follow as I use this for professional and some personal stuff (although the personal friends are also librarians).
iGoogle - using this at work to read personal email (don't tell anyone!) and use iGoogle to read library-related blogs. Has made keeping up to date with new blog posts much easier and is starting to become a useful daily habit.
Evernote - really like this. Have access at home and work but use it mainly for 'notes to self'' so that I can transfer them between the two locations. Beats using flimsy post-it notes. Proving very useful in terms of compiling a Xmas list! Introduced my Dad to Evernote who is using it as a diary with pictures and voice notes - puts my use of Evernote to shame.
Screen capture tools - I continue to experiment with these. I've been using Screenr for a while but I'm trying out Jing to see how it compares.
Prezi - ouch! Still working on this one but it hurts my head. I think I'm too linear in my outlook and I'm finding it difficult to design or follow the freestyle route that Prezi allows. I need more time and thought to get to grips with this one. Looks like a great tool and exciting alternative to PowerPoint but I haven't quite got it yet.
Blogs - as well as updating my own for 23Things I have been busy reading other peoples' blogs using the Google Reader widget on iGoogle. I need to be brave and start blogging about non-23Things stuff.
Twitter - still using this to keep up to date with library news. Have been following some of the #savelibraries stuff. Had one tweet retweeted to about 800 people! I remain selective about who I follow as I use this for professional and some personal stuff (although the personal friends are also librarians).
iGoogle - using this at work to read personal email (don't tell anyone!) and use iGoogle to read library-related blogs. Has made keeping up to date with new blog posts much easier and is starting to become a useful daily habit.
Evernote - really like this. Have access at home and work but use it mainly for 'notes to self'' so that I can transfer them between the two locations. Beats using flimsy post-it notes. Proving very useful in terms of compiling a Xmas list! Introduced my Dad to Evernote who is using it as a diary with pictures and voice notes - puts my use of Evernote to shame.
Screen capture tools - I continue to experiment with these. I've been using Screenr for a while but I'm trying out Jing to see how it compares.
Prezi - ouch! Still working on this one but it hurts my head. I think I'm too linear in my outlook and I'm finding it difficult to design or follow the freestyle route that Prezi allows. I need more time and thought to get to grips with this one. Looks like a great tool and exciting alternative to PowerPoint but I haven't quite got it yet.
Thing 18: Jing, screen capture and podcasts.
I've previously used Screenr to do screen capture at work and so far it's worked well particularly as it was easily accessible at home and work - no need to download anything. However I was interested to see what Jing had to offer. The act of making a screen capture video via Jing was much the same as with Screenr - 5 mins recording time, adjust the recording area to cover the bit of the screen you want, pause/stop etc buttons. Alas when recording a video, Jing seemed to make the screen a bit shaky and slow.
Jing offered the option to take an image (screenshot) and add a caption. I particularly liked this feature because it's a good way to capture 'quirks' on the online library system. I captured one of those troublesome Athens log in pages that plague some of the online databases ... bonus points for Jing. Of course you can do print screen and add a text box in Word etc but it seemed so much easier in Jing, at least it did until I wanted to link to it. To link to the image capture I had to use yet another website so instead I've just downloaded my image capture and I can send it to people on email. I can see the plus points of Jing but it had a few too many annoying habits that make me reluctant to desert Screenr.
Now for podcasting. I had a go at recording a short podcast using the Audacity software. I simply read out a couple of paragraphs from a book and then was well and truly stumped when it came to editing the file. Suffice to say I simply have a little audio file of me reading aloud - which makes me cringe! I think I need to do some reading up about podcast creation before I have another go. Previously I have listened to some library induction podcasts and the odd thing from tutors at work. I can see podcasts being a useful addition to audio PowerPoints, screencasts etc to help distance learners become familiar with library services - possibly as a way to do a questions and answers session - students pose the question and I give the answer via a podcast.
Jing offered the option to take an image (screenshot) and add a caption. I particularly liked this feature because it's a good way to capture 'quirks' on the online library system. I captured one of those troublesome Athens log in pages that plague some of the online databases ... bonus points for Jing. Of course you can do print screen and add a text box in Word etc but it seemed so much easier in Jing, at least it did until I wanted to link to it. To link to the image capture I had to use yet another website so instead I've just downloaded my image capture and I can send it to people on email. I can see the plus points of Jing but it had a few too many annoying habits that make me reluctant to desert Screenr.
Now for podcasting. I had a go at recording a short podcast using the Audacity software. I simply read out a couple of paragraphs from a book and then was well and truly stumped when it came to editing the file. Suffice to say I simply have a little audio file of me reading aloud - which makes me cringe! I think I need to do some reading up about podcast creation before I have another go. Previously I have listened to some library induction podcasts and the odd thing from tutors at work. I can see podcasts being a useful addition to audio PowerPoints, screencasts etc to help distance learners become familiar with library services - possibly as a way to do a questions and answers session - students pose the question and I give the answer via a podcast.
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Thing 17: Medium is the message - Prezi and Slideshare
Prezi looks fantastic and indeed it is fantastic. It's just that my brain couldn't fathom out what Prezi was doing! It all felt a little too freestyle for me - I'm afraid I prefer a linear approach. Still I had a go. I picked the 'explain a subject' template - not quite up to taking the off-piste route yet - and it was easy enough to edit.
I quite like the way you can criss-cross the screen but I did feel slightly sea-sick with all the swirling around. It's not exciting but here's my attempt at Prezi http://prezi.com/4hvtn_xnzfge/library-orientation/. I suspect that with a lot (an awful lot) more practice I could make some good presentations to share with the students.
I often read The Search Principle Blog where presentations/documents are shared using Slideshare. I have been looking forward to the Slideshare task since this course began. I knew it would be useful but I hadn't realised how simple it was - it took seconds to sign up, upload a file and see it shared. I can see this being invaluable. When working offsite I can have all my presentations saved in Slideshare as well as on a USB stick (I'm a big fan of having multiple back up plans when running workshops). I can also link to them on Slideshare rather than keep uploading them to different areas of the virtual learning environment. You can see my 'test' slideshare item at http://www.slideshare.net/kateldavies/search-clinic
I intend to explore Prezi further and I will be adding more things to Slideshare in the current weeks so that I can test it in future training sessions.
I quite like the way you can criss-cross the screen but I did feel slightly sea-sick with all the swirling around. It's not exciting but here's my attempt at Prezi http://prezi.com/4hvtn_xnzfge/library-orientation/. I suspect that with a lot (an awful lot) more practice I could make some good presentations to share with the students.
I often read The Search Principle Blog where presentations/documents are shared using Slideshare. I have been looking forward to the Slideshare task since this course began. I knew it would be useful but I hadn't realised how simple it was - it took seconds to sign up, upload a file and see it shared. I can see this being invaluable. When working offsite I can have all my presentations saved in Slideshare as well as on a USB stick (I'm a big fan of having multiple back up plans when running workshops). I can also link to them on Slideshare rather than keep uploading them to different areas of the virtual learning environment. You can see my 'test' slideshare item at http://www.slideshare.net/kateldavies/search-clinic
I intend to explore Prezi further and I will be adding more things to Slideshare in the current weeks so that I can test it in future training sessions.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Thing 16: Advocacy, speaking up for the profession and getting published.
Not long after I became a fully fledged new professional I went to a friend's party. Someone there asked me what I did for a living and I proudly said I was a librarian. His reply was 'oh that must be boring', this was accompanied by a look of pity. Well, he got the extended version of how interesting it is, how I meet many different people, learn lots about technology and get an enormous amount of job satisfaction from helping people. When I asked him what he did (printing) I had to bite my tongue so as not to say 'oh just lots of photocopying then'.
Of course if I say to someone I am an 'information professional' they are impressed because they have no idea what one is, 'librarian' on the other hand tends to conjure up the old stereotype. Only today I was chatting with someone, whilst in a queue, and mentioned that I had just delivered a lecture about finding information - they thought I sat at my desk all day long looking at books and had no idea that lectures were part of my job.
If we, as a profession, want to get everyone else to view us in a positive way we have to get our message out there. I think it's important to tell people what I do and why I do it - surely we need to be seen as an attractive profession so as to keep recruiting to the ranks of friendly librarians/information professionals. Advocacy and speaking up also keeps us visible which is particularly important whilst cuts etc are being made to services and staff. We have to shout about the good stuff we do or others will think we are sat here doing nothing.
It's not done on some big public stage but by simply talking to others I meet through work and outside of it, making sure family members have joined (and used) the public library and presenting a positive image of librarians in my day to day work, I hope that I'm doing my bit.
I was going to write that I've never had anything published and then realised that I'm about to hit the button that says 'Publish Post'! So I guess that counts. I've put some little things in the in-house staff newsletter but that's it so far. Something to aim for in the future...
Of course if I say to someone I am an 'information professional' they are impressed because they have no idea what one is, 'librarian' on the other hand tends to conjure up the old stereotype. Only today I was chatting with someone, whilst in a queue, and mentioned that I had just delivered a lecture about finding information - they thought I sat at my desk all day long looking at books and had no idea that lectures were part of my job.
If we, as a profession, want to get everyone else to view us in a positive way we have to get our message out there. I think it's important to tell people what I do and why I do it - surely we need to be seen as an attractive profession so as to keep recruiting to the ranks of friendly librarians/information professionals. Advocacy and speaking up also keeps us visible which is particularly important whilst cuts etc are being made to services and staff. We have to shout about the good stuff we do or others will think we are sat here doing nothing.
It's not done on some big public stage but by simply talking to others I meet through work and outside of it, making sure family members have joined (and used) the public library and presenting a positive image of librarians in my day to day work, I hope that I'm doing my bit.
I was going to write that I've never had anything published and then realised that I'm about to hit the button that says 'Publish Post'! So I guess that counts. I've put some little things in the in-house staff newsletter but that's it so far. Something to aim for in the future...
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Thing 15: Attending, presenting at and organising seminars, conferences and other events
I like a good conference - tea, biscuits, freebies, meeting old friends, time away from work - but seriously I can't think of one library-related event that I have attended where I came away empty handed. When I was a graduate trainee I attended the Serials conference, whilst working towards Chartership I attended the CILIP Umbrella conference and in the last 18 months I've managed to get to the Health Libraries Group and LILAC conferences. All gave me food for thought, tips for things I was doing or trying to do at work and allowed me to network face-to-face with library professionals.
In terms of engaging properly, I confess, I have never asked a question at the end of a presentation/workshop. I always think that it will show me up as an ill-informed idiot and yet I spend a good amount of time telling my students that there's no such thing as a silly question. Obviously I need to take my own advice and pluck up the courage. At LILAC this year I managed to do a bit of tweeting although this does take your attention away from the presentation which felt a bit disrespectful, so I won't be doing this again - I'll leave my tweeting until the tea break.
Sometimes I think I'd like to present something but I've no idea what - maybe a day in the life of a subject librarian, tales from faculty liaison - how to keep those academics in line.... Actually that last one sounds quite good.
Many years ago all my school reports included the phrase "Kate is a quiet girl". I did not ask questions in class, I hated anything like school plays, drama studies or presentations. I did not like public speaking. Now in 2011, I am happy to stand up and speak to 200 people for an hour. In fact in the past two weeks I have spoken in front of 200 people on 5 occasions. I gradually built up to this over a number of years without really noticing. The odd library tour for a group of 10, a brief library induction talk to a group of 20, going in to a classroom of 30 and running a small workshop, giving an hour long lecture about 'finding information' to a group of 200 then taking a deep breath whilst another 200 walk in and then repeating the same talk to them.
I saw a pro-presenter in action earlier this year. The Archbishop of Canterbury - not one 'umm' or 'err'. He spoke as if he were reading elegant prose. He was clear, concise and had no slides, pictures, handouts.... When he finished talking I realised that he had done it with no notes, no prompt cards, no autocue and it certainly didn't sound rehearsed. Obviously he's done a fair bit of public speaking over the years and it's paid off because he nailed it.
The first time I spoke to 200 people I was nervous but as soon as I was standing in front of them I realised it was better to say something rather than nothing. I liked Phil Bradley's tip about trying to enjoy the presentation and I wholly agree - if it's dull or stressful for you, the audience will be the same. The following are my tips about presenting:
1. Use the tools available to you - I once forgot to dim the lights in the lecture theatre and when I got to the end I realised they had probably found it hard to read the screen. I now take a little note with me to remind me to dim the lights. Sometimes these little things get forgotten when you're trying to get the USB stick to work or the projector to switch on.
2. Run through your presentation but don't over rehearse. This is known at work as 'winging it' but it makes me feel more relaxed to know that I can ad lib a little, throw in the odd joke and take a question mid-flow. I like to connect with the audience as me, as well as a professional talking to them. A little laugh along the way brightens it up for everyone.
3. When the internet goes slow or disappears, when the video doesn't play etc have a back up plan. Use screen shots, online tutorials that you can access from your files, show them another resource rather than struggling with one that is having problems. Sometimes it is best to abandon the show - struggling on can be painful for you and your audience.
4. Don't be frightened of your audience. I once presented a little seminar about systematic reviews to a group of health professionals. When I stood up to speak I realised that all their name badges said something like Dr or Professor. Nerves struck until I thought that if they knew everything about this topic then they wouldn't be here listening to me. Feeling like you know something and are going to impart that knowledge to someone else is a powerful feeling and boosts your confidence.
5. Enjoy it. Your audience are sitting there thinking "I wish I could do that", "She knows a lot", "I like her style".... and you're the one they are talking about.
6. Persevere. No, not every presentation will go to plan and yes, some will feel 'flatter' than others. You tend to know when it's gone well. If you attend a presentation and you really enjoy it - let the presenter know. They'll be pleased and flattery gets you everywhere!
So what do I need to do, firstly try presenting something about 'how to to keep your academics in line', secondly keep speaking in public - the more you do it the easier it gets, and finally keep attending conferences to see others in action. Maybe one day I'll be as good as the Archbishop.
In terms of engaging properly, I confess, I have never asked a question at the end of a presentation/workshop. I always think that it will show me up as an ill-informed idiot and yet I spend a good amount of time telling my students that there's no such thing as a silly question. Obviously I need to take my own advice and pluck up the courage. At LILAC this year I managed to do a bit of tweeting although this does take your attention away from the presentation which felt a bit disrespectful, so I won't be doing this again - I'll leave my tweeting until the tea break.
Sometimes I think I'd like to present something but I've no idea what - maybe a day in the life of a subject librarian, tales from faculty liaison - how to keep those academics in line.... Actually that last one sounds quite good.
Many years ago all my school reports included the phrase "Kate is a quiet girl". I did not ask questions in class, I hated anything like school plays, drama studies or presentations. I did not like public speaking. Now in 2011, I am happy to stand up and speak to 200 people for an hour. In fact in the past two weeks I have spoken in front of 200 people on 5 occasions. I gradually built up to this over a number of years without really noticing. The odd library tour for a group of 10, a brief library induction talk to a group of 20, going in to a classroom of 30 and running a small workshop, giving an hour long lecture about 'finding information' to a group of 200 then taking a deep breath whilst another 200 walk in and then repeating the same talk to them.
I saw a pro-presenter in action earlier this year. The Archbishop of Canterbury - not one 'umm' or 'err'. He spoke as if he were reading elegant prose. He was clear, concise and had no slides, pictures, handouts.... When he finished talking I realised that he had done it with no notes, no prompt cards, no autocue and it certainly didn't sound rehearsed. Obviously he's done a fair bit of public speaking over the years and it's paid off because he nailed it.
The first time I spoke to 200 people I was nervous but as soon as I was standing in front of them I realised it was better to say something rather than nothing. I liked Phil Bradley's tip about trying to enjoy the presentation and I wholly agree - if it's dull or stressful for you, the audience will be the same. The following are my tips about presenting:
1. Use the tools available to you - I once forgot to dim the lights in the lecture theatre and when I got to the end I realised they had probably found it hard to read the screen. I now take a little note with me to remind me to dim the lights. Sometimes these little things get forgotten when you're trying to get the USB stick to work or the projector to switch on.
2. Run through your presentation but don't over rehearse. This is known at work as 'winging it' but it makes me feel more relaxed to know that I can ad lib a little, throw in the odd joke and take a question mid-flow. I like to connect with the audience as me, as well as a professional talking to them. A little laugh along the way brightens it up for everyone.
3. When the internet goes slow or disappears, when the video doesn't play etc have a back up plan. Use screen shots, online tutorials that you can access from your files, show them another resource rather than struggling with one that is having problems. Sometimes it is best to abandon the show - struggling on can be painful for you and your audience.
4. Don't be frightened of your audience. I once presented a little seminar about systematic reviews to a group of health professionals. When I stood up to speak I realised that all their name badges said something like Dr or Professor. Nerves struck until I thought that if they knew everything about this topic then they wouldn't be here listening to me. Feeling like you know something and are going to impart that knowledge to someone else is a powerful feeling and boosts your confidence.
5. Enjoy it. Your audience are sitting there thinking "I wish I could do that", "She knows a lot", "I like her style".... and you're the one they are talking about.
6. Persevere. No, not every presentation will go to plan and yes, some will feel 'flatter' than others. You tend to know when it's gone well. If you attend a presentation and you really enjoy it - let the presenter know. They'll be pleased and flattery gets you everywhere!
So what do I need to do, firstly try presenting something about 'how to to keep your academics in line', secondly keep speaking in public - the more you do it the easier it gets, and finally keep attending conferences to see others in action. Maybe one day I'll be as good as the Archbishop.
Sunday 4 September 2011
Thing 14: Zotero / Mendeley / citeulike
I've chosen to look at Mendeley. It was easy to download on to my desktop at home (yet, to do battle with the Administrator Password at work). I like the fact that you can save your reference details direct from the pdf file and then make notes on the pdf document. This all seems much easier than the RefWorks tool we have at work. I don't mind the act of referencing but I'm not keen on teaching students how to use referencing software. It always seems too complicated for most of them to comprehend and I'm not convinced that I know enough about it to use it properly. I never show the students RefWorks in their first year. We don't hide it from them we just don't run courses on it. I and many of the academic staff think they need to learn why it's important to reference and how to reference the basic stuff before moving on to referencing software which will just do it all for them. Otherwise how do they know what RefWorks is doing or whether it has produced a bibliography in the correct format. How would they spot mistakes made by the software?
Mendeley looks like it might be more useful to students/academic staff who have a big stash of pdfs that they store on their computer. I can see it being good for all those lecturers who publish a lot of papers and want to keep their references and pdf documents in the one place that they can access from home and work. It would be better if Mendeley were web-based like RefWorks so that you didn't have to download it and could access it from wherever you could connect to the internet. All in all a good tool but I'll be sticking to RefWorks as I have to use this at work.
Mendeley looks like it might be more useful to students/academic staff who have a big stash of pdfs that they store on their computer. I can see it being good for all those lecturers who publish a lot of papers and want to keep their references and pdf documents in the one place that they can access from home and work. It would be better if Mendeley were web-based like RefWorks so that you didn't have to download it and could access it from wherever you could connect to the internet. All in all a good tool but I'll be sticking to RefWorks as I have to use this at work.
Friday 19 August 2011
Thing 13: Google Docs, Wikis and Dropbox
I'm on holiday this week so I'm only going to look at two of the tools (I can hear you asking 'why are you doing this if you are on holiday?' well it's either this or paint the radiator in the kitchen!)
Google Docs - For some reason I thought this was going to be a bit complicated. I thought it was going to look different to Microsoft and that I'd have to find my way around an unfamiliar screen but it was actually very easy and did look like the applications I use at work.
I created their equivalent of a Word document, sent it to a colleague at work and gave them permission to edit it. I think this sort of tool is useful for groups that don't share a computer network at work/home. I work closely with my mentees and we send files by email but I think I might try this in future as some of the files get rather large. It's good because the other person can edit it and so you have a master document.
I'm assuming that my document is now 'in the cloud'. There's a lot of talk about the 'cloud' and despite all the good things about it - such as not needing a USB stick anymore - I fear it's just going to be a new way to make money from broadband customers. I imagine that soon someone will start charging me for my bit of the cloud.
Wikis - I like wikis. I use a wiki at work so that our new first year students can book themselves onto a library workshop. We used to do this using bits of paper at the enquiry desk and we always had students who wanted to be with their friend and who would change their mind about which slot they wanted to attend - let's just say there was a lot of crossing out. Now I don't have to get involved in any of that. The students can look at the days and timeslots available and book themselves (and usually their friend) on to the workshop that suits them best. We get the odd one that manages to delete everything but I can usually retrieve it. I do have to warn them that I can see who has edited what on the wiki so that they don't scrub off another persons name in order to pinch their seat at the workshop. The academic staff also use wikis to monitor attendance at seminars. It means there is no need for paper registers and all - administrator, tutor, seminar leader - can see the master document at the same time.
It's a good tool to use in my role - workshop bookings, sharing documents, working in with groups across various locations - it's flexible and people seem to get to grips with wikis fairly easily so no need for extensive training or instruction guides.
Google Docs - For some reason I thought this was going to be a bit complicated. I thought it was going to look different to Microsoft and that I'd have to find my way around an unfamiliar screen but it was actually very easy and did look like the applications I use at work.
I created their equivalent of a Word document, sent it to a colleague at work and gave them permission to edit it. I think this sort of tool is useful for groups that don't share a computer network at work/home. I work closely with my mentees and we send files by email but I think I might try this in future as some of the files get rather large. It's good because the other person can edit it and so you have a master document.
I'm assuming that my document is now 'in the cloud'. There's a lot of talk about the 'cloud' and despite all the good things about it - such as not needing a USB stick anymore - I fear it's just going to be a new way to make money from broadband customers. I imagine that soon someone will start charging me for my bit of the cloud.
Wikis - I like wikis. I use a wiki at work so that our new first year students can book themselves onto a library workshop. We used to do this using bits of paper at the enquiry desk and we always had students who wanted to be with their friend and who would change their mind about which slot they wanted to attend - let's just say there was a lot of crossing out. Now I don't have to get involved in any of that. The students can look at the days and timeslots available and book themselves (and usually their friend) on to the workshop that suits them best. We get the odd one that manages to delete everything but I can usually retrieve it. I do have to warn them that I can see who has edited what on the wiki so that they don't scrub off another persons name in order to pinch their seat at the workshop. The academic staff also use wikis to monitor attendance at seminars. It means there is no need for paper registers and all - administrator, tutor, seminar leader - can see the master document at the same time.
It's a good tool to use in my role - workshop bookings, sharing documents, working in with groups across various locations - it's flexible and people seem to get to grips with wikis fairly easily so no need for extensive training or instruction guides.
Thing 12: Putting the social into social media
There's been a lot of discussion lately about how social media facilitated/encouraged the recent riots in the UK. I think that it's just a new method of bringing people together. In the past people have managed to organise demonstrations/football hooliganism without the use of social media so it's just a new tool and those that don't use or understand it simply jump on the bandwagon and start trashing it. If these people googled cpd23 they'd find out how useful social media can be!
The last few weeks following cpd23 have encourage me to use social media to meet a purpose. Instead of reading blogs on a Friday afternoon at work I now write my blog posts too and reflect on how to use the tools in my job. This has introduced regular reflection into my week. I've linked up with a few others on the course and it's nice to find supportive, like-minded online friends. Not only have I talked about cpd23 and social media on the blog, friends and colleagues are interested in what I'm learning and blogging about and even my Mum has started to read my blog.
I've been using blogs to keep up to date with the world of libraries and education for a couple of years now but it's this course that has made me sort out all the random links and get myself involved rather than sitting on the sidelines. I started tweeting earlier this year and check Facebook regularly but had never really thought about how to use it professionally - until now.
I intend to keep using social media in my work (where I am permitted) and some of the tools we have used so far I will use professionally and personally - like Twitter, Facebook and Evernote.
The last few weeks following cpd23 have encourage me to use social media to meet a purpose. Instead of reading blogs on a Friday afternoon at work I now write my blog posts too and reflect on how to use the tools in my job. This has introduced regular reflection into my week. I've linked up with a few others on the course and it's nice to find supportive, like-minded online friends. Not only have I talked about cpd23 and social media on the blog, friends and colleagues are interested in what I'm learning and blogging about and even my Mum has started to read my blog.
I've been using blogs to keep up to date with the world of libraries and education for a couple of years now but it's this course that has made me sort out all the random links and get myself involved rather than sitting on the sidelines. I started tweeting earlier this year and check Facebook regularly but had never really thought about how to use it professionally - until now.
I intend to keep using social media in my work (where I am permitted) and some of the tools we have used so far I will use professionally and personally - like Twitter, Facebook and Evernote.
Friday 5 August 2011
Save Libraries
Ok this isn't related to cpd23 Things but sign if you want to and ignore if you don't. Here's an e-petition in support of public libraries.
Interested to see more about public libraries and the work going on to support them? Try following @ijclark on Twitter.
Interested to see more about public libraries and the work going on to support them? Try following @ijclark on Twitter.
Tuesday 2 August 2011
Thing 11: Mentoring
I really enjoy mentoring for CILIP. I'm not the type of professional who wants to write in journals or attend lots of committee meetings but I like supporting those on the route to Chartership etc with all the different things they might want to investigate. It keeps me on my toes and makes make me look at professional issues outside of the academic sector. The role itself is fairly easy going as you are there to support the chartership candidate - they have to make the effort to do the work. You are not there to crack the whip but to act as a sounding board, to offer advice, put them in contact with other professionals, help them produce the final document, encourage them to think about all the things they might want to investigate/try out in order to make them aware of the multitude of professional issues/roles involved in librarianship. As well as supporting the candidates with their professional development it's great for my own professional development. I meet other librarians, visit other libraries I might not normally visit and find out about services that run elsewhere. I have to admit that sometimes the keen nature and inquiring minds of my mentees make me feel a little inadequate - you can certainly spot future leaders!
Thing 10: Graduate traineeships, Masters Degrees, Chartership, Accreditation
Why did I choose librarianship? So I had a legitimate reason to be uber-tidy of course!! I'm unable to remember the moment when I decided it was the career for me but I do remember chatting to the careers advisor at school when we had to chose a work experience placement. The advisor nearly fell off her chair when I asked if she could get me in at the local library. Her exact words were "no one has ever asked me that before". Thankfully she took me seriously and here I am today.
Career history so far (edited highlights):
Work experience - two weeks at the local library. I remember doing lots of tasks and asking for more things to do. The memory that sticks in my mind is reading aloud at the children's story time and realising that children's librarianship was not for me due to the high levels of sticky fingers and snotty noses.
University - my first degree was not in librarianship but of course like all good students I did go to the library. Looking back I didn't use a database and I didn't meet a subject librarian but I did do an awful lot of photocopying. In my final year I went to the careers office and picked up a leaflet about careers in information and that sealed the deal. I think it was the attraction of being organised, tidy and working with different groups of people. I applied for a graduate trainee position at an enormous multi-site Uni in central London and got the post in the January before I'd even taken my exams.
Graduate Trainee - multi-site Uni in central London - spent lots of time on the various issue desks but my 'home' was the Periodicals office. Every fortnight the 6 trainees would do some sort of training or visit other libraries to get us ready for the Masters course.
Masters - did this full-time. I enjoyed it but with hindsight I'm not sure how much I have actually used in the workplace. There's a lot to be said for having the qualification but on-the-job experience has given me the best training in my career so far. During this time I discovered I was not cut out for Cat & Class - I passed the modules but developed a deep seated fear of Dewey tables. In my current post I have met a kindred spirit and I no longer feel like a bad librarian for pinching class numbers from others.
First 'real' librarianship post - another multi-site Uni in central London - started as a Library Assistant but quickly took a secondment as a Senior Library Assistant. This time my home was the Journals and Document Delivery office. What did I learn? Well how to scan, how to keep fit by shelving journals, how to ferret out free articles.... I also had to supervise the issue desk in the evening which made me a little nervous. It was here that I met inspirational manager number 1. They trusted their staff to get on with the job. I've always felt this to be a good quality and have tried to do this myself in various roles. Whilst I was here I obtained my Chartership.
First 'chartered librarian' post - a hospice - yep, that's right a hospice. Many people raised their eyebrows when I told them my choice of workplace but I found it hugely rewarding both professionally and personally. Professionally it was my first post that required me to be Chartered. As it was a small library I got to have a go at everything which wasn't the case in the large libraries I had previously worked in. I did cat and class, presentations, helped to run the bookshop, assisted with research queries, made posters for conferences, worked with volunteers.... the list is never ending. Personally, it was an enlightening experience which I shall never forget - it changed my attitude to illness and death for the better. I also met inspirational manager number 2. Her enthusiasm was infectious. She made it her mission to do everything she could to build the best library possible with limited funds and manpower. She cared passionately about her job and taught me the notion of 'added value'. She knew how to go that extra mile with an enquiry. It was her drive that made me think I'd like to be a library manager and lead a team and service.
Then - The Drama School - I was the library manager. Well, this was in interesting experience. Nice library staff to work with but the role was challenging. Issues - never ending issues - with IT, space, lack of web presence and people welded to very old fashioned ideas about libraries (one day someone actually said "why don't we put in some wood panelling and some lamps"). I think I'll leave it there. I learnt a lot about managing staff, running a service etc but I'm sure there was an easier way to learn this stuff! I also signed up as a Mentor for CILIP and took on my first mentee.
Now - multi-site Uni in the South East - In the previous role I felt I'd lost contact with the students and I wanted to get back to a role involving running workshops, giving support and academic liaison. I also did not want to work with acting students - been there, done that, most were very nice, some were most certainly not nice. I enjoy my current role. I like the variety of tasks and the relative autonomy. I find it rewarding when I've helped a student solve a search problem and when academic staff ask for my advice or expertise. I'm still mentoring for CILIP.
As for what I'm planning to do next, ideally I'd like to stay where I am, revalidate my Charteship and gain some sort of teaching qualification.
Writing this post has made me realise how far I've travelled in librarianship. For the most part I've enjoyed and made the most of every role. Hopefully there's a lot more still to come.
Career history so far (edited highlights):
Work experience - two weeks at the local library. I remember doing lots of tasks and asking for more things to do. The memory that sticks in my mind is reading aloud at the children's story time and realising that children's librarianship was not for me due to the high levels of sticky fingers and snotty noses.
University - my first degree was not in librarianship but of course like all good students I did go to the library. Looking back I didn't use a database and I didn't meet a subject librarian but I did do an awful lot of photocopying. In my final year I went to the careers office and picked up a leaflet about careers in information and that sealed the deal. I think it was the attraction of being organised, tidy and working with different groups of people. I applied for a graduate trainee position at an enormous multi-site Uni in central London and got the post in the January before I'd even taken my exams.
Graduate Trainee - multi-site Uni in central London - spent lots of time on the various issue desks but my 'home' was the Periodicals office. Every fortnight the 6 trainees would do some sort of training or visit other libraries to get us ready for the Masters course.
Masters - did this full-time. I enjoyed it but with hindsight I'm not sure how much I have actually used in the workplace. There's a lot to be said for having the qualification but on-the-job experience has given me the best training in my career so far. During this time I discovered I was not cut out for Cat & Class - I passed the modules but developed a deep seated fear of Dewey tables. In my current post I have met a kindred spirit and I no longer feel like a bad librarian for pinching class numbers from others.
First 'real' librarianship post - another multi-site Uni in central London - started as a Library Assistant but quickly took a secondment as a Senior Library Assistant. This time my home was the Journals and Document Delivery office. What did I learn? Well how to scan, how to keep fit by shelving journals, how to ferret out free articles.... I also had to supervise the issue desk in the evening which made me a little nervous. It was here that I met inspirational manager number 1. They trusted their staff to get on with the job. I've always felt this to be a good quality and have tried to do this myself in various roles. Whilst I was here I obtained my Chartership.
First 'chartered librarian' post - a hospice - yep, that's right a hospice. Many people raised their eyebrows when I told them my choice of workplace but I found it hugely rewarding both professionally and personally. Professionally it was my first post that required me to be Chartered. As it was a small library I got to have a go at everything which wasn't the case in the large libraries I had previously worked in. I did cat and class, presentations, helped to run the bookshop, assisted with research queries, made posters for conferences, worked with volunteers.... the list is never ending. Personally, it was an enlightening experience which I shall never forget - it changed my attitude to illness and death for the better. I also met inspirational manager number 2. Her enthusiasm was infectious. She made it her mission to do everything she could to build the best library possible with limited funds and manpower. She cared passionately about her job and taught me the notion of 'added value'. She knew how to go that extra mile with an enquiry. It was her drive that made me think I'd like to be a library manager and lead a team and service.
Then - The Drama School - I was the library manager. Well, this was in interesting experience. Nice library staff to work with but the role was challenging. Issues - never ending issues - with IT, space, lack of web presence and people welded to very old fashioned ideas about libraries (one day someone actually said "why don't we put in some wood panelling and some lamps"). I think I'll leave it there. I learnt a lot about managing staff, running a service etc but I'm sure there was an easier way to learn this stuff! I also signed up as a Mentor for CILIP and took on my first mentee.
Now - multi-site Uni in the South East - In the previous role I felt I'd lost contact with the students and I wanted to get back to a role involving running workshops, giving support and academic liaison. I also did not want to work with acting students - been there, done that, most were very nice, some were most certainly not nice. I enjoy my current role. I like the variety of tasks and the relative autonomy. I find it rewarding when I've helped a student solve a search problem and when academic staff ask for my advice or expertise. I'm still mentoring for CILIP.
As for what I'm planning to do next, ideally I'd like to stay where I am, revalidate my Charteship and gain some sort of teaching qualification.
Writing this post has made me realise how far I've travelled in librarianship. For the most part I've enjoyed and made the most of every role. Hopefully there's a lot more still to come.
Thing 9: Evernote
Previously I'd looked at Evernote in the App store but hadn't really understood what to use it for. Now I get it and I love it. I've downloaded it on to my laptop, my iPad and amazingly managed to download it on to the work pc without needing the elusive 'Administrator password'.
Thinking it was going to be a bit fiddly, I watched the online video to work out how to use it but it's actually quite simple. I made my first note in it within seconds and then added an audio clip and a photo to the note. It is a list makers dream - I've can have notebooks of lists accompanied by pictures, links and voice recordings! Further exploration found I could drag pictures from other folders and 'clip' webpages. I decided that the first web item I clipped should be my first ever blog post. The last thing I tried out yesterday was integrating it with my Twitter account - when I send a tweet if I add @myEN to the end of it, it automatically saves it as a note in Evernote. I wouldn't do this with all my tweets but I could keep an archive of all my professional tweets and let the other silly ones rot away in my Twitter account.
I'm going to use Evernote as a diary for reflective notes, an archive of all things me and a list maker extraordinaire.
Thinking it was going to be a bit fiddly, I watched the online video to work out how to use it but it's actually quite simple. I made my first note in it within seconds and then added an audio clip and a photo to the note. It is a list makers dream - I've can have notebooks of lists accompanied by pictures, links and voice recordings! Further exploration found I could drag pictures from other folders and 'clip' webpages. I decided that the first web item I clipped should be my first ever blog post. The last thing I tried out yesterday was integrating it with my Twitter account - when I send a tweet if I add @myEN to the end of it, it automatically saves it as a note in Evernote. I wouldn't do this with all my tweets but I could keep an archive of all my professional tweets and let the other silly ones rot away in my Twitter account.
I'm going to use Evernote as a diary for reflective notes, an archive of all things me and a list maker extraordinaire.
Thing 8: Google Calendar
Well I've downloaded Google Calendar, added it to my iGoogle page and inserted the cpd23 dates but I won't use this tool for work. The team at work already use a shared calendar via the email system which we populate with all our outings/meetings/appointments. However I also use a printed diary for work because I don't have a smartphone that will sync with the online calendar. It feels 'safe' to have a paper version - I've jokinly asked for a netbook at work so that I can go more or less paperless - but no word on this yet. it is somewhat disheartening to go to a meeting to find you are the only one who has to print out the papers instead of read them on the netbook. Online calendars are important for team work in the office - we can pitch in when we see others are having a busy day and give accurate 'she's not at her desk, she'll be back at so and so o'clock' reports to telephone callers. It can sometimes feels like online calendars are used to keep tabs on staff (maybe I'm paranoid) but all in all I find it useful.
Monday 1 August 2011
Thing 7: Face-to-face networks and professional organisations
I belong to CILIP and am a member of the Health Libraries Group and University, College and Research Group. I've been a member of CILIP since 2000 when I started as a graduate trainee. I'm one of the few left in my organisation that is actually a member - the further I've moved from London the less signed up/paid up members I've met which is a shame. I've been reflecting on why I am still a member of CILIP after 11 years. I know there is the argument that it's a lot of money each year but I like finding Update on the doormat, I always read the jobs email (just to be nosey really), I read the publications from the two groups I belong to, I read the CILIP blog, I flick through the Facet catalogue, I like having CILIP on my CV, I've done my Chartership, I'm a mentor and I'm revalidating. I get quite a lot out of my membership in terms of professional development and the satisfaction of feeling there is a large support network that I can draw on when needed and for those two reasons I'm happy to renew my membership - after all, you only get out what you put in. I'm not into writing journal articles about library research but I do enjoy mentoring for CILIP so being a member makes me part of the wider library community in a way that I am comfortable with.
Since the Browne Report I've been looking at doing a qualification in learning and teaching in HE. Hopefully this will strengthen my CV, improve my skills and gain recognition in the institution for the work carried out by the librarians. With that qualification I'd like to become a member of the HEA. Bit of a long term goal this one but edging towards it via the appraisal scheme.
Since the Browne Report I've been looking at doing a qualification in learning and teaching in HE. Hopefully this will strengthen my CV, improve my skills and gain recognition in the institution for the work carried out by the librarians. With that qualification I'd like to become a member of the HEA. Bit of a long term goal this one but edging towards it via the appraisal scheme.
Thing 6: Online networks
I know other people who are on LinkedIn and in the past I've poked around in their profiles to see what sort of info they shared. I had steered clear of it myself because it didn't seem relevant to me as I'm not looking for a new job or for any freelance stuff. Since trying it out for Thing 6 I've decided that it's a good way to keep my CV up to date - this is something I'm very bad at. With the current state of the economy and job market I need to make sure my CV is updated and presentable at short notice. I can't see myself using LinkedIn to keep in contact with colleagues but if I was searching for a new job it would be invaluable to find out about the company and people that work there. I have joined a couple of LinkedIn groups but have just amended my profile to stop all the emails alerting me to new discussions as they were filling up my inbox.
The comment 'Facebook is the backyard BBQ; LinkedIn is the office' stuck a chord with me. I intend to keep Facebook as my locked-down, non-professional network. I'm all for maintaining a work/life balance and have no intention of being in the office (virtually or physically) when I don't need to be. I love my job but there is life outside of libraries.
I'm already a member of CILIP Communities and have kept my short profile up to date. I joined a while ago because I'm a mentor for the Chartership etc scheme. Chartership candidates looking for a mentor can find out a bit about my professional background which helps them pick the right mentor for them.
I'm pleased I've joined all these networks but now need to keep a tight reign on the info that comes out of them or I fear I'll have generated my own information overload.
The comment 'Facebook is the backyard BBQ; LinkedIn is the office' stuck a chord with me. I intend to keep Facebook as my locked-down, non-professional network. I'm all for maintaining a work/life balance and have no intention of being in the office (virtually or physically) when I don't need to be. I love my job but there is life outside of libraries.
I'm already a member of CILIP Communities and have kept my short profile up to date. I joined a while ago because I'm a mentor for the Chartership etc scheme. Chartership candidates looking for a mentor can find out a bit about my professional background which helps them pick the right mentor for them.
I'm pleased I've joined all these networks but now need to keep a tight reign on the info that comes out of them or I fear I'll have generated my own information overload.
Monday 18 July 2011
Thing 5: Reflective practice
I like the Greenaway model of Do-Plan-Review. I already reflect on the user education sessions I deliver at work. I find it helps to highlight the good and bad parts of the sessions and it makes me record changes that I might incorporate the next time I deliver the session. I'm also using CILIPs CPD audit sheet for my Chartership Revalidation log. This simple form makes me think about what I have learned from an activity and how I'm going to apply or why I'm not going to apply it in the workplace.
Reflecting on the last few weeks of cpd23, I think the tools I've used so far have taken me outside my comfort zone such as making my postings/tweets public and making comments on other sites. I still need to improve my online presence and I think it's something that will build slowly over the duration of the course. In terms of using the tools at work there's not been much progress (mainly because we are not encouraged too but with a new VLE due in 2012 there is scope for more web tools). I'm finding it easy and convenient to use GoogleReader to keep up to date with other blog posts. Opening my tweets up on Twitter hasn't resulted in anything bad in fact I've gathered two new followers - one of which I exchanged tweets with on the iPad2 and e-book app Overdrive.
Reflecting on the last few weeks of cpd23, I think the tools I've used so far have taken me outside my comfort zone such as making my postings/tweets public and making comments on other sites. I still need to improve my online presence and I think it's something that will build slowly over the duration of the course. In terms of using the tools at work there's not been much progress (mainly because we are not encouraged too but with a new VLE due in 2012 there is scope for more web tools). I'm finding it easy and convenient to use GoogleReader to keep up to date with other blog posts. Opening my tweets up on Twitter hasn't resulted in anything bad in fact I've gathered two new followers - one of which I exchanged tweets with on the iPad2 and e-book app Overdrive.
Tuesday 5 July 2011
Thing 4: Current awareness - Twitter, RSS and Pushnote
I already use Twitter for a mix of personal and professional activities but haven’t reflected yet on why I do so. I am somewhat lacking in tweets but use it instead to follow other people – a few librarians (one who sits on the desk behind me at work which says a lot about how open plan offices work), a few libraries, the local theatre, some cyclists on the Tour de France (don’t ask!) and several comedians. I’m not entirely sure what I should tweet about and I suspect this will need to be considered in terms of my online brand but at the moment I’m happy to follow the others. Many of the people I follow use it for commercial purposes - plugs for their TV shows etc which is ok as I follow them because I like them and I will probably watch their shows anyway. The Twitter accounts I like best for librarianship news are @Philbradley and @ijclark.
Google Reader is the most useful tool I’ve discovered this week. I’ve added all the librarianship blogs that I follow. I’m getting used to seeing everything in the one place although it does seem a bit cluttered. I’ve decided to restrict it to librarian blogs only so that I can use it purely for current awareness. My best blogs for current awareness are Phil Bradley’s weblog (to keep me up to date with the different products available), Sheila Webber’s Information Literacy Weblog (local to international news etc for info lit) and Dean Giustini’s The Search Principle Blog (I like his use of Slideshare and I’m looking forward to week 12: Presenting information which includes Slideshare).
After reading Helen’s 23 Things post I’ve started an iGoogle page. I’ve kept it quite simple and only added widgets/gadgets for Hotmail, GoogleReader, Twitter, calendar, YouTube, weather, To Do list, BBC news and just for fun some waddling penguins which frankly are the best thing on there at the moment. I kept this open on my work screen for the whole of yesterday and it’s quite nice to scan everything at once but will only be of use if I remember to log in each day (I fear I may have to write myself a note to remind me!). I've put iGoogle on a trial but it looks promising.
iGoogle seems very similar to Netvibes which I have messed around with in the past. Yesterday I saw a great example of how to use Netvibes for current awareness from Emma Aldrich at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Libraries MTW NHS Trust Knowledge Services I’d like to do something like this for the students I support at the university but web 2.0 tools are looked at with some suspicion here. LibGuides and Wikidot look like other useful tools and maybe my workplace will explore these at some point.
Monday 27 June 2011
Thing 3: Consider your personal brand
I don't know whether to breathe a sigh of relief or be slightly miffed. I tried Googling my name, trawled through the first 10 pages of results and found nothing! I'd like to point out that if you Google my name I'm not the author, the glamour model or the housing manager. Still I carried on thinking I must be on the old interweb somewhere. I added in 'library' and lo and behold I found a couple of references to me.
On the first page of results I found a photo of me that I can't remember being taken nor did I give my permission for it to be put on the web with my full name! In terms of boosting my online presence, it's not my best side and I could do with a little airbrushing so I won't be getting snapped up for Paris Fashion Week. It's work-related but I think you should always ask permission if you put someone's photo up on the web. I would have said ok but not with my full name just my job title.
On the third page of results I found my work contact details. The fact that it only appeared on the third page doesn't say an awful lot for the web presence of my institution.
On the fifth page was my Twitter account. I've recently made my tweets public but think this will only last as long as cpd23 because I feel a little vulnerable. I keep my Facebook page locked down as much as possible as this is my personal not professional space - not that there's anything outrageous on it.
In terms of improving my brand I need to up my comments, tweets, blog posts etc to generate some more traffic. I'm hoping cpd23 will help with this.
On the first page of results I found a photo of me that I can't remember being taken nor did I give my permission for it to be put on the web with my full name! In terms of boosting my online presence, it's not my best side and I could do with a little airbrushing so I won't be getting snapped up for Paris Fashion Week. It's work-related but I think you should always ask permission if you put someone's photo up on the web. I would have said ok but not with my full name just my job title.
On the third page of results I found my work contact details. The fact that it only appeared on the third page doesn't say an awful lot for the web presence of my institution.
On the fifth page was my Twitter account. I've recently made my tweets public but think this will only last as long as cpd23 because I feel a little vulnerable. I keep my Facebook page locked down as much as possible as this is my personal not professional space - not that there's anything outrageous on it.
In terms of improving my brand I need to up my comments, tweets, blog posts etc to generate some more traffic. I'm hoping cpd23 will help with this.
Using Screenr
I've been using Screenr this week to make screencasts of key databases for a group of students in Malaysia. I'd seen someone use it at LILAC 2011 for their presentation and thought it might be an alternative to Adobe Captivate. I don't like airplanes so there's no way I'm going to meet these students in person but I can still do some user education with them using this tool. It was easy to set up and fairly intuitive - thankfully I didn't need to download any software and could log in using my Twitter account. I had to think carefully about what aspects of the database I wanted to show as Screenr only gives you 5 minutes in which to do your screencast - I think this is good because it concentrates the mind and stops you waffling on and on. I also wrote myself a mini script for the audio to make sure I used plain language that they could all understand. The course tutor is going to let me know how they are received by the students and I've made sure that the students can add comments to the Screenr page.
It was excruciating listening to myself talk over the slides - I understand why actors don't like to watch their own films - but I'm now comfortable with it and wouldn't hestitate to use it again. I've got some plans to use it with other courses - not necessarily distance learning courses - in order to back up some of the search hints and tips I talk about in my library lectures (I should say 'talks' really but the academics advertise them as lectures and it makes me sound more important!).
It was excruciating listening to myself talk over the slides - I understand why actors don't like to watch their own films - but I'm now comfortable with it and wouldn't hestitate to use it again. I've got some plans to use it with other courses - not necessarily distance learning courses - in order to back up some of the search hints and tips I talk about in my library lectures (I should say 'talks' really but the academics advertise them as lectures and it makes me sound more important!).
Monday 20 June 2011
Thing 2: Investigate some other blogs
Two sites I already read: I know the Bookmouse (http://bookmouse.wordpress.com/) and I've been reading her blog for a while now. I also know the writer behind the Special Collections blog (http://blogs.kent.ac.uk/specialcollections/) and would love to be able to do something like this at my workplace.
I've looked at the cpd23 participants list - took a random approach but ended up reading Tina's Library Related Stuff, Trumpet Major and Marie's23things.
I've looked at the cpd23 participants list - took a random approach but ended up reading Tina's Library Related Stuff, Trumpet Major and Marie's23things.
Thing 1: Blogs and blogging.
It was easy to set up the blog - the hardest thing was thinking of a name for the blog! I'm taking part in cpd23 because I've been meaning to do some of the things listed on the course but haven't managed to sit down and get on with trying out new tools. Now I have a reason to start blogging and use different tools. It's nice to know other people are trying the same tools and trying to think about what to write for their first post.
I work in Kent as a subject librarian for health and social care. I'm one of those annoying people that enjoys their job and I've just registered to revalidate my Chartership so cpd23 will fit nicely into my professional development plans. I've been working in libraries for a decade - I've been a graduate trainee, library assistant, senior library assistant, library manager..... but in my current role I really enjoy connecting with students on a daily basis. I'm hoping cpd23 will equip me with new skills that I can use to reach out to the students and take the info to them rather than them having to come to the library. I've recently bought an iPad and am hoping to use all these new web tools on the iPad rather than simply looking at the John Lewis website and playing solitaire!
I work in Kent as a subject librarian for health and social care. I'm one of those annoying people that enjoys their job and I've just registered to revalidate my Chartership so cpd23 will fit nicely into my professional development plans. I've been working in libraries for a decade - I've been a graduate trainee, library assistant, senior library assistant, library manager..... but in my current role I really enjoy connecting with students on a daily basis. I'm hoping cpd23 will equip me with new skills that I can use to reach out to the students and take the info to them rather than them having to come to the library. I've recently bought an iPad and am hoping to use all these new web tools on the iPad rather than simply looking at the John Lewis website and playing solitaire!
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