It felt like a quiet month but when I make a list of everything I've done it turns out I was busy. Definitely lots of bits and pieces this month but the meaty workshops get going again in March so this 'quiet' period will be short-lived.
Webliographies - I've been working with a colleague to try and introduce the idea of 'webliographies' (I'm not convinced we should be using this term) to the Faculty that we support. There is much discussion about how students never go beyond the reading list compiled by their tutor and we've been looking at webliographies as tool to change this.
In conjunction with their tutor our hope is that student groups will be set the task of searching for and locating sources (both online and printed) that are not on their tutor-compiled reading list. They then have to add these references to a group wiki. Our aim is to cover searching, using wikis, working collaboratively and referencing. The hope is, and this is dependent on timetabling, that they will be set the task and that I can be available as support either in the library or via email if they get stuck.
We are at the stage of searching for guinea pigs so we are going to present this idea to the academic staff at the next Faculty Staff Development day. I'll post more on this in the future.
Tutorials - lots of staff and student tutorials this month and all sorts of topics covered. For example, men and their perceptions of dance movement therapy; service user involvement; immunisation; ultrasound and pressure ulcers. Although I do not carry out searches for people (it's their degree not mine) I always run a pilot search to make sure I'm giving the right advice about keywords etc so I have a good rummage around the subject headings. I try to avoid the images that pop up in searches - pictures associated with wound care make me nauseous!
In-house task groups - there are a couple of projects going on at work this term and I'm on two working groups. Firstly we are looking at moving a large amount of stock around the building - this is proving tricky to say the least. We solve one problem and then create another. Secondly there is a group looking at new communication technologies. My library is not big on web 2.0 tools but we are investigating whether to use them for communication purposes and how best to use them.
Workshops - I've run a couple of lively workshops this month and the evaluations were good. I've also done lots of preparation work for workshops scheduled in March. I've been busy looking at search examples for "systemic anti-cancer therapy", "reflective practice in nursing" and whistle blowing.
Mentoring - one of my mentees is ready to submit their portfolio to CILIP. As a mentor I sometimes feel like a mother hen - I'm really pleased for them although it will be sad to see them go. I've been really impressed by this candidate - they've put in lots of hard work and even went abroad to gain some experience.
Displays - It was my turn to put something together for a library display that promoted an area of our stock. As we had topped up on study skills books last term I thought that would be an appropriate choice. The display promoted printed books, e-books, items available from the University bookshop and study skills workshops run by the Uni's Student Support Unit. There was also a QR code to direct people to the catalogue but I forgot to track statistics for it's use (I know, I know - total lemon) - still I won't forget to do it next time.
Showing posts with label Mentoring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mentoring. Show all posts
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)