Monday 22 August 2011
Thing 13
Thing 13 is about Google Docs, Dropbox and wikis. My initial thoughts rather chime with Auntie Daniel. I also tend to use track changes and 'last updated' for version control. I also wonder about privacy issues but perhaps I'm wrong here - any fellow cpd23ers please do feel free to comment and correct me. Generally when I'm working on a document collaboratively it would not be ready for public release and would therefore remain private until completion and approval hence my query on this point. I'm sure there are situations where these tools could be useful but in the half hour I have to devote to this today I can't immediately think of it for me and my workplace! I am however always grateful to cpd23 for the opportunity to learn about these tools.
Thing 12
Thing 12 is about considering the role of social media in building up networks and a sense of community. I haven't really been a personal user of social media prior to this course and that will probably remain the case. I have used Twitter professionally. I have never blogged before (you can probably tell) but have found it a useful experience. Now of course I could have done an online course and reflected more privately so I guess this is where the 'social' comes in. I have found it interesting, rewarding and empowering to embark on this learning journey with others and to have the privilege of sharing their experiences. I have started following a few blogs and made contact with fellow information professionals in a variety of sectors and from around the country. It is unlikely I would have ever met these people or come across their blogs and yet one blog in particular Join the mass debate with Auntie Daniel I have found useful and especially entertaining. If you like cats, Madeira, and bizarre library mascots do check it out - it's the blog for you! Fellow learners' blogs have been especially useful and insightful because of the spirit of honesty into which we have all entered. There has been a definite sense that we are learning together and can all learn from one another to build on our weaknesses and inexperience and share our strengths in a helpful way. It has been so refreshing. I think social media for most can never really take the place of face-to-face contact and 'real world relationships' but in this and other contexts it can be empowering and lead to other things. My instinct is to think critically about what works for you or your workplace, about what you want to achieve, and how much time you want to devote and stick to that, reviewing on a regular basis.
Monday 1 August 2011
Things 10 and 11
Ok, Things 10 and 11: graduate traineeships, masters degrees, chartership, and accreditation; and mentoring. I think the two are instrinsically linked so I'll address in the one blog post. For cpd23 I've been asked to basically give a rundown of my career to date (a little scary!) by answering the following questions, so here goes!
Why I joined the career?
Like many library and information professionals, my first degree was in another subject (Early Childhood Studies, since you ask). I chose this degree basically because I was interested in the subject, the degree covered a broad range: psychology, sociology, health, education, research. As a person who is interested in lots of different subjects this was a good degree for me (I didn't have to make up my mind which one subject to hone down to!) By the end of my degree (which I loved) most people on my course had decided either to become a teacher, or to have nothing to do with children whatsoever! I was one of the latter. Knowing this I went to our college careers office and completed an amusing computer programme which advised me what careers I'd be suitable for. I decided against funeral director (the careers advisor told me the programme always brings this up if you say you want to work with people!). Seriously it did give me some good matches. I thought about librarianship, looked into it and decided it was for me. My main reason for being a librarian is to help people. I really passionately believe that information is power so I wanted to learn and use skills to empower people. I think librarianship offers a wonderful mix of being able to practically help people, whilst at the same time being an intellectually stimulating, analytical job, that's always changing and offers opportunities to learn new skills and be innovative.
Where am I now and how did I get here? (Sounds quite philosophical, doesn't it!?)
I'm a chartered librarian working for a disability charity. I've been in the role for a scarily long time (8 years) but I've done a huge amount while I've been here (both professionally and personally), including chartering, and the role is extremely varied and interesting. I chartered in 2006. There was no formal chartership scheme in place at my workplace but I was fortunate to have an experienced librarian as a manager who was very supportive of her team's professional development. My manager informally mentored myself and another colleague through the chartership process by providing a weekly professional development schedule. We met for an hour each week to discuss and reflect on a range of relevant topics. I found this support and input incredibly useful.
Prior to my current role I temped for an overseas aid charity (more about this later), and in a public reference library (very rewarding with a wide variety of visitors and enquiries). I also benefitted in the role from learning from more experienced librarians (this was my first job upon qualifying). I graduated with my Masters in Information Services Management in 2002, after undertaking a graduate traineeship at an overseas aid charity from 2000-2001. My graduate traineeship was a tremendous experience. It was here that I had the privilege of working with the person who will probably be the greatest mentor of my career. My manager in this role was visionary and inspiring. She encouraged me to undertake a wide range of roles in the library and to develop my own ideas. I very much enjoyed working for a charity and getting my teeth stuck into such an interesting subject matter. I took so many ideas from this job into my future career and role at the disability charity I currently work for. So where am I and how did I get here? I would say a mix of good fortune, hardwork, inspiration, and the benefit of learning from some amazing librarians.
What am I planning to do next?
Good question! I realise that my current role will inevitably come to an end. When the time is right I would be looking to move on to something equally as interesting, varied, and challenging. I used to think that I might go into academia but I fear that a) I may have left it too late; and b) the opportunities are not there so much in the current climate. In the meantime I keep things fresh by doing things like cpd23, developing new services, and writing in professional journals, newsletters and blogs. I would love to be a mentor and give something back if the opportunity ever arose. Should I ever be in a senior or managerial role I would certainly make the case for a graduate traineeship post in my team.
Why I joined the career?
Like many library and information professionals, my first degree was in another subject (Early Childhood Studies, since you ask). I chose this degree basically because I was interested in the subject, the degree covered a broad range: psychology, sociology, health, education, research. As a person who is interested in lots of different subjects this was a good degree for me (I didn't have to make up my mind which one subject to hone down to!) By the end of my degree (which I loved) most people on my course had decided either to become a teacher, or to have nothing to do with children whatsoever! I was one of the latter. Knowing this I went to our college careers office and completed an amusing computer programme which advised me what careers I'd be suitable for. I decided against funeral director (the careers advisor told me the programme always brings this up if you say you want to work with people!). Seriously it did give me some good matches. I thought about librarianship, looked into it and decided it was for me. My main reason for being a librarian is to help people. I really passionately believe that information is power so I wanted to learn and use skills to empower people. I think librarianship offers a wonderful mix of being able to practically help people, whilst at the same time being an intellectually stimulating, analytical job, that's always changing and offers opportunities to learn new skills and be innovative.
Where am I now and how did I get here? (Sounds quite philosophical, doesn't it!?)
I'm a chartered librarian working for a disability charity. I've been in the role for a scarily long time (8 years) but I've done a huge amount while I've been here (both professionally and personally), including chartering, and the role is extremely varied and interesting. I chartered in 2006. There was no formal chartership scheme in place at my workplace but I was fortunate to have an experienced librarian as a manager who was very supportive of her team's professional development. My manager informally mentored myself and another colleague through the chartership process by providing a weekly professional development schedule. We met for an hour each week to discuss and reflect on a range of relevant topics. I found this support and input incredibly useful.
Prior to my current role I temped for an overseas aid charity (more about this later), and in a public reference library (very rewarding with a wide variety of visitors and enquiries). I also benefitted in the role from learning from more experienced librarians (this was my first job upon qualifying). I graduated with my Masters in Information Services Management in 2002, after undertaking a graduate traineeship at an overseas aid charity from 2000-2001. My graduate traineeship was a tremendous experience. It was here that I had the privilege of working with the person who will probably be the greatest mentor of my career. My manager in this role was visionary and inspiring. She encouraged me to undertake a wide range of roles in the library and to develop my own ideas. I very much enjoyed working for a charity and getting my teeth stuck into such an interesting subject matter. I took so many ideas from this job into my future career and role at the disability charity I currently work for. So where am I and how did I get here? I would say a mix of good fortune, hardwork, inspiration, and the benefit of learning from some amazing librarians.
What am I planning to do next?
Good question! I realise that my current role will inevitably come to an end. When the time is right I would be looking to move on to something equally as interesting, varied, and challenging. I used to think that I might go into academia but I fear that a) I may have left it too late; and b) the opportunities are not there so much in the current climate. In the meantime I keep things fresh by doing things like cpd23, developing new services, and writing in professional journals, newsletters and blogs. I would love to be a mentor and give something back if the opportunity ever arose. Should I ever be in a senior or managerial role I would certainly make the case for a graduate traineeship post in my team.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)