As I mentioned in a previous post I am already working towards Chartership. It's been a lengthy process as I had quite major time off work (due to family bereavement) when I was due to complete and just never got back into the way of things again. However I feel this blog has given me renewed spark and I am determined to finish by the end of the year.
I feel chartership is important to me as it shows my commitment to continuing professional development and I see it as a next step from my degree. I decided to study full time for a degree in Information and Library Studies at Aberystwyth University after working as a Library Assistant for 6 years in a University. I knew if I wanted to progress I would need qualifications and during my time as a Library Assistant I studied (distance learning) for a HNC in Library and Information Science from Edinburgh's Telford College. I thoroughly enjoyed studying both qualifications and felt I had the right mix of experience to go with them. After completing my degree I did struggle to find work for a few months and took up a position in the local public library as a library assistant. It was my first time in the public library sector as I had only worked in HE up to that point.
I then applied for a job as a Regional Development Officer for a library partnership project, which I was successful and this took me to my first professional post. I had some experience and the qualifications but this was a steep learning curve! Not only did I have to learn very quickly about project management, I also had to learn about the various sectors the project worked across including HE, FE, public and health libraries. I learnt so much from this role and thought it was a great opportunity to begin chartership.
The project came to an end at the start of the year and I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to work with an amazing team at JISC RSC Wales as an e-learning advisor (learning resources). I would say this is my second professional post and everything I have learned along the way is useful. I have also been able to maintain contacts with various sectors but also work with experts in a variety of fields. The team still astonish me with their professionalism and expertise every day and its from this team I am thinking of my next steps.
I have realised areas I'm not too confident in that my colleagues as amazing, such as training, presentations, research and would like to work towards a training qualification at some point but also keen to learn from them. I am keen to stay in the library sector but now have a growing interest in learning technologies in education as well as training and staff development. For now though I feel I should complete my chartership and see where I stand.
Friday, 12 August 2011
Thing 9: Evernote
I've never used Evernote before, I had heard of it just never got around to using it, so took this as an opportunity to have a play around. I recently installed Diigo for organising bookmarks (as opposed to Delicious) which also allows me to save images, web pages, text into tags/folders so in a way I was looking at how Evernote could improve upon this too.
The first thing I noticed is that I can also install the app to my smart phones...I should state, I love apps and I love when I can sync accounts between my computer and phone, so already this was looking good! After installing Evernote I read through the start page and noticed a few features I know I'm going to like:
Update: I came across this in an Evernote email, being a keen knitter myself I'm keen to give it a try!
The first thing I noticed is that I can also install the app to my smart phones...I should state, I love apps and I love when I can sync accounts between my computer and phone, so already this was looking good! After installing Evernote I read through the start page and noticed a few features I know I'm going to like:
- Text in any images becomes searchable
- Create to do's - what can I say I'm a list makeer!
- Search and find everything - and they mean everything
- Save Twitter messages
Update: I came across this in an Evernote email, being a keen knitter myself I'm keen to give it a try!
Thing 8: Google Calendar
I use Google Calendar a lot! I use it to track my work appointments and have synced it with my Outlook calendar. After discussion with a colleague I also have a Google Calendar which I share with my boyfriend so we can see where each other are week to week (we travel a lot!). I have a personal calendar which I use for tracking swim sessions and the local swimming pool, birthdays, holidays, when to pay bills etc. In short I love it. I can access all the calendars from any computer and from my smart phones, I would be completely lost without it!
Thing 7: Face-to-face networks and professional organisations
I regularly keep up to date with the goings on in professional organisations, mainly CILIP (Chartered Insitute of Library and Information Professionals) and I'm proud to be a member of one of the Special Interest Groups the Career Development Group Wales (CDG Wales). I joined the committee back in 2008 as an Events Co-Ordinator and have enjoyed my role.
The role involves me advertising events across Wales which I use a variety of email lists for, taking bookings and answering any enquires. I attend the commitee meetings when I can but that has proven difficult recently with a change in job. However, I keep up to date with teh rest of the commitee through JISC Mail discussion lists and through Facebook.
I've learned a lot from being on this committee and it has certainly helped me both with my chartership and my work. A lot of the issues and barriers regarding career development come up in CDG Wales meetings and the various steering groups I'm a member of for work. I've learned about the different roles in a commitee, how they work and relate to other roles, improved my minute taking and met some really good friends along the way.
At first I continued my membership of CILIP (a monthly subscription) so that I could work towards chartership and continue working with CDG Wales, but now I feel that I have that extra level of support when it comes to professional and employment issues. I was made redundant from my last post and knowing I could contact CILIP for help and advice was a great comfort to me. I also enjoy receiving the publications and keeping up to date with the professional world. In Wales we have an annual conference in May which I have attended for the past five years, and each year I have learned something new. It also gives me an opportunity to network with other information professionals outside me sector.
I would sya being a member of CILIP and part of CDG Wales has affected my career as it shows my commitment to the profession as well as my own professional and personal development.
Through various social media I also keep up to date with other professional groups such as International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). Although I'm not as heavily involved (yet).
The role involves me advertising events across Wales which I use a variety of email lists for, taking bookings and answering any enquires. I attend the commitee meetings when I can but that has proven difficult recently with a change in job. However, I keep up to date with teh rest of the commitee through JISC Mail discussion lists and through Facebook.
I've learned a lot from being on this committee and it has certainly helped me both with my chartership and my work. A lot of the issues and barriers regarding career development come up in CDG Wales meetings and the various steering groups I'm a member of for work. I've learned about the different roles in a commitee, how they work and relate to other roles, improved my minute taking and met some really good friends along the way.
At first I continued my membership of CILIP (a monthly subscription) so that I could work towards chartership and continue working with CDG Wales, but now I feel that I have that extra level of support when it comes to professional and employment issues. I was made redundant from my last post and knowing I could contact CILIP for help and advice was a great comfort to me. I also enjoy receiving the publications and keeping up to date with the professional world. In Wales we have an annual conference in May which I have attended for the past five years, and each year I have learned something new. It also gives me an opportunity to network with other information professionals outside me sector.
I would sya being a member of CILIP and part of CDG Wales has affected my career as it shows my commitment to the profession as well as my own professional and personal development.
Through various social media I also keep up to date with other professional groups such as International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). Although I'm not as heavily involved (yet).
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Thing 6: Online Networks
Well I'm goodness knows how many weeks behind now as it's been a manic few weeks at work. But I refuse to give up and I know how much catching up I have to do which is why I'm thankful this 'thing' is about online networks which I use a lot...so not much research required (yay).
A good place to start this post would be to explain what online networks I find most useful and why. Following on from the 'thing' I use LinkedIn, Facebook, CILIP Communities as well as Google +. I find LinkedIn useful for my professional side, I've linked my 'work' Twitter account to my profile and joined a few professional groups. I find it useful for keeping up to date with the profession and keeping track of my own professional development.
Facebook on the other hand I tend to use outside of work. I do however still follow a few library pages such as Career Development Group Wales, Orkeny Library Service and Swansea Public Libraries. However I wouldn't use Facebook for my proffessional work and tend to change my privacy settings. As I mentioned in a previous post I prefere to seperate out my work/proffessional identity from my personal identity. I was glad when Google + arrived as it meant I could experiement with yet another social netowrk (yay once more) but have decided to keep that as mostly professional. Another reason for this is that most of my (non professional) friends are still on Facebook and i have yet to find one of them on Google +, and I don't have time to explain to my mum how to use Google + it's taken nearly a year for her to understand Facebook!
I have signed up to CILIP Communities but must admit I rarely look at it and I haven't looked at LISNPN or the Librarians As Teachers Network yet, but no doubt will. I'm hesitant to look though as being a member of so many social networks I feel I get what I need from them already, please no more emails or sites to check! It comes back to one of my earlier points of information overload. I would find it overly stressful, not to mention time consuming, checking/updating every social network I was a member of...however I don't want to miss out on the latest gossip, or upcoming news. Rock vs Hard Place!
A good place to start this post would be to explain what online networks I find most useful and why. Following on from the 'thing' I use LinkedIn, Facebook, CILIP Communities as well as Google +. I find LinkedIn useful for my professional side, I've linked my 'work' Twitter account to my profile and joined a few professional groups. I find it useful for keeping up to date with the profession and keeping track of my own professional development.
Facebook on the other hand I tend to use outside of work. I do however still follow a few library pages such as Career Development Group Wales, Orkeny Library Service and Swansea Public Libraries. However I wouldn't use Facebook for my proffessional work and tend to change my privacy settings. As I mentioned in a previous post I prefere to seperate out my work/proffessional identity from my personal identity. I was glad when Google + arrived as it meant I could experiement with yet another social netowrk (yay once more) but have decided to keep that as mostly professional. Another reason for this is that most of my (non professional) friends are still on Facebook and i have yet to find one of them on Google +, and I don't have time to explain to my mum how to use Google + it's taken nearly a year for her to understand Facebook!
I have signed up to CILIP Communities but must admit I rarely look at it and I haven't looked at LISNPN or the Librarians As Teachers Network yet, but no doubt will. I'm hesitant to look though as being a member of so many social networks I feel I get what I need from them already, please no more emails or sites to check! It comes back to one of my earlier points of information overload. I would find it overly stressful, not to mention time consuming, checking/updating every social network I was a member of...however I don't want to miss out on the latest gossip, or upcoming news. Rock vs Hard Place!
Monday, 18 July 2011
Thing 5: Reflective Practice
Writing reflectively I find very difficult. I have been working towards chartership for (mumble) a couple of years (mumble...and some) but one thing I struggle to do is write reflectively. For some reason it has been easier in some of these blogs posts but can still see the strong thread of descriptive narrative coming through.
Reflecting on the CPD 23 Things I feel that I may not have learnt many news 'things' or tools but having that time out of the day or working week to explore my own CPD has been useful. I've looked at my working practice as well as my approach to chartership in a whole new light. Although I might not always necessarily have the time I find that I make time, even if its only 5 minutes to draft a blog post to go back to later on.
For work I am often asked to write a blog post on a subject of event I have attended and have been finding it difficult to do, and often difficult to get started. This blog as well as the 'things' so far have helped me to develop my writing skills and I feel more comfortable writing posts.
I've discovered my second wind regarding my chartership too and have more of a focus on how I want it to look. I've been struggling with the reflective writing piece as part of the portfolio and have decided to look at it in sections, take a section and write it as I would one of these posts.
So reflecting on the CPD 23 Things, so far I feel I have developed already in some areas...wonder how I will feel by the 23rd Thing!
Thing 4: Current Awareness - RSS, Twitter, Pushnote
This week (thing!?) I have been looking at using different media for current awareness. I use both RSS feeds and Twitter regularly for work, professional development and my own personal life. I follow many blogs/news feeds/etc using the RSS feeds through either Outlook or Google reader. I find them a useful way to keep up to date with what's going on in the world but also what other peoples opinions are about different topics.
I started using Twitter a few years ago and loved it, then hated it, then loved it again...I'm still in the love it phase! I've set up two separate accounts, one for work and one for my personal use. I also Tweet on behalf of JISC RSC Wales (so have three accounts running on Tweetdeck). I found Twitter useful for current awareness but also use hash tags to follow events such as conferences and general chat around subjects.
Pushnote I have never heard of and consequently have never used! So I have signed up and had a play around. I've visited a few websites but no comments have come up so I'm not entirely sure it is relevant for me. Also I tend to go on my own judgement of whether a website is useful or not so I'm not sure on Pushnote.
I started using Twitter a few years ago and loved it, then hated it, then loved it again...I'm still in the love it phase! I've set up two separate accounts, one for work and one for my personal use. I also Tweet on behalf of JISC RSC Wales (so have three accounts running on Tweetdeck). I found Twitter useful for current awareness but also use hash tags to follow events such as conferences and general chat around subjects.
Pushnote I have never heard of and consequently have never used! So I have signed up and had a play around. I've visited a few websites but no comments have come up so I'm not entirely sure it is relevant for me. Also I tend to go on my own judgement of whether a website is useful or not so I'm not sure on Pushnote.
One issue I have is sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed trying to keep up to date with everything that is happening. I read through my RSS feeds, I check Twitter several times a day, I also subscribe to a vast amount of email discussion lists and use various other social media. Linking accounts has helped so that if I update Twitter for example it updates my LinkedIn profile, but often feel I could do with hiring someone to sift through all this news and give me the gems!
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