This is a blog written by a medical librarian used to discuss library issues, 23 Things projects, and cats.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Friday, 11 November 2011
Latest Library News from the Guardian
British Library exhibition of medieval illuminated manuscripts:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/nov/10/medieval-monarchs-books-british-library
(these are spectacular!)
The library at Occupy London:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/nov/09/occupy-london-library
(How does this constitute a "library"? They have a Librarian, it's called StarBooks (as it is opposite Starb**ks), books are borrowed and returned, that seems a pretty reasonable description!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/nov/10/medieval-monarchs-books-british-library
(these are spectacular!)
The library at Occupy London:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/nov/09/occupy-london-library
(How does this constitute a "library"? They have a Librarian, it's called StarBooks (as it is opposite Starb**ks), books are borrowed and returned, that seems a pretty reasonable description!
Monday, 7 November 2011
Interesting posts of the day
Johns Hopkins medical library is now closing for good and they'll use the money saved on the physical space and stuff to pay for e-stuff and their informationists:
ZDNet Education: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/sign-of-the-times-johns-hopkins-shuttering-its-medical-library/4727
(04/11/11 - Sign of the times: Johns Hopkins shuttering its medical library)
and the Digital Shift: http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2011/10/research/major-medical-library-closing-its-doors-to-patrons-and-moving-to-digital-model/ (27/10/11 - Major Medical Library Closing Its Doors to Patrons and Moving to Digital Model)
And something on Embedded Librarianship at the Internet Librarian Conference
ZDNet Education: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/sign-of-the-times-johns-hopkins-shuttering-its-medical-library/4727
(04/11/11 - Sign of the times: Johns Hopkins shuttering its medical library)
and the Digital Shift: http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2011/10/research/major-medical-library-closing-its-doors-to-patrons-and-moving-to-digital-model/ (27/10/11 - Major Medical Library Closing Its Doors to Patrons and Moving to Digital Model)
And something on Embedded Librarianship at the Internet Librarian Conference
Thursday, 3 November 2011
CPD23: Thing 23 - Reflections on the CPD23 Things Project 2011
I've got time today so I'm using it to finish the CPD23 Things project, as you can see. Actually, I'd earmarked the time for someting else, but as I have the afternoon off today, hopefully I can work on that stuff later today.
Useful Summary of #CPD23 Chat - and I agree with the "most rewarding" comments. I've enjoyed having the chance to REFLECT on my job, my skills, my current situation, me me me. I've enjoyed having a go with Prezi (etc) and reading other bloggers' blogs. I'll continue to keep track of what some people are blogging about via the RSS feeds on my Google Reader. I'm sorry that I can't take part in an online conference which is going on world-wide RIGHT NOW, which I found out courtesy of the blog Musings About Librarianship - http://musingsaboutlibrarianship.blogspot.com/2011/11/library-2011-attend-free-online-library.html - and about the #uklibcamp conference via Librarians on the loose - http://librariansontheloose.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/uklibcampuk11-session-5-challenges-for-academic-libraries/
I'll continue to blog. I need to keep track of my chartership activities, my management learning and skills development, and this is good for my professional mental health.
What are my current strengths and weaknesses? What's my personal SWOT analysis for my career as it stands right now?
Then I can think about the next stages.
I hope that will suffice for now. More soon!
Useful Summary of #CPD23 Chat - and I agree with the "most rewarding" comments. I've enjoyed having the chance to REFLECT on my job, my skills, my current situation, me me me. I've enjoyed having a go with Prezi (etc) and reading other bloggers' blogs. I'll continue to keep track of what some people are blogging about via the RSS feeds on my Google Reader. I'm sorry that I can't take part in an online conference which is going on world-wide RIGHT NOW, which I found out courtesy of the blog Musings About Librarianship - http://musingsaboutlibrarianship.blogspot.com/2011/11/library-2011-attend-free-online-library.html - and about the #uklibcamp conference via Librarians on the loose - http://librariansontheloose.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/uklibcampuk11-session-5-challenges-for-academic-libraries/
I'll continue to blog. I need to keep track of my chartership activities, my management learning and skills development, and this is good for my professional mental health.
What are my current strengths and weaknesses? What's my personal SWOT analysis for my career as it stands right now?
- Need to charter.
- Need to gain experience.
Then I can think about the next stages.
I hope that will suffice for now. More soon!
CPD23: Thing 22 - Volunteering to get experience
Experience = to further my career
"Have you undertaken unpaid work to further your career? What was your experience? Is volunteering a good thing, or by working for free are we in danger of devaluing our profession? Tell us what you think."
I volunteered at a local mental health charity from April 2005 - September 2008. I loved it. I had to quit because I had a full-time job and a life, and possibly because I'd had my fill. I was saturated with information about the people who used the centre where I worked for all those months, I was saturated with experience and my enthusiasm was wavering by the end as I was actually tired. I would love to have the time to volunteer again, by for example working in the social anthropology library here in Oxford every so often to get an idea of what people working in that department need from the library service, but TIME is an issue. I work quite long hours as it is and am going through some heavy personal stuff at the moment so... that will have to wait. It's a lovely idea though. And a positive one.
By working for free we are not in danger of devaluing our profession. We are in danger of valuing it! By working for free you are saying, I value what I am doing so much that I will give up my time (maybe money too) to help others, gain experience, learn.
"Have you undertaken unpaid work to further your career? What was your experience? Is volunteering a good thing, or by working for free are we in danger of devaluing our profession? Tell us what you think."
I volunteered at a local mental health charity from April 2005 - September 2008. I loved it. I had to quit because I had a full-time job and a life, and possibly because I'd had my fill. I was saturated with information about the people who used the centre where I worked for all those months, I was saturated with experience and my enthusiasm was wavering by the end as I was actually tired. I would love to have the time to volunteer again, by for example working in the social anthropology library here in Oxford every so often to get an idea of what people working in that department need from the library service, but TIME is an issue. I work quite long hours as it is and am going through some heavy personal stuff at the moment so... that will have to wait. It's a lovely idea though. And a positive one.
By working for free we are not in danger of devaluing our profession. We are in danger of valuing it! By working for free you are saying, I value what I am doing so much that I will give up my time (maybe money too) to help others, gain experience, learn.
CPD23: Thing 21 - Promoting yourself in job applications and at interviews
A reminder of the key bits from this Thing:
Thing 21: Promoting yourself in job applications and at interview
Part 1: Identifying your strengths; capitalising on your interests
"In order to identify your strengths, take a good look at yourself, your tasks at work, your career, you life: what do you like to do? What do you dislike? Do you remember the last time you felt that feeling of deep satisfaction after creating, building, completing something? What was it about? What skills do you need to do the things you like? These skills are your strengths; they stem from your interests."
My tasks at work - supervising the day-to-day running of the library service at the Knowledge Centre, checking that the desk is staffed, the phone answered, document supply tasks fulfilled, readers have their enquiries answered promptly, administering locker keys (! new task as of today), resetting the ipad, loaning the ipad, loaning/resetting laptops, maintainance and provision of statistics, liaison with people in the building, ensuring that health and safety policies are implemented; outreach librarian tasks - literature searches, keeping in touch with my departments, attending TIMS FY2 on monday, etc.
A variety of tasks. Lots of little folders to keep projects on track. I mainly dislike the management stuff on principle, but it's OK really and it's good to know that the service is ticking along nicely, that staff are OK and happy with their tasks, that things are working as smoothly as possible.
I get the most satisfaction out of helping people find information to answer their questions. For example, someone from dermatology needed help finding some obscure literature. In one hour-long session last friday, we achieved that task. The reader was grateful, I was happy to be able to help, and I even possibly contributed to Patient Care.
I need to improve on many skills: presentation skills (eg for a seminar...); assertiveness at work and at home; additional Presentation skills – presenting proposals to senior managers and presenting information to users; Teaching and training skills – setting learning objectives; Confidence with staff; Oral communication skills – persuading, negotiating, influencing. Clear information. Avoid misunderstanding; Leadership and management – especially setting objectives and managing performance; Decision-making: assessing options, consulting and involving others, understanding implications of decisions [most of these are lifted from my Skills Audit for the Introductory Certificate in Management that I'm currently involved in and are useful for my chartership portfolio...].
Actually, I think when I'm at my best, my strengths are on customer service, being positive and enthusiastic while also knowledgeable and professional. When I'm not at my best, my strengths are getting on with work at my desk: literature searches, in the main.
"It is important to remember that we are changing all the time: our interests change, our skills develop, we discover new things we like which we didn’t even know existed. Make sure that you keep up-to-date with yourself, and if you are unhappy in your current situation, acknowledge what has changed and take action."
Very true. I need to acknowledge a certain change in my private life right now and take action, because I am unhappy with the current situation, but haven't found the right time/ don't have the guts/ scared of confrontation/ change etc.... Oh heck.
Part 2: Applying for a job
"After identifying your strengths, build a record (a database, a list, an Evernote folder, a piece of paper...) of everything you have done that demonstrates you’ve got the skills stemming from your interests. This will be extremely useful when writing your CV or filling job applications in, as you will be able to select information from a list rather than having to start from a blank page every time, thus risking to forget something. Keep this record up-to-date. Your CV is a living thing."
I've applied for two jobs this year. My CV is now up-to-date as I reviewed it recently for my chartership portfolio. I'm happy with how to find job ads for my sort of arena, I'm working on my skills with all these management courses and chartership activities, and as I've been in my current job for 7 months now, I'd like to figure out this job before I think of moving on. I hope that's ok...
Part 3: Interviews
"A very useful structure when answering competency-based questions (like “tell me about a time you found a creative solution to a problem”) is the acronym CAR, which stands for Context. Action. Results."
Yes - example, what I did, the result of what I did. EG competency in setting up a current awareness service: I set up a blog for transplant, renal and urology nurses to help them to keep up to date with the latest information for their specialties. Feedback so far this year has been positive, although since I gave a presentation about this service to other clinical librarians in June, I haven't reviewed whether the blog is still useful and must get in touch with the Practice Development Nurse for those areas soon to find out what she and her colleagues think.
"Summary of tasks:
Answer the questions in Part I and make your own list of activities and interests: from watching the telly to something more work-related. Tell us what you’ve found about yourself: achievements/activities you had forgotten about, things you love to do, what they mean, how you could use them in your working life."
My list of activities and interests can be lifted from my chartership CV:
Interests
Thing 21: Promoting yourself in job applications and at interview
Part 1: Identifying your strengths; capitalising on your interests
"In order to identify your strengths, take a good look at yourself, your tasks at work, your career, you life: what do you like to do? What do you dislike? Do you remember the last time you felt that feeling of deep satisfaction after creating, building, completing something? What was it about? What skills do you need to do the things you like? These skills are your strengths; they stem from your interests."
My tasks at work - supervising the day-to-day running of the library service at the Knowledge Centre, checking that the desk is staffed, the phone answered, document supply tasks fulfilled, readers have their enquiries answered promptly, administering locker keys (! new task as of today), resetting the ipad, loaning the ipad, loaning/resetting laptops, maintainance and provision of statistics, liaison with people in the building, ensuring that health and safety policies are implemented; outreach librarian tasks - literature searches, keeping in touch with my departments, attending TIMS FY2 on monday, etc.
A variety of tasks. Lots of little folders to keep projects on track. I mainly dislike the management stuff on principle, but it's OK really and it's good to know that the service is ticking along nicely, that staff are OK and happy with their tasks, that things are working as smoothly as possible.
I get the most satisfaction out of helping people find information to answer their questions. For example, someone from dermatology needed help finding some obscure literature. In one hour-long session last friday, we achieved that task. The reader was grateful, I was happy to be able to help, and I even possibly contributed to Patient Care.
I need to improve on many skills: presentation skills (eg for a seminar...); assertiveness at work and at home; additional Presentation skills – presenting proposals to senior managers and presenting information to users; Teaching and training skills – setting learning objectives; Confidence with staff; Oral communication skills – persuading, negotiating, influencing. Clear information. Avoid misunderstanding; Leadership and management – especially setting objectives and managing performance; Decision-making: assessing options, consulting and involving others, understanding implications of decisions [most of these are lifted from my Skills Audit for the Introductory Certificate in Management that I'm currently involved in and are useful for my chartership portfolio...].
Actually, I think when I'm at my best, my strengths are on customer service, being positive and enthusiastic while also knowledgeable and professional. When I'm not at my best, my strengths are getting on with work at my desk: literature searches, in the main.
"It is important to remember that we are changing all the time: our interests change, our skills develop, we discover new things we like which we didn’t even know existed. Make sure that you keep up-to-date with yourself, and if you are unhappy in your current situation, acknowledge what has changed and take action."
Very true. I need to acknowledge a certain change in my private life right now and take action, because I am unhappy with the current situation, but haven't found the right time/ don't have the guts/ scared of confrontation/ change etc.... Oh heck.
Part 2: Applying for a job
"After identifying your strengths, build a record (a database, a list, an Evernote folder, a piece of paper...) of everything you have done that demonstrates you’ve got the skills stemming from your interests. This will be extremely useful when writing your CV or filling job applications in, as you will be able to select information from a list rather than having to start from a blank page every time, thus risking to forget something. Keep this record up-to-date. Your CV is a living thing."
I've applied for two jobs this year. My CV is now up-to-date as I reviewed it recently for my chartership portfolio. I'm happy with how to find job ads for my sort of arena, I'm working on my skills with all these management courses and chartership activities, and as I've been in my current job for 7 months now, I'd like to figure out this job before I think of moving on. I hope that's ok...
Part 3: Interviews
"A very useful structure when answering competency-based questions (like “tell me about a time you found a creative solution to a problem”) is the acronym CAR, which stands for Context. Action. Results."
Yes - example, what I did, the result of what I did. EG competency in setting up a current awareness service: I set up a blog for transplant, renal and urology nurses to help them to keep up to date with the latest information for their specialties. Feedback so far this year has been positive, although since I gave a presentation about this service to other clinical librarians in June, I haven't reviewed whether the blog is still useful and must get in touch with the Practice Development Nurse for those areas soon to find out what she and her colleagues think.
"Summary of tasks:
Answer the questions in Part I and make your own list of activities and interests: from watching the telly to something more work-related. Tell us what you’ve found about yourself: achievements/activities you had forgotten about, things you love to do, what they mean, how you could use them in your working life."
My list of activities and interests can be lifted from my chartership CV:
Interests
- Social Anthropology and ethnographic research.
- Reading (nineteenth century English fiction; modern European crime fiction).
- Jogging, cycling, tap-dancing.
- Co-director of Jericho Community Boatyard Ltd (January 2010 – present).
CPD23: Thing 20 - The Library Routes Project
I've now added my link to the page, and had fun editing the wiki.
See here http://libraryroutesproject.wikkii.com/wiki/Main_Page
Lots of interesting blog posts about how people got where they are today, eg:
See here http://libraryroutesproject.wikkii.com/wiki/Main_Page
Lots of interesting blog posts about how people got where they are today, eg:
- the wikiman - the first post on the library routes site from 2009
- Dumpling in a hanky - great name, and good points about scrabbling around trying to figure out what the hell a job wants from you
- Uncooked Data
- Lucy Librarian - got a graduate trainee post in a health library...
- Dusty Old Bookshelf - great use of Life of Brian image!
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