I'm still here...

... though you would be forgiven if you had thought I had dissappeared completely, it's been so long since I last posted.  (I actually hadn't realised just how long until I looked back at my blog...)

So, what have I been up to?  Nothing completely earthshattering with regards to work - just making my way along as usual, and trying to make up some more professional development time: something which is hard to do after 6 years in the job.  cpd23 definately helped with that this year, but since I completed it I'm having to look for some more options.  Any suggestions are more than welcome!

I've been keeping up with the reading, and am still really enjoying reading about what you are all getting up to in your libraries.  We are heading to the end of term now (just about 4 weeks to go!) and are alternatively packed with people trying to get assessments finished, and really quiet - as we are now: I think all the students are out enjoying the sunshine, and who would blame them?  Once the holidays start, we'll get going with all the routine jobs again - stocktake this summer (though don't tell anyone - I think they're planning that for the first couple of weeks of the holiday when I happen to be on leave - sorry girls!).  I've been really productive and made some mini-bunting for a little Jubilee themed book display which I'll be putting up next week.  Just business as usual really.  How about the rest of you - are you celebrating Jubilee weekend with anything special?

Winter wonderland

All Libraries are wonderlands, aren't they?  So the title works  :)

I'm going to go all festive as we're at the end of November (though if you ask those I work with, I've been counting down the days for a while now...) and I think I'm going to put up the decorations at work today!  Granted, this is slightly earlier than I would do usually, but I'm out at one of the branch sites and I only work here 2 days a week.  So if it doesn't get done today, I won't get the chance until next Tuesday, and the lovely lady I work with has said I can get the decorations out of their boxes!  (she actually said I could decorate last week if I felt like it, and though tempted, I decided it was a bit early - even for me).

So, the question out to all of you in blogland: when do you decorate and turn your Libraries / workplaces into winter wonderlands?

Chocolate for Librarians? I think so!

With Christmas coming, I'm sure that you're all looking for some lovely presents for that librarian in your life (or, if you are that librarian, looking for something to put on your wish list to Santa!)  How about this (click link!): a perfect Library of chocolates!

(p.s. - I'm not endorsing this product or website in any way - I just happened to find them and thought it was a cool idea.  I'm taking no responsibility for the actions of any of you who just have to buy - or find something else when browsing!)

Opinions needed please...

I find myself in need of some opinions, and I do hope that some of you lovely people out in cyberspace can help me.

When I graduated from 'Library School' - too many years ago to want to remember - I was full of enthusiasm about gaining my Chartership as soon as I possibly could.  As the years went by, I never did get any further than registering my interest for various reasons, and when I went on maternity leave a couple of years ago I suspended my CILIP membership completely (and never reinstated it).

Now, I am thinking of the future - a scary thing to do! - and I am revisiting my previous thoughts on chartering.  I've contacted CILIP, so I know how to go about reactivating my membership, which I think might be a good idea anyway.  But chartership?  I find myself with mixed feelings (which I'm not sure I even understand myself).  Those of you out there who have been through chartership - is it worth it?  Are you pleased you did it?  And was it hard to do?  Those of you going through it - are you enjoying it, and are you finding it difficult, or easier than you expected?

I guess I just don't know exactly where to start, and it seems very complicated to me looking at it, but hopefully I'm wrong and it would be a really worthwhile thing to do.  All opinions and information welcome and appreciated!

Treasure hunts - Library style!

I got sent a link to this great webpage, where a journalism professor in America has come up with a new way to get his students to look for primary sources that are not on the internet - he has come up with a Library Treasure hunt. (click to use the link)

I think this is such a cool idea!  Of course, I would think that ideally you would need a *really* big library to make the most of this, as I can just imagine sending students running up and down the stairs to find the next clue. It's a fantastic way to get a lot of library information in what is essentially a game: and I'm sure the incentives he gives for the students with the top marks helps!  I bet that the students will retain a lot more information on 'how to use the library', rather than just from a library tour.  I'd love to do this, but I don't know if our library is big enough - maybe something on a smaller scale would work?  Let me know what you think!

cpd23 - thing 23

And so, the end is near....

The last 'thing' for cpd23!  My 6 word story?  How about 'Amazing journey, thanks for the challenge!'

Having had a read back through my blog posts, and looking at job descriptions in my field, I can see maybe a few areas I would like to improve on for the future.  I've decided that I do need more of a professional online presence, so will continue to work towards this: most likely I will overhaul and update my CV, and will create a linkedin account.  I would also like to connect more with other library and information professionals outwith my current working position, and I think that this blog would be a good starting point for that.

I will definitely keep on blogging: I have thoroughly enjoyed this part of the cpd23 experience.  And I will certainly keep up on reading all the other lovely blogs I've become attached to.

So, that's my plan - hopefully I'll 'see' more of you all out in cyberspace!

Thank you for reading  :)

cpd23 - thing 22

Volunteering to get experience

I have volunteered once in my life to gain more experience - this was just after I had qualified, and wanted to get some more library work under my belt while I applied for jobs.  I went back to the university where I had done my diploma work experience month, and asked if I could do any work for them for a while, as I really enjoyed working with the people there.  It gave me the chance to work with some more people, and it kept me busy (and out of the apartment for a while!)

If work experience as part of an academic course also counts as volunteering (it is unpaid work!) then I did a weeks work while still at school - again in a univeristy setting - which I loved, and the month as part of my postgraduate diploma course.

As I've said on this blog before, I'm all for volunteers - they do a great job, and for society as a whole, we'd be lost without them!  I do worry about people devaluing our profession as they then feel that people with little to no training can do the job, but hey, I'm all for trained professionals who just need a bit of experience for their CV!