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!

cpd23 - thing 21

Promoting yourself in job applications and at interview.

Oh, how I dislike job applications and interviews!  I am usually quite a positive person, just not really about myself, and I always feel like I'm boasting if I say that I'm actually good at something (or at least, not bad...or even, I'm not completely rubbish at it...)  For that reason, I hate filling out the forms.  I'm okay with job details and work experience - the factual stuff - it's the 'what else would you like us to know' where you're really meant to sell yourself that gives me the heebiejeebies!

So, activities and interests.  This is quite a short list really, especially compared to what others are, I'm sure.  My main interest (and activity - I've a 2 year old daughter!) is my family.  Books and reading, are, of course a huge interest.  Printed books are always good, but I am a recent convert to kindle - I was never sure if I would like them, but when I was bought one I discovered that it is good  :)  I like computers, and working with them - is it sad that I consider making a powerpoint presentation template to be fun?  Excel spreadsheets can also be a good way of spending an hour or two.  In my spare time (hah!) I like sewing - cross stitch as a main choice - and crochet.  I also make cards and have dabbled in scrapbooking.  Some of these are also able to be tied into watching televison - I don't watch a lot, but it's often on in the background (especially tuned into cbeebies: gotta love Igglepiggle!).

Hmm,  looking at this list it does tend towards the 'creative' - I do work with the microsoft packages in work, and like making displays etc. so some of my interests do tie in with my working life  :)

CVs - I admit that I haven't updated my CV in about 6 years now (since I got my current job!) so this is something that I really need to do.

Interview tips - meep, not sure!  I always like to be well presented, and have a read up about the company you're applying to so you know a bit about how they work.  I also find it helps to have at least a couple of questions thought out beforehand which you can ask at the end of the interview, and to smile lots  :)