Tuesday 30 August 2011

Thing 13, Working together

In common with many other bloggers in this enterprise, at work we have access to our internal drives which means we can all work together on projects; at the moment I'm not collaborating on any project with others outside my organisation.  Also, like many others I can't download any software at work.  With these factors in mind I decided to have a look at Googledocs.

I found it remarkably straightforward to use ( I already have a google account) although getting used to "downloading" rather than just "saving" when I was working on the documents at home was a little unexpected (I was in my own little world and hadn't realised which version I was working on!) and some of the formatting was a little odd.  For my own cpd this will definitely reduce the amount of emailing documents to myself so I can access them during lunch.  I also liked the ease with which you could share information with others (without them having to download or sign up for anything) and the control that you have over the information.  I'm a little concerned about the number of google application that I'm beginning to use now - I may need to explore other options just to be on the safe side.

The only wiki I've used (with caution and usually in library information sessions as an example of "care needs to be taken") is Wikipedia, but I can see the potential of joint working with this one.  I did like the Library Routes project and may contribute my own, though it will only be of historical value as so much has changed since I entered the profession!

Monday 22 August 2011

Thing 12 - Being social

So, just what do I think about all these "new" ways of communicating.  As animals we are social beings, and that has to imply some level of organisation and communication.  We also continually strive to increase the betterment of our lives, either on an individual level, or for the collective good.  Like many other posters I agree that social media is merely a tool for us to use; how we do so is up to us.


Are there any other advantages to social networking in the context of professional development than those already outlined above?
I think it can decrease a feeling of isolation, especially in solo working.  In addition to the other points a supportive network can provide encouragement, as well as ideas and collaborative working to get the best for our users.
Can you think of any disadvantages?
 Apart from the obvious privacy issues and the demands which certain types of network instigate en masse, the biggest one for me is time management; it's another "thing" or set of "things" to incorporate into my professional life, but this is outweighed by the benefits - see below.

Has CPD23 helped you to make contact with others that you would not have had contact with normally?
Yes, although only at a quite basic level.  I've found following a couple of blogs really useful - and added one this week too! I've also foundinteresting and  timely information via Twitter (which I must start using, rather than just lurking).

Did you already use social media for your career development before starting CPD23? Will you keep using it after the programme has finished?
This has developed my usage from merely subscribing to a few RSS feeds.  I will definitely continue to use various methods, but will also try to build in some regular time to review this activity to make best use of the time available. 

In your opinion does social networking really help to foster a sense of community?
I'm not sure yet, as I'm still on the very edge of actively engaging, rather than using the majority as information seeking tools.  Currently, I can see them cementing professional groups, making communication that much easier and also a way of contacting people.  I'm not sure if this can develop into truly online communities without any other form of engagement (I've never been remotely interested in Second Life for example), but as we work in a much more distributed environment, it will certainly save on airmiles.

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Thing 10 and Thing 11- how did you get to be here?

I suppose I've taken a fairly traditional route into Librarianship.  I was working as a library assistant in a public library system, I'd always loved finding information but hadn't considered it as a career before.  I also became aware that I really enjoyed working with other people who shared my passions, outlook and  attitudes to life.
I was fortunate that there was a very good training scheme in place giving you opportunities to visit different departments and, although not on the official trainee scheme, when my intentions became clear I was encouraged to join the visits and courses too. Then to an MA in Librarianship in Sheffield and afterwards my first professional post.  I joined the Library Association (as it was then) and was encouraged by my boss to do the Chartership work as soon as I could.  Despite my grumbles under my breath he was right!  Although I did take slightly longer by a couple of years to Charter, the impetus was important, otherwise I may never have begun, nevermind, completed it.   
All this was a long time ago, and various jobs, counties, different types of service, a few re-organisations later and I am still finding information for people and have gone back to my first love of children's books, albeit in a different sector with a different slant to the user group. 
I'm surrounded by keen, enthusiastic (and younger) colleagues, whose interest has now sparked my own cpd, so I'm working towards Revalidation which I hope will invigorate my professional life.
Whilst never having had a formal mentor until now, (I value the "buddy" who is helping me with the Revalidation paperwork and re-assessment mentality)  I was incredibly lucky to have some fantastic bosses who took me under their wing, gave me sound advice and so much guidance. I have gained a great deal from having interested colleagues to talk thing through with and bounce ideas around with which helped me formulate my way of thinking.  When this is coupled with the more formal reflective frameworks of cpd it can inject new ideas and practices to evolve.  I'm hoping that the new social media can widen the scope of this participation and help me to continue to develop my professional thoughts.

Sunday 14 August 2011

Thing 9 - Evernote

This was the first time I've come across Evernote, and I'm really pleased that cpd23 decided to include it.  This will make my life so much easier.  It was easy to install, intuitive to use and I do like the flexibility of including notes, clippings from the web, photos etc.  I'm also enough of a control freak to appreciate the "usage" function without having to perform endless clicks going through account , settings etc.

With the ability to organise the material into folders, I can easily justify using it at work (for work of course!), as I won't become distracted by other areas.  It's also much less clunky than the "emailing to myself system" that I currently do to flag up things for further consideration.

Time will tell if I do actually get around to going back to my reading if it isn't sitting there when I open my in-box.  Does anyone know if you can integrate it into iGoogle?
I'll probably only use it for current awareness, although I can see the potential for keeping notes for courses of study for example.  I'm fairly cautious about backing up data for things that I'd be stuck without, and, as I'm not sure about the robustness, and continued presence of the account I don't think I'll rely on it for something like that.  This is definitely something that I'll use, probably daily, so thank you cpd23.

Thursday 11 August 2011

Thing 8 - too much organisation?

Google Calendar.

I like this calendar a great deal, it was easy to sign up to, easy to use and is flexible enough to be able to share anyone's calendar, not just those in your organisation.  In fact it does everything I could want from an online calendar, but there is a problem.

I don't think I actually need it right now.  At work we use Microsoft Outlook, so can co-ordinate and view other's calendars, and I do have remote access at home, so can check up on shift patterns when my memory (all too frequently) fails me. I also have an old fashioned paper diary which I still find easier to take to meetings where having online access is difficult.  At home a wall calendar tries to keep track of the household's comings and goings.  That seems more than enough to keep up to date at one time.
The only thing that I feel I'll miss out on is having it on my igoogle page, a very useful visual reminder.

However, it's good to know about other options and I'd definitely consider it if Outlook wasn't available to me.






Tuesday 9 August 2011

Thing 6 & 7 Networks, or connect folks, connect!

Putting these two together as it gives me an opportunity to look at the various networks to which I do belong and evaluate these in the light of other suggestions.

Of the online variety I am on Facebook, but have made the decision to keep this for catching up with friends.  Although I have noticed some great library pages. It seems to work really well when there is a project going on (such as a refurbishment) as it creates a fun way for the users to stay in touch with developments, so I'll keep it in mind.

I'm a little wary of putting quite so much information on a profile such as LinkedIn, although I can see the benefits, especially in finding like minded people and possibly jobs, so will maybe save this one to look at in the future.

I will definitely revisit and update my very short profile on CILIP communities though.  I joined it a fair time ago and didn't find much to interest me then, but it seems to have developed, especially the "hot topics" and the blogs so I'll keep it in mind.  (Along with the blogs and Twitter too).

I hadn't heard of LAT Network before and thought the sharing of resources for information sessions and other teaching topics is a brilliant use of collaborative network.  My current post doesn't demand that much intensive tuition but I'll follow them on Twitter to begin with as I'm feeling my way with time commitments for this way of working and need to keep things manageable.  This could be very useful as job roles change all the time.

In considering face to face networks I immediately thought about "networking" as very scary navigating a room full of strangers "pitching your wares".  I hadn't really considered going to courses, although the breaks are always full of chatter and laughter, and belonging to professional bodies.  I do belong to CILIP and find my special interest groups are a mixture of previous and present interests.  I love the cross-pollination of ideas from one type of work to another, so try to skim through articles primarily about different sectors from my current post, probably out of curiosity as much as anything else to see what possibilities are out there. If there is a local cpd 23 meeting I may find enough courage to attend and find out face to face what other folk think about networking.








Saturday 6 August 2011

Thing 5 - reflective practice

Well I suppose the key is in the name "reflective practice" - it has to be pursued actively.  I really liked the "description, interpretation and (especially) outcome" idea.  Currently I keep a free form journal type document (alongside the very structured, almost course orientated, cpd log from CILIP) which, looking back on it, concentrates on the first two stages, but is sadly lacking in stating outcomes. 
I'm also hoping that this blog will provide some documentation for my Revalidation with CILIP.

Having identified that I would benefit from exploring "social media", but always been a little (well quite a lot) overwhelmed by the sheer variety of sites out there, this summer's initiative is very timely and useful.  A slight hiccup in our internet connection served to make me re-examine how much I do use the net and maybe I should participate more professionally online, and take control of my online "brand".  However, this will probably evolve over time, so I'll pick the tools which seem of most use to me at the moment, and concentrate on them, such as Twitter and my RSS feed.  Managing to find time for this new manner of working is going to be quite tricky, so I'm going to need strategies that are easy for me to continue so I don't neglect them.

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Thing 4 - So much to be aware of.



Resurrected my abandoned Twitter account to try again.  Maybe I didn’t put enough into it the first time round, but I couldn’t deal with all the “retweets” and life got busy so I stopped using it. This has given me some pointers about how, and who, to follow which is giving me some useful, timely information, especially in the field of children’s literature.  Many thanks for those who mentioned "thewikiman" for the tips and I’ll try to stick with it and put a little more back, so that people may get some idea of the topics in which I’m interested.
I’ve already use RSS feeds, but the handy bundle of cpd23 is brilliant.  (Although it does remind me of how many “things” are out there waiting to be read).  I try to keep my hobbies and work ones in separate folders, otherwise I’ll get way too distracted at work. 
Never having heard of Pushnote before I thought I’d give it a try. Nice and easy to download and intuitive to use.   But,it doesn't really give any clue to why things are rated as they are, you don't seem to have to justify your rating, so it is subjective, more like a friend recommending sites so professionally I'm a little wary.  I also found it quite difficult to find people to follow, does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get started on this?

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Thing 3 Do I have a brand?

Finally our internet is sorted out, so I can get back to working my way through these things.  (There's now a great deal of catching up to do.)

Considering branding is something that, if I'm honest, I've not really thought about before. As I've always worked for large organisations, it's either been a quick fix (ie all our publicity material uses these templates) or I've found it marginally constricting; whilst of course understanding the various needs for a corporate look. (My first thoughts include: immediate identification for the organisation, professional style and a unified look for all departments).  My own brand is not something I've spent any time on.


As I'm beginning to understand there is a great deal of professional use that can be made of online resources, so whilst I try to turn up for work looking vaguely smart, engaged and  interested in what I'm doing there, I suppose that any presence online should reflect that too.  Having said that there are some sections where I really want to keep my personal and work life separate.

Therefore I was very pleased that when I googled my name (first time ever!) my Facebook account was locked down as I use that only for friends.  In fact, perhaps due to my slightly unusual name (and spelling) there wasn't much at all.  An old Twitter account (which I suspect I'll have to resurrect in the next "Thing"), some very old newspaper articles from a previous job and contact details for the current one.   The only thing that did disconcert me was the 192 page; our house would be exceptionally crowded if everyone mentioned lived there!

On the blog I know the title is just what you're not supposed to do, but I'll stick with it whilst I'm learning.  I've played around with the template until I found a colour scheme that pleased me rather than just the basic one, and I have thought about the photo quite a lot.  As I don't want to give folks nightmares, (I'm not photogenic in the slightest) and whilst I'm still really experimenting with these tools I'm fairly happy to be sort of visually anonymous.  However, I do understand that visual images do give very quick clues on screen, so I've chosen to use a compromise. Following Joeyanne Librarianne's advice I've settled on a flowery image which I'll use across all platforms and see how I go from there.

Onto the next "thing" where I'll try to put some of the above into practice.