With one eye on the Carling cup final (come on Cardiff), another eye on my tea (roast pork) and a third eye on my blog, I’m pleased to report that I’ve survived another week, a busy varied week as well.
It’s proof reading New Books time again which involves not just typo errors and inconsistencies but also the formatting itself so that readers can navigate their Daisy CD version. There still seems to be an absence of series information in the children and young adult section which has taken a bit of time sorting out but in the whole it’s running pretty smoothly. Deadline is next Thursday and there are just corrections and a second proof read to do.
On Wednesday I went to the CSG Curriculum Meeting to continue the discussions between the merger between ourselves and the Diversity Group. The 3 main decisions to make was the new name and the structure and size of the new Committee, things seem to be moving on and everyone seems happy with the progress made. The most contentious part was the new name and took the longest to decide - Libraries transforming lives: community, diversity, equality. To me, it symbolises a new future with new ideals for the 2 groups, will mean something for people when they decide on which group to join and had a good eye-catching strapline. We ended up with a maximum of 12 people on the committee, for reasons of not only being a workable committee (not too big where decisions become hard to make) but also financial as if we were too big we going to be spending all our finances on travelling expenses! There’s going to be 6 from each with the Diversity Group wanting to rotate their members as they have a large committee base and also they want to keep people involved, which is a good point. I think the idea would be that although there will be the main 12 members, there will be opportunities for additional people to do work behind the scenes which I think is important as it would be a shame to lose enthusiastic people. We also picked the 4 most vital posts –Chair, Vice chair, Treasurer and Secretary –with 2 each from the groups being picked. I took the minutes for the CSG for the joint meeting, (Cardiff’s just scored! 1-0) so that will be my next job – trying to decipher my notes.
Thursday dinner time was spent learning about RNIB and Facebook and Google Plus. I was familiar with Facebook though surprised about how many followers RNIB had. Looking at the stats for the different age groups and that Facebook is engaging the younger audience more, I think the National Library Services need to capitalise on this. It will be a way in engaging the younger readers as there is a general feeling when speaking to them on the telephone that we cater more for the older talking book readers. Google Plus is a relatively new thing but RNIB have got in the act right at the beginning unlike Facebook where there were queries regarding accessibility. There are surprisingly 500 followers for Google Plus (Cardiff’s just equalised 2-2!!) though for something this new, it’s not that surprising that the majority of the followers are students, IT buffs and managerial types. There’s a lack of apps and adverts at the moment but no doubt with the influence of Google, Google Plus may end up overtaking Facebook for popularity.
Trying to work out how to do emails on my new lap top as I don’t have any standard email software. I’ve downloaded Firefox for free which looks good for sending email but haven’t yet worked out how to access my emails with this software.
Showing posts with label CSG. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CSG. Show all posts
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Getting Rid of Matthew and Mobile Libraries - Feb 13th-17th 2012
It’s been an easier week this week – probably because I was in for 3 days only. Monday and Tuesday were both intense but Wednesday was quieter and I managed to break up with a clear conscience. I spent Tuesday evening catching up with the recent Booksellers and the latest CILIP Update. It all made depressing reading with all the news of public library closures, libraries having to be run by volunteers to survive and general cutbacks to public spending on libraries. My own county Lincolnshire is monitoring mobile library use, an essential you would have thought with Lincolnshire being a large rural county with poor public transport to the towns. I sometimes wonder if there was any call for a mobile library to run in the evenings as there are a lot of people commuting to work like myself and finding that the libraries close too early. The mobile library could run reading groups and work with colleges running evening classes and adult literacy programmes.
There was also an interesting article by John Pateman in the Bookseller who makes the point that no other professions such as architects and accountants would accept volunteers to do their job for them. There was also a useful article in the Update which caught my attention about #UK LibChat – a live fortnightly discussion held on Twitter for library and information professionals to discuss cutting edge issues and to network on "http://uklibchat.wordpress.com". I had come across this before when I was doing the 23 steps and had put to follow an online chat or similar as one of my aims this year. This article was a good reminder for me. The biggest problem would be the start time of 6.30 as I’m rarely home by that time.
I also got caught up with new titles coming out in the next couple of months and what was doing well in the various charts knowing that half of these titles will be snapped up by the commercial publishers, some will end up with bad reviews while others will be difficult to transcribe into alternative format. I’m still trying to visualise how the Bradshaw’s Railway Guide will translate into Daisy or Braille if it was selected as I know that it would actually be very popular with the readers. A trip to Waterstones is on order here. I need to have a look at a print copy and see what it looks like.
It was also that time of the month – the circulation of the month’s customer requests – and a real mixture we had too! I don’t know if it was just the time of the year but there was a lot of true crime, misery memoirs and gritty crime of the “Martina Cole” variety – Kimberley Chambers and Jessie Keane are the 2 authors in demand this month. In amongst all of this “Darkness”, we had Hugh Walpole, Alan Partridge’s autobiography, several requests bizarrely asking for Jane Fallon’s Getting Rid of Matthew and even more weirder 2 customers asking for Jim Corbett who writes a lot about hunting tigers etc in India in the time of the Raj!
I attended an HTML Refreshers Course on Wednesday, ran by the RNIB. It was supposed to be 3 hours but lasted just 1 and ½ hours. It was a good reminder as I had forgotten the most basic codes. We had a go at coding pages and spotting errors and then covered a few extras such as how to incorporate images into pages. Most of the class used html on a regular basis so we went at quite a pace. My knowledge is well over 10 years old but I felt I kept up with them. It’s always good to try and refresh old skills as well as learning new ones.
In between trying to clear the garden for Spring, I’ve been getting to grips with Constant Contact, a bit worried though that I may accidently send out a test email to CSG members. The manual so far makes sense though I would be happier once I’ve had a go with it. The notes regarding links definitely need a good practice before being let loose on a newsletter.
There was also an interesting article by John Pateman in the Bookseller who makes the point that no other professions such as architects and accountants would accept volunteers to do their job for them. There was also a useful article in the Update which caught my attention about #UK LibChat – a live fortnightly discussion held on Twitter for library and information professionals to discuss cutting edge issues and to network on "http://uklibchat.wordpress.com". I had come across this before when I was doing the 23 steps and had put to follow an online chat or similar as one of my aims this year. This article was a good reminder for me. The biggest problem would be the start time of 6.30 as I’m rarely home by that time.
I also got caught up with new titles coming out in the next couple of months and what was doing well in the various charts knowing that half of these titles will be snapped up by the commercial publishers, some will end up with bad reviews while others will be difficult to transcribe into alternative format. I’m still trying to visualise how the Bradshaw’s Railway Guide will translate into Daisy or Braille if it was selected as I know that it would actually be very popular with the readers. A trip to Waterstones is on order here. I need to have a look at a print copy and see what it looks like.
It was also that time of the month – the circulation of the month’s customer requests – and a real mixture we had too! I don’t know if it was just the time of the year but there was a lot of true crime, misery memoirs and gritty crime of the “Martina Cole” variety – Kimberley Chambers and Jessie Keane are the 2 authors in demand this month. In amongst all of this “Darkness”, we had Hugh Walpole, Alan Partridge’s autobiography, several requests bizarrely asking for Jane Fallon’s Getting Rid of Matthew and even more weirder 2 customers asking for Jim Corbett who writes a lot about hunting tigers etc in India in the time of the Raj!
I attended an HTML Refreshers Course on Wednesday, ran by the RNIB. It was supposed to be 3 hours but lasted just 1 and ½ hours. It was a good reminder as I had forgotten the most basic codes. We had a go at coding pages and spotting errors and then covered a few extras such as how to incorporate images into pages. Most of the class used html on a regular basis so we went at quite a pace. My knowledge is well over 10 years old but I felt I kept up with them. It’s always good to try and refresh old skills as well as learning new ones.
In between trying to clear the garden for Spring, I’ve been getting to grips with Constant Contact, a bit worried though that I may accidently send out a test email to CSG members. The manual so far makes sense though I would be happier once I’ve had a go with it. The notes regarding links definitely need a good practice before being let loose on a newsletter.
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Thing 7 - Networking face-to-face
I know I'm doing Thing 7 before Thing 6 but I thought I'll get the easiest Thing of the 2 done first as I've got alot to say on this one. I already hear the sound of the mouse as people quickly escape this blog.
I managed to go to one of the face-to-face networking events held last week. I was quite fortunate that one of my work colleagues who is also doing the 23 steps arranged a meet in The Brewery Tap in Peterborough - a pub that sells real ales and Thai food - what's there not to be liked! Seven hardy souls turned up and they weren't all from the RNIB so I can call that proper networking - 4 RNIB staff, one school librarian, one health librarian and one college librarian - so a good mix.
I'm a member of CILIP and have been a member since I started my Postgraduate course back in em......1992, better known as The Library Association in those days. My Special Interest groups are Community Services Group (continuous) and Career Development (from this year). I was a member of COFHE for a number of years until I realised that I hadn't received any mailings for quite a few years, time for a change. I also fall under the East Midlands Branch of CILIP.
I've become more actively involved in CILIP acivities as, with a lot of frontline library jobs, there is not much opportunity to develop in the job itself, so I'm always looking to gain knowledge and improve skills further afield. I also think I'm in danger of getting too wrapped up with just issues to do with visual impairment so networking is a good reminder of the wider library world. Luckily, since RNIB merged with National Library for the Blind, we have had new Library Management who have actively encouraged us to get involve with CILIP. However, like I expect with most library staff today, it can be difficult sometimes to get time off because of staffing issues and we have a busy telephone with a lot of needy customers to look after! I had also identified in my Chartership Report that networking and professional involvement in CILIP was something I needed to improve on so I feel that I'm addressing one weakness.
I've been to a few East Midlands events including a couple of AGMs which had guest speakers from CILIP, visits including Lincoln Cathedral Library and Lord Tennyson Library and a workshop on portfolios and revalidation. I'm hoping that they will run a workshop on reflective writing this year. It's quite good to get away for the day and network with Librarians from such a wide field and different professional levels. It's also nice to see familiar faces when you go to an event, networking becomes easier each time you go to something.
I've also started to become involve with the CSG. After winning a place at the Libraries Change Lives Awards in 2010 and writing an article about the event, I decided to take the plunge and volunteer to go on the Committee. After being a member for so long with this group, I decided it was time that I should contribute something back. I've only been to 3 meetings so far, the first one was very daunting walking into the room for the first time though felt better once I had an opportunity to contribute to the conversation! The second meeting also combined the annual AGM and a workshop - Public Libraries and Social Justice - which again opened my eyes to the wider world of public libraries and gave me an oportunity to meet some interesting people who were involved in some inspirational projects in their libraries. Networking also gives me the chance to promote the RNIB and the library services they offer to Public Librarians. I was also introduced to Wikireadia at http://www.wikireadia.org.uk/ which is a really useful website used by quite a few of the participants there. I've volunteered myself to help out with running a course at the end of the year which will be good experience. I've also contributed an article on MANIL Make a Noise in Libraries fortnight to the CSG Newsletter earlier this year. I'm also in the process of putting together an article for the CSG Website on Why I decided to join the CSG Committee. I'm hoping that the longer I'm on the Committee and the more background knowledge I pick up about the workings of the group, the more involved I will become and be comfortable in volunteering for more things.
I did have a quick look at some of the other suggested library organisations including IFLA and SLA. The online videos on the SLA looked interesting but this may be something to consider for the future, money depending! I also had a look at The Library Society of the World but I think the informal ethos led to a too informal and messy website which didn't really grab my attention. It probably may be fun to join if you had more time on your hands to join in the debates but I'm usually in a hurry and want to find information easily.
I managed to go to one of the face-to-face networking events held last week. I was quite fortunate that one of my work colleagues who is also doing the 23 steps arranged a meet in The Brewery Tap in Peterborough - a pub that sells real ales and Thai food - what's there not to be liked! Seven hardy souls turned up and they weren't all from the RNIB so I can call that proper networking - 4 RNIB staff, one school librarian, one health librarian and one college librarian - so a good mix.
I'm a member of CILIP and have been a member since I started my Postgraduate course back in em......1992, better known as The Library Association in those days. My Special Interest groups are Community Services Group (continuous) and Career Development (from this year). I was a member of COFHE for a number of years until I realised that I hadn't received any mailings for quite a few years, time for a change. I also fall under the East Midlands Branch of CILIP.
I've become more actively involved in CILIP acivities as, with a lot of frontline library jobs, there is not much opportunity to develop in the job itself, so I'm always looking to gain knowledge and improve skills further afield. I also think I'm in danger of getting too wrapped up with just issues to do with visual impairment so networking is a good reminder of the wider library world. Luckily, since RNIB merged with National Library for the Blind, we have had new Library Management who have actively encouraged us to get involve with CILIP. However, like I expect with most library staff today, it can be difficult sometimes to get time off because of staffing issues and we have a busy telephone with a lot of needy customers to look after! I had also identified in my Chartership Report that networking and professional involvement in CILIP was something I needed to improve on so I feel that I'm addressing one weakness.
I've been to a few East Midlands events including a couple of AGMs which had guest speakers from CILIP, visits including Lincoln Cathedral Library and Lord Tennyson Library and a workshop on portfolios and revalidation. I'm hoping that they will run a workshop on reflective writing this year. It's quite good to get away for the day and network with Librarians from such a wide field and different professional levels. It's also nice to see familiar faces when you go to an event, networking becomes easier each time you go to something.
I've also started to become involve with the CSG. After winning a place at the Libraries Change Lives Awards in 2010 and writing an article about the event, I decided to take the plunge and volunteer to go on the Committee. After being a member for so long with this group, I decided it was time that I should contribute something back. I've only been to 3 meetings so far, the first one was very daunting walking into the room for the first time though felt better once I had an opportunity to contribute to the conversation! The second meeting also combined the annual AGM and a workshop - Public Libraries and Social Justice - which again opened my eyes to the wider world of public libraries and gave me an oportunity to meet some interesting people who were involved in some inspirational projects in their libraries. Networking also gives me the chance to promote the RNIB and the library services they offer to Public Librarians. I was also introduced to Wikireadia at http://www.wikireadia.org.uk/ which is a really useful website used by quite a few of the participants there. I've volunteered myself to help out with running a course at the end of the year which will be good experience. I've also contributed an article on MANIL Make a Noise in Libraries fortnight to the CSG Newsletter earlier this year. I'm also in the process of putting together an article for the CSG Website on Why I decided to join the CSG Committee. I'm hoping that the longer I'm on the Committee and the more background knowledge I pick up about the workings of the group, the more involved I will become and be comfortable in volunteering for more things.
I did have a quick look at some of the other suggested library organisations including IFLA and SLA. The online videos on the SLA looked interesting but this may be something to consider for the future, money depending! I also had a look at The Library Society of the World but I think the informal ethos led to a too informal and messy website which didn't really grab my attention. It probably may be fun to join if you had more time on your hands to join in the debates but I'm usually in a hurry and want to find information easily.
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