Let's Champion Skills For Life

‘Get rid of your gremlins and get on’ was the message and the image of a grimacing gremlin; hissing and sneering at an unhappy looking man, still lingers in the mind. This was the TV campaign to promote Skills For Life learning which broke onto our screens in 2005.

Skills For Life remains a key issue in education and the workplace. We are still pursued by the ‘gremlins’ of low literacy, numeracy and ICT skills. The latest UK statistics (TUC, 2011) show the scale of the problem:

• 5 million UK adults have poor literacy skills. 
• More than a fifth of UK adults lack basic numeracy skills
• Over 9 million UK are not using the internet.  

A person with poor literacy, numeracy or ICT skills will face tough challenges in our competitive modern economy. They are much more likely to drop out of education, to remain unemployed and to experience poor mental health (Bynner and Parsons, 1997). The stigma of having poor basic skills (skills for life) means that people will cover up the problem in order to avoid potential embarrassment.

So how can we empower Skills For Life learners to get rid of their gremlins and 'get on'? There is help at hand: the local public library and Skills For Life champion.

As a Skills For Life champion, my role is to promote awareness of what courses and resources are on offer to support Skills For Life learning. Many of these courses/services are free for those who are unemployed/on benefits or retired. Public libraries provide free beginner's ICT sessions run by librarians. For more information on these, contact your local public library.

For a range of useful resources on Skills For Life education see : http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/skills/index.cfm

Other useful resources:

Literacy courses/resources

LearnDirect  http://learndirect.co.uk/courses/

BBCSkillswise English (provides notes and practice questions) http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/english

The Reading Agency  http://www.readingagency.org.uk/

Numeracy courses/resources

Learn Direct http://www.learndirect.co.uk/

BBCSkillswise Maths (provides notes and practice questions)  –

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/maths

Graham, A. (2008) Basic Mathematics, New Ed. , Hodder Headline: London

ICT courses

Beginner’s ICT taster sessions (provided free by most public libraries)

Learn Direct (provides ECDL training) http://www.learndirect.co.uk/

BBC First Click (resources for computer beginners) http://www.bbc.co.uk/connect/campaigns/first_click.shtml

Home and Learn (resources for ECDL training)  http://www.homeandlearn.co.uk/

References

Trade Union Congress (2011) Union Learn: Skills For Life , Available at: http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/skills/index.cfm  [Accessed 25/11/11]
Bynner, J. and Parsons, S. (1997) It Doesn't Get Any Better, The Basic Skills Agency: London
Available at: http://shop.niace.org.uk/media/catalog/product/a/7/a729_it_doesnt_get_any_better_english.pdf

[Accessed 25/11/11]

Library Chat at Pub Meet-up

The venue was a cosy, friendly local pub; perfect for a cold, winter evening.

Over drinks, the conversation flowed.

The three university subject librarians and operations manager gave their different views on a number of topics. The topics we discussed were:

·          the university campus relocation and expansion

·          increase in librarian’s teaching hours

·          the student induction programme

·          the impact of more international students

·          signposting public library and university library services

We agreed it would be mutually beneficial to work more collaboratively to improve the student induction process. This would mean public librarians/university librarians being better informed about each others user/student registration process.  

I had an informative conversation with the Art and Design librarian. I discussed two of our library events: the MA creative writing group and the knitting group. I proposed that our libraries collaborate to put on an art display and I put in a good word for our library’s knitting display. 

As a consequence, the Art and Design librarian expressed interest in visiting the library to see the knitting display.


This evening's meet-up has been a valuable opportunity. I have contributed to the exchange of views and represented and promoted our public library services. Furthermore,  I have gained a useful insight into the challenges facing university libraries at this present time.

Thing 23 - Putting the CPD23 into PDP

This is how I’d sum up my CPD23 experience in six words:

CPD23 was great for learning Web 2.0.

I’ve really enjoyed the CPD23 programme and feel it’s been immensely worthwhile: a boost to my confidence and my continued professional development. Furthermore, I intend to follow through and integrate what I’ve learnt into my professional practice.

I’ve made the most of Thing 23 and put on my ‘strategic thinking’ hat. Those classic management concepts of ‘S.W.O.T’ and ‘S.M.A.R.T' always seem get the ideas flowing.

Creating my own Personal Development Plan has enabled me to identify my main career goals and the steps I'm taking to achieve these goals. A S.W.O.T analysis was useful for highlighting the potential challenges.

Thing 22 - A View on Volunteering

I can say that have volunteered to gain experience and that my volunteer experience was positive and worthwhile. This was part of my City and Guilds Library Assistant course and was a ‘work placement’ recommended by my tutor.

The Highgate Literary and Scientific Institute Library was a journey back in time: the library housed a rare archive and used a card catalogue and the Browne Issue System. I assisted the librarian with updating the online catalogue and reclassifying part of the collection. This was my introduction to the ‘craft’ of librarianship. Cataloguing and classification schemes may change but they will probably always be our ‘tools’.

Furthermore, by working closely with a solo librarian, I was able to appreciate the freedoms and restrictions of this way of working.

I'm sure that many new graduates are caught in Bronagh McCrudden's experience Catch22. This is certainly the case with me. With a reduction in the number of senior librarian jobs, I will need to think more creatively about career progression. My passion is for promoting lifelong learning and I am proactively pursuing opportunities to get involved in lifelong learning projects and events.

I’ve reflected on whether we are devaluing the profession by encouraging volunteering. I certainly feel this has become a controversial topic, particularly in the public library sector.
The key concerns are:

•  Will volunteers be introduced as a cost-cutting measure?
•  How will volunteers be managed and monitored?
•  What roles will volunteers fulfill and how might this impact on the job roles of paid staff?

On the other hand, it could be argued that volunteering was vital for many LIS professionals to get a ‘foot in the door’ and progress in their careers. Volunteering gave them the opportunity to implement knowledge and gain further skills. Moreover, the current economic climate requires that we look at this issue in a different way. If we consider that volunteering is useful for gaining work experience and skills, our libraries will be demonstrating value by providing these opportunities for job seekers. However, this means being aware of all the potential issues/problems and ensuring that the whole process is carefully managed.

Thing 21 - The CV Revisited..with a Kickstart from CPD23

Time to think critically about my CV..

That's the problem. It’s not really a CV as such and reads like a shopping list of job role competencies. Conscientious rather than ‘creative’. Diligent rather than dynamic.

How do I present my 'achievements'? Well, they are in there somewhere...but quite low-key.

I will enlarge the details and sift the pearls from the routine and mundane.

I’m updating my CV following CPD23’s top tips and have reflected on what drives and motivates me as a person in order to capitalise on my strengths.

I have written responses to the following questions -

What do you like to do?

Learning new technology and thinking critically about how to use it. Using my knowledge to assist novice internet/computer users.

Reading, researching and finding answers to enquiries. Sharing information which will answer a need and highlight alternatives.

Blogging and writing - privately and online. I enjoy reflective writing but I also like to engage with issues. For me, this means probing an issue and presenting an argument based on the known facts.

Team working and group projects. I’m a team player who likes to mediate and moderate where there is group conflict. I’ll stand up myself and my beliefs and I have encouraged others to do the same.

What do you dislike?

Not being as quick-witted and quick thinking as I would like. Feeling like I’m a slow learner who has not adapted to the pace of life. Feeling that however hard I work I will never work ‘smart’! 

Perfectionism. Of course we should always aim high, maintain high standards and strive for success. But can we strive for excellence rather than perfection? Perfection seems to be outside the reach of most fallible and flawed human beings.

Professional arrogance. Just because someone has a certain ‘title’, or letters after their name, it doesn’t mean they are the fount of all knowledge. We all bring our different life experiences to the table. This should inform our understanding of why certain people may think and act as they do. This doesn’t mean we make excuses for people or fail to offer constructive criticism. It just means we accept the validity of another’s viewpoint and experience.

When did you last get deep satisfaction from creating, building or completing something?

Just now. I’ve articulated clearly and coherently my thoughts on this topic.

What skills do you need to do the things you like?

Networking skills. Project management skills. Debating skills.

Thing 20 - The Library Roots of A 'Shy' Librarian

I’ve expanded my blog entry (Thing 10) and posted the link on The Library Routes Project wiki. Sharing my own personal/professional journey has enabled me to reflect on why I entered the profession, what I love about it, and how I could make more impact in terms of my personal contribution.

I’m going to wade into the debate on ‘stereotypes’ in the LIS profession. This is my opinion, for what it's worth.

Shy adj. not at ease in company; cautious or wary (Collins Gem English Dictionary, New Edition, 1992)

Modest adj. not vain or boastful; shy; (Collins Gem English Dictionary, New Edition, 1992)

Because a person is ‘shy’ doesn’t make them a ‘lightweight’ or leave our profession open to ridicule. Furthermore, being ‘shy’ about social media or even downright sceptical about it, doesn’t mean you are a dusty throwback. There is room in the LIS profession for all types of people and as the saying goes: “It takes all sorts”. The cool quirkiness of many CPD23 blogs is evidence of this.

As my story shows: you can be quiet…even ‘shy’.. and still flourish as a modern librarian. Here is another insight about shy people: blowing our own trumpet does not come naturally to us! We just need to improve our people skills and not hide our light under the proverbial ‘bushel’.

Thing 19 - Integrating The 23 Things

Creating a blog

The process of blog writing has enabled me to reflect on my learning journey. It has been useful to compare my experiences with my fellow CPD23 bloggers and to think critically about my core competencies and skills. I will continue this blog as a means of preparing myself for CILIP Chartership. I’m aware that my own personal contribution is rather low-key and I intend to engage more with social networking/social media in order to make more of an ‘impact’.

Twitter

I’ve not become an active Twitter user. I’ve been following others and lurking in order to observe how others use the medium. I aim to connect first with my work colleagues who are using Twitter and expand my comfort zone from there.

Facebook

I’ve been using Facebook to share library news and views with colleagues.

Evernote

I’ve used this for bookmarking articles and jotting down some thoughts and impressions. It’s great that I can use this on any web browser. I’ll continue to use Evernote as a research log.

In fact, I'll use it to log evidence for CILIP Chartership.

Feeds

I’m broadening my knowledge and maintaining current awareness through using blog feeds. I’m following bloggers from different library sectors in order to more fully engage with the issues affecting the whole of the profession.

Mentoring

I’ve discovered I very valuable mentoring opportunity. My colleague: a fellow CPD23 blogger, provided the spur for me to create an online profile as a platform for social networking. Furthermore, I feel have something to give back as part of the mentoring process. As someone who enjoys research, I hope to make a contribution to generating new ideas for service development.

Thing 18 - Jing has the Zing

Jing is an excellent little tool and I can envision using it in a number of ways. In order to test it out, I made a basic screenapture of a journeyplanner map and emailed it to myself.

I also produced a simple annotated screencapture. This would be ideal for creating handouts for the Beginner's ICT course in my library. I aim to explore Jing's features in more depth because, so far, I've just touched on the basics. However, I rate Jing as very user-friendly and for this reason I'm sure I could master it with a little more practice.

My knowledge of podcasting was quite limited and so I listened to one of the arcadia@cambridge podcasts in order to better understand the medium.

Bobbi Newman (LibrarianbyDay) has recommended two very informative library podcasts.

These contain a diverse range of news and views from the US - something for everyone! I've made this another addition to my reading list.

I can see myself as a podcast follower, but I won’t be diving in and creating my own. In order to feel confident with podcasting I’d probably need to sign up for the Podwhating?! course. However, I don’t see a sufficient payoff for this because I have no projects for which I need to create a podcast.

Thing 17: The Prezi Surprise

Prezi

Snazzy, jazzy, whizzy Prezi. The perfect medium to capture our ever shrinking attention span! Here are my thoughts on using Prezi and Slideshare and how I have or will integrate them into my professional practice.

The top tips on how to use Prezi as a teaching aid were very informative.
Adam Somlai-Fischer's guide (How To Create A Great Prezi) describes the medium as very ‘iterative’, i.e. you can pan back to reiterate key statements and ideas.   

This week's thing presented me with a hands on, creative challenge. However, on reflection, I would say that ‘challenge’ rather than ‘creative’ was the operative word!  I’ll definitely need to invest more time and effort in order to create an effective Prezi. I don’t give presentations as part of my job and lack practice. However, by mastering the basics of Prezi, I could utilise it in a number of contexts. Producing training notes/handouts for colleagues could be one such use.

I practised using the Prezi tools and was able to produce some very basic slides. I consider it to be a work in progress, and include the link as evidence only:
http://prezi.com/dsmmxaaarnyy/cpd-and-me/

I agree with Adam Somlai-Fischer’s (2011) observations: its common for a first Prezi attempt to appear ‘flat’ and not unlike your Powerpoint slides. This was certainly the case with mine! I haven’t got to grips with using the frames and adjusting the layout. However, importing links and images was very straightforward. I’ll be looking at few more Prezis for inspiration and referring back to the tutorials.

As a final reflection, I don’t agree with the statement that ‘the medium is the message’. The clarity and intelligence of the message is equally important. For this reason, its worth reiterating that the content and delivery of a presentation will always carry it. Otherwise, we’re in danger of succumbing to style over substance.

Slideshare

I was already using Slideshare as a way of maintaining current awareness and generating ideas. I have emailed/shared some useful Slideshare presentations for reference purposes. However, I won’t be using Slideshare to upload or disseminate any of my own work. As this blog post shows: I have yet to develop the necessary skills.

Somlai-Fischer, A. 'How To Create a Great Prezi'  2011,  Available at: http: //prezi.com/recyyolzxm3e/how-to-create-a-great-prezi/ [Accessed 5/11/11]

Thing 16 - Advocacy: A View From The Ground

Working in a public library makes me keenly aware of this issue. Every local authority is experiencing cutbacks to its library services and library closures/campaigns are a constant theme in the local and national news. I love my job and have always valued the public library service and so, of course, I will stand up for what we do.

I’m an advocate for public libraries because I observe that they still have value and relevance in our modern world. Day to day, I deal with customers who value our services and gain benefit from using them. We assist them by signposting council services, supporting their education and providing a ‘safe’ venue for community events.

My form of advocacy involves me being an active 'salesperson' for our services. To list a few examples:

·         Informing children about our online reference service: a very useful  homework resource!

·         Promoting Bookstart and RhymeTime to new mothers.

·         Guiding a novice user to a free Beginners IT taster session.

·         Telling an au pair about ‘Conversation Café’: a library run event for people learning English.

I keep up-to-date with Voices For The Library  and have blogged/Facebook linked the website. I’m not sure if my advocacy has ever merged with activism, however, I’ve signed and promoted a few library petitions if this counts.

I would hope that I am able to speak up my profession if called on to do so. To be an effective 21^st century public librarian requires that you be both a ‘problem solver’ and  an‘ideas person’. In fact, this is surely the case for LIS professionals from all sectors.

On the issue of writing and publishing. I enjoy the whole process of self-reflective writing and practice and even the tricky business of academic writing. Immersing myself in blogging and writing has given me the confidence to pursue this as a future goal.

Thing 15 - Attending Events: Get With The Programme!

I've never attended a LIS conference before, but was interested to read Jo Alcock's tips for making the most of the conference experience. I'm aware of the annual LILAC and Umbrella conferences and realise how important these are for sharing professional knowledge and best practice. One of my colleagues attended Umbrella 2011 and reported that it was a great opportunity for networking with LIS professionals from different sectors.

I am a Skills For Life champion and am passionate about information literacy. Attending a conference such as LILAC would be great opportunity to meet like-minded librarians and an gain an international, cross-sector perspective on information literacy education. I aim to draw up a list of the costs/benefits to both me and my employer of me attending a conference. There are many cost implications here!

I won't be organising or presenting at an event just yet: what a daunting prospect! I feel I should focus on further building up my skills and expeiences and most importantly: how to articulate my ideas and experiences to make them interesting and relevant to viewers and listeners.

Thing 14 - Online Referencing Tools

I work in a public library which is next door to an expanding university campus and this has resulted in increasing numbers of students using our services. Maintaining an awareness of online referencing tools
should enable me to better serve this group. Once again, thank-you CPD23.


I chose to focus on Mendeley and Cite U Like for this weeks review. I realised from the outset that it would involve a bit of a time investment and might be complicated. Unfortunately, I'm not a whizz with new technology and I expect to learn by trial and error.


Although I didn't explore Zotero, I found a useful screencast on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-55EyEWT61U) which covers the basic features.


According to product comparison and reviews: Mendeley (http://www.mendeley.com/) tops the list for referencing software. I found using it be reasonably straightforward, partly as a result of the excellent help pages. The interface is easy on the eye and above all easy to navigate. I experienced a few problems with the 'Import Web Pages' feature: my pop-up settings were the culprit. However, I've now added a few PDFs and managed to customise the styles and settings. I'll explore this a bit more later.


I can see why Cite U Like (http://www.citeulike.org/) could be named 'the Delcious for academics'. The main benefit is that you can access the service from any web browser - no timeconsuming software downloads! Furthermore, I found the CiteGeist feature (http://www.citeulike.org/citegeist?days=7) potentially useful for current awareness. This feature gives you a list of the most popular, current journal articles being read and circulated. I managed to retrieve this detailed report on Web 2.0 risks/benefits and libraries: http://opus.bath.ac.uk/15260/3/author-version.pdf

Thing 13 - Dropbox, Google Docs and Wikis

This week has been a crash course in online file sharing. The knowledge I’ve gained may prove useful in future, however, in my current job role I don’t need to send or share large documents.  If Dropbox had been around when I was at university, I’d have definitely made use of it for group presentation work.

I much prefer using Dropbox to GoogleDocs. I found Dropbox very user friendly and easy to install. The fact that it has a secure encryption to protect your files is an important selling point.

GoogleDocs has a nice range of templates for letters, forms and CVs and I’d rather use this feature than the file sharing option. I’m sure the Google corporation is tracking my every move as I try out yet another Google product. BigGoogle is watching us all: that’s the reality now it seems.

On the topic of wikis: I have used them as a reference source rather than contributing to one. The Local Government Library Technology wiki (http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/Home) provides tech news updates for those working in UK public libraries.

I've enjoyed learning about the Library Routes wiki (http://libraryroutesproject.wikkii.com/wiki/Main_Page)
and will inform my colleagues about this.

Thing 12 - Summing up Social Media

Before I started on CPD23 I had a very limited experience of using social media. My librarianship MA had introduced me to tag clouds and tagging as part of the Information Architecture module and talking to fellow students who worked in HE libraries, I was able to appreciate how a social media tool, such as wiki, could be used to update and share information.

CPD23 was the catalyst for me to explore social media in depth. The course has enabled me to get to grips with the technology by experimenting with using it myself. This has been a fun journey of discovery and my learning has been aided by the professional knowledge and experience of the CPD23 team and other CPD23 bloggers. Evidently, the main benefit of social media is that it enables this kind of knowledge sharing; where people from diverse backgrounds can come together online and broaden the debate.

CPD23 is a good example of social media fostering a ‘community of practice’ ( see Smith, M. K. (2003, 2009) 'Communities of practice', the encyclopedia of informal education, www.infed.org/biblio/communities_of_practice.htm. ) rather than simply a sense of community.

However, as is the case in any type of community: there will be people on the margins and people who are exluded for different reasons. In the context of social media and CPD, a person needs to actively engage with the social media tools in order to fully participate in the community endeavour (innovating our services and professional practice).

I will continue to use social media in my personal/professional life because if I don’t I will risk excluding myself from the debate . The technology is rapidly changing and the list of tools, apps and widgets ever growing. Of course, not all these social media tools will be useful or relevant to my life, but in order to make a critical judgement I must ensure I am up-to-date with the technology and engaged with the process.

Thing 11 - Making the Most of Mentoring

As a ‘mentee’, do I have the right attitude? Well, firstly, I'm willing to concede that mentoring will play a key role in my CPD. Secondly, I will ensure I cultivate the following qualities:

• The proactive approach. Seeking out new opportunities, asking questions, and crucially - ‘participating’. 
• Openness to criticism and feedback of all kinds. What can I learn from this?
• Reciprocity. The idea of mentoring as a two-way process for which I cite this article as providing the inspiration: http://library.ttu.edu/about/facility/face/entries/social_sciences/PDF/Syma.pdf   Hopefully, I can also contribute something in terms of knowledge and skills.
• Observation and enquiry. Where are there gaps in my knowledge? How might a more experienced colleague approach this situation?

I've already approached someone I feel will be an ideal mentor. This won’t be a formal, structured thing and I am respectful of my colleague’s busy schedule. I’m a great believer in learning by osmosis; observing and ‘mirroring’ someone’s positive qualities can go a long way. To sum up my thoughts on this topic: my approach to mentoring will open and flexible.

Thing 10 - My Path To Becoming A LIS Professional

This is a brief account of how I came to work in public libraries…

Once upon a time, there was a gentle, sensitive boy who read his way through all the Enid Blyton books in his local public library. This boy liked the public library because he was an avid reader and had access to a wide selection of children’s books. Books opened up new worlds to this boy and allowed him to see different perspectives and experiences that he would otherwise not have encountered.

When this boy was at secondary school, he helped out in the school library sometimes during lunchbreaks. This gave him some idea of how a library was organised and run, enabling him to appreciate the care and attention to detail which was involved. The school librarian was knowledgeable about books and computers and taught the boy that there was more than one way to approach a homework task.

After leaving sixth form college, the boy applied to work in a public library. He still retained his naïve impressions of what library work involved and these impressions would change sharply in the coming years. The boy was thrust into a busy central library where he encountered challenging situations and demanding customers; where every working day was different and varied. Furthermore, his daily experiences instilled in the boy a dedication and commitment to public service; leading him to value the work of professional librarians and want to undertake further vocational training.

This boy was me and I'm a very different person now from that shy, callow 21 year old starting out in public libraries. I always felt that this was the right profession for me and my instinct proved correct. I discovered that I enjoyed the challenges of frontline customer service and responding to the diversity of enquiries/requests that you get in a public library. It has trained me to think laterelly and to problem solve: very useful transferable skills!

I have retained my commitment and enthusiasm for public libraries and this is the reason I studied for my MA in Information Services Management. Moreover, this professional commitment was the reason I took part in CPD23 and I intend to use the valuable skills gained from CPD23, namely self-reflective practice, when I embark on CILIP chartership in the near future.

I have gained many insights during my seven years of frontline library service and I aim to draw on this experience to contribute to the future development of library services.

Thing 8 and 9 - Organised and Online

I was already using Google calender at work; our CV adviser and archives department both use it as a booking system for customers. I like the way it sends you an email reminder about upcoming appointments; very useful for those odd memory lapses!


I now have Google calender set up as part of my Google account. I appreciate being able to access Google calender on any computer with an internet connection, unlike the Microsoft Outlook calender. However, I'll still be scribbling in my desk diary which I carry everywhere and which serves as a notebook/journal as well. 


I briefly explored Evernote and its key features. Personally, I don't think I'll use it. I don't spend enough time online, reviewing websites etc. to reap the benefits of this online organiser. 
I think that Evernote's scanning feature is its main selling point. I will keep this in mind if I recommend Evernote to a colleague.

Thing 7 - LIS Professional Networks

I joined CILIP briefly when I was doing my library master’s degree and am rather indebted to CILIP Update, the CILIP journal, for providing inspiration before job interviews and course presentations.

CILIP chartership is a long-term goal for me, and hopefully when I’ve improved my self-reflective writing (thank-you CPD23!) I’ll be more ready to embark on this journey.

I feel it’s important to have a balance between online networking and the face-to-face kind. Both these kinds of networking will develop slightly different skills. Online networking can appear artificial and impersonal because we can heavily edit our responses and profiles, whereas with face-to-face communication you will have to think ‘on the spot’. I definitely want to develop both skill sets.

I’m keeping an eye on the LISNPN events page (http://www.lisnpn.spruz.com/events.htm) in anticipation of the next LISNPN meet-up. Another possibility is joining the LIKE network (http://www.likenews.org.uk/). This has a very diverse membership and might provide a good opportunity for broadening my mind. After seven years working in local government I need to break out the beaurocratic mode!

---

Thing 6 - Social Networks - A Profersonal Approach

I try and limit my use of Facebook because I’ve found it’s easy to be sucked into the world of online chat, particularly, when Facebook sends you those little emails alerting you when someone has updated their page. I’ve always been careful about what I say online and wouldn’t be ashamed if my employer did check. I often use the Facebook links on a webpage to 'share' a library related article or website with colleagues, meaning the line between personal and profession is often blurred.

The‘Voices For The Library’ (http://www.facebook.com/voicesforthelibrary) Facebook page is definitely worth a visit. Whatever you think about Facebook; it remains the most well known and popular social networking site and therefore has huge potential as a marketing tool. 

I’ve not used LinkedIn before. It gives the impression of being a very formal professional network where you promote your CV. I don’t think I’m important enough to have a LinkedIn profile and so have decided to look into some of the other professional networks.

The LISNPN network seems both more 'friendly' and informal and is, I feel, better suited to new professionals like me. Furthermore, one of my Barnet Library colleagues has just registered and we’ll be able to keep in touch. The LISNPN discussion pages seem very lively and informative. I’ve created a profile and introduced myself. I’ll definitely be using LISNPN as part of my CPD.

Thing 5 - Reflections on Self-Reflection

I have never used self-reflective writing or self-reflective practice in either my work or study. I touched on the topic when researching my dissertationon library staff training, but never explored it in much depth.

I realised that I needed to do a lot of reading on the topic of self-reflective practice in order to understand both the benefits and pitfalls of the process. I would say I'm self-critical rather than self-reflective and I need to develop the skill of self-reflective writing. I think it is important to define what is meant by the term 'self-reflective writing' and so I refer to Moon's (2007) explanation of 'self-reflective writing' as: "Description, but it is focused, with particular aspects accentuated for reflective comment. Shows some analysis, some selfquestioning".
I will use a simple framework for my self-reflection and have decided that Rolfe's (2001) three questions: 

• What?
• So What?
• What now?

will enable me to grasp the lessons from a situation and proactively apply what I have learnt. Furthermore, I will make use of the feedback loop to make the process of self-reflection more constructive. Artherton (2011) highlights that self-reflection is in danger of becoming 'self-justification' without the constructive feedback from a peer or mentor. 


It was interesting reading the comments on this topic from other CPD23 bloggers. I agree that self-reflection is a private matter and each person has their own preferred method. I have also found writing a self-reflective blog post to be quite 
challenging. However, I won't be abandoning the process because I can envision a future payoff for developing this skill.
I aim to continue with blogging after I complete CPD23. Hopefully, by then I will have developed my writing skills and will be able to write more creatively and insightfully. I would like to contribute to the ideas stream and blogging could be a way of doing this.




Atherton J S (2011) Learning and Teaching; Critical Reflection [On-line: UK] retrieved 22 November 2011 from http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/critical1.htm

J.Moon, Getting the measure of reflection: Considering matters of definition and depth, Journal of
Radiotherapy in Practice 6(4) (2007), 191–200.

Rolfe G, Freshwater D, Jasper M. Critical Reflection in Nursing and the Helping Professions: a User’s Guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan; 2001 

Thing 4 - Tweets and Things

I was a bit of a Twitter sceptic and came to it with a number of misconceptions. Admittedly, I had no
previous experience of it on which to base an opinion. Completing this week's 'thing' now means I am much more clued up.


I have opened my Twitter account, made my first tentative 'tweet' and reflected on the usefulness of this communication tool. I'll be using Twitter for news updates: keeping abreast of what's happening in the library world and for sharing news and ideas.


I'm pleased to have Google reader as part of my Google account. RSS feeds will also be useful for updates. However, I will to be selective in what I subscribe to. With so much possible reading material out there, the prospect of information overload looms large.

Someone will need to convince me about Pushnote. I liked Stephen Fry's cheery demonstration on the website, but how is giving something a star rating useful in a professional context? I daresay it might just be my ignorance. I have not signed up and will hold judgement on this one.

Thing 3 - What's My Brand?

This is proving a very interesting topic for me. I browse through some of the links on the 'recommended reading' section in order to get a flavour of the arguments. I want to find some different definitions of what a 'brand' is and find one which feels right for me.

I find that I agree with the following concepts

• Brand as 'reputation': http://practicallibrarian.blogspot.com/2011/05/manage-your-brand-as-librarian.html
• Merging the personal and professional: http://jasonseiden.com/the-profersonal-manifesto/
• Integrity and intent: http://hhibner.blogspot.com/2011/04/integrity-and-intent.html

I put my name in Google and am not surprised by what I find. I have so far not had an online presence.
I aim to be cautious and consistent here and am grateful to the CPD23 team for providing helpful tips.

Thing 2 - Entering the Library Blogosphere

After yesterday's reading, I have chosen a blog on which to leave comments. 

I am in general agreement with the blogger's point of view and feel I can 'connect', if this is the right word. 

I spend about 15 minutes carefully wording my comment and am rather disappointed when it fails to post. A message appears saying "waiting for comment to be approved". I must admit that I'm clueless about this. I wait, then log off and check the blog again later. Needless to say, the comment I posted is not there.

Oh well...if in doubt refer to a dummies guide. Here is the useful blog which cured my ignorance...

This is what I did.: How to comment on a blog - a beginners guide

Thing 1 - Getting Started

Here is a little bit about me..


I'm a library assistant working in a busy London library. I've worked in public libraries for seven years and can say from experience that they are diverse, interesting and challenging places to work. I always felt drawn to librarianship and feel I have made the right career choice. I am embarking on CPD23 in order to fully utilise social media in my professional practice. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together with LIS professionals from all sectors and share our knowledge and experience.

I am a keen lifelong learner, albeit, one who has gained much of their skills and knowledge on the job. Since graduating in September 2010, my aim is to progress to a management role within public libraries. I aim to use social networking to become more actively involved in library advocacy. This is, I feel, I vitally important issue for all LIS professionals as we face cutbacks in our services and the need to justify our existence/shout about what we do.


This blog is a very personal, reflective online journal which I fear might become a boring series of ramblings. I'll admit that I'm very new to blogging and social media in general. My first foray into online social networking was setting up a Facebook account last year.


My aim is to chart this steep learning curve and to become a tech savvy, 21st Century librarian. The first step was to set up this blog, which I have achieved without too much blundering. I am not sure whether blogger.com is the best tool for me and will look into the alternatives over the next few days.


The process of blog writing is clunky and laboured: a result of my rusty report writing skills and poorly developed self-reflective practice! I intend to learn from my peers and have read through some of the blogs on the 23 Things Delicious page. With hundreds of blogs to choose, I click on the those with the quirky titles first. I am very impressed by how slick and professional, interesting and informative most of these blogs are. Later on I do some more systematic reading.  It is inspiring to see how many highly intelligent, creative and dynamic individuals are contributing to our profession.