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!

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