Making Headlines
This month’s CILIP Update (February 2012, page 36) features an article on the meteoric rise and success of #UKLibChat so far. The article can be found by launching the digital version of the magazine here: http://www.cilip.org.uk/publications/update-magazine/Pages/default.aspx
Whilst the article is accessible to CILIP members only, we are beavering away behind the scenes to bring you the summaries to the last three chats to ensure that there is plenty of freely accessible writing from the #UKLibChat team keep you entertained!
Cataloguing and Classification – 23rd February
So the last chat went well, and for the next one, we want to talk about cataloguing and classification. What does it mean to modern libraries? How are they developing and how can we use them in the various contexts that we work in or want to work in? I’m excited, as this is a topic that interests me personally, and I hope you will be too. As usual, we have an agenda on Google Docs here. Please add any questions you have.
The chat will be on the 23rd February at 6.30-8.30pm. Hope to see you there.
Summary: 9th Feb 2012 National Libraries Day
With National Libraries Day
Freshly packed away
A reflection on the events
Would provide feedback and comments
The twitter chat was well attended
And many libraries commended
Some could have been (a lot) better
Suggestions came unfettered
Many tweeters were keen
to say what could be done for
NLD2013
Many thanks to all who joined in!
I will ado no further
And give way to our #uklibchat summary…
__
Q1. What did your [local] library do for National Libraries Day?
- Small rural-ish local library gave free entry into a £50 draw for introducing friends to the library, plus a 2 for 1 booksale. (@kathleenoneill)
- Local library had a storytelling event. Various offers like fine amnesty, free DVD borrowing etc. (@sarahcchilds)
- No special events (@usernametaken10)
- Nothing extra, very disappointing (@niamhpage)
- Hereford had visits by poets Roz Goddard, Adam Horowith and writer Tiffany Murray. County had several events. There were also #nld12 postcards asking people what they loved about their library and vouchers for introductions (@katywrathall)
- The Denby Dale library @kirkleeslibrary didn’t organise, but @bikerbid helped organised a Friends group @FODDLib to help save it.
- Library quiz to win £10 book token. Author Cathy Brett visited Dorking library for chat & cakes. Other libraries in Surrey held a Dragonese party (which was about vikings and dragons) ow.ly/8Yx8s (@ggnewed)
- Dragonese info http://howtotrainyourdragonbooks.com/funstuff/writedragonesse/ (@katywrathall)
- No sign of National Libraries Day promotion at the British Library (@ggnewed)
- Friends were encouraged to put up NLD12 posters and bring neighbours/relatives into library. Not many took it up in local branch (@suzangriffiths)
- Local public library did not acknowledge NLD12 (@idhunter22)
@idhunter22 made a display for the library that included staff views on libraries bit.ly/xTYFhr
- There 300-400 National Libraries Day events on the NLD website, and some people included events in Spain and Norway (@usernametaken10)
- Former local library did nothing (@yalibraryuk)
- Local library did nothing. (@mediavaljenga)
- Bournemouth libraries had quite a few activities http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/leisureculturelibraries/libraries/nationallibrariesday2012.pdf (@selharris)
- Nothing happened in Kent, but Salisbury library was buzzing (@libwithattitude)
- Nothing happened in local libraries (@agentk23)
- Shropshire had a brilliant day, asked people to fill out love hearts (@mardixon)
Q2. What did you do personally for National Libraries Day?
- @ggnewed organised a librarithon visiting many libraries in London ow.ly/8YwLo
- @suzangriffiths put up a copy of a Julia Donaldson poem tgr.ph/xaWnY4 in local library, photocopied Friends docs and requested books online.
- @kathleenoneill took part in the #nldshoogle library crawl in Glasgow and visited small local library to borrow books. Tried new audio books sections for the first time, lots of Kate Atkinson. Mentally wrote a blog and took photos of signage and displays. Tweeted, Facebooked and wrate blog post in preparation for the day.
- @bikerbid ran a launch of @FODDlib and got 50 signatures to resist ‘community-run’ library as it’s not known what that will mean.
- @yalibraryuk mostly tweeted and blogged encouragement to others.
- @sarahcchilds went to Leicester Central Lending Library and picked up reservations. Also gave staff a very well deserved cake.
- @idhunter22 made a display for the library that included staff views on libraries bit.ly/xTYFhr , next year it will include student views.
- @calire went to new library to take photos, ended up working there all day as 2000 people came through the doors.
- @usernametaken10 visited new libraries in Southwark and Hackney. Visited the British Library and Whitechapel Idea Store for author event.
- @mediavaljenga spent day reading library books and publicised s much possible online about events to those she knew could attend.
- @Mmitscotland wrote and article for MmIT Scotland blog ‘5 reasons why we really need librarians in the Internet age’! tinyurl.com/7ykqz9r
- @preater visited the new library in Hackney for free books and the awesome Itenerant Poetry Library which popped up in Haringey.
Q.3. What did you think of the coverage for National Libraries Day?
- There was a definite increase in coverage in local and national newspapers in the run up to NLD (@ggnewed)
- Didn’t see any coverage except for on Twitter but may have just missed it all. (@mediavaljenga)
- @yorkshirepost did good coverage on Friday but nothing about events post NLD12 (@bikerbid)
- Scottish press picked up on it well in fortnight leading up to the day, in paper and on radio. Even @BBCradioscot music [had a?] show about reading. Everything was supportive of libraries and librarians, but cannot recall any comments form high-profile politicians. Lots people have mentioned Channel 4 News Coverage. Learnt about the ‘The Library Book” on sale to support @readingagency (@kathleenonneil)
- Saw quite a it the national news and online. @Calire’s mum also heard about it, but not sure from where (@calire)
- There was quite a bit in the press. Guardian: Julian Barnes wrote an update of England England etc (@tomroper)
- There were borrowed book data articles on Saturday even if National Libraries Day was not mentioned. And there were some local paper coverage bit.ly/zaBqKp (@suzangriffiths)
- Seemed to be more coverage of Save Our Libraries Day last year than NLD this year. More about highlighting cuts then. (@ggnewed)
Side question of how did National Libraries Day occur?
NLD12 is virtual and organic (@bikerbid)
National Libraries Day is a team effort with no single organisation or persons in charge. (usernametaken10)
CILIP deserves credit for running harder than most with the idea (@mickfortune)
People downloaded leaflets and posters from the website. www.nationallibrariesday.org.uk/share-it/ (@idhunter22)
One library service has support of corporate comms who let the press know (@ggnewed)
Womens Institute heavily promoted it, possibly even on Alan Titchmarsh show (needs to be checked) (@kathleenoneill)
Full list of supporters here: http://nationallibrariesday.org.uk/supporters/ (@usernametaken10)
Q4. Did National Libraries Day promotions reach non-users or mainly users/librarians? Who is the current target audience (if any)?
- Intention in Cambs (Cambridge?) was to draw in non-users. Not data on results (@suzangriffiths)
- Kent appeared to have made decision NOT to make an effort for National Libraries Day and issued staff instruction to that effect (@mickfortune)
- Introduction vouchers were aimed at users who were introducing new users and a lot of campaign seemed aimed at non-users too (@katywrathall)
- Library seemed busy than normal in Glasgow, suggesting non-users, but does not know the normal figures for Saturdays. It may have reached some non-users but most people coming in seemed to know their way around. Maybe appealed most to those who hadn’t been in in a while. More of a presence at the library entrances would have helped get in non-users most library entrances seemed as normal, except for NLD12 posters (@kathleenoneill)
- Library was emptier than normal, probably because the computers were down (@agentk23)
Q5. What were the most effective and least effective aspects of National Libraries Day? What worked, what failed?
- No evidence but, fines and book amnesties may be effective in encouraging users back to pub libs. (@usernametaken10, @kathleenoneill) @YAlibraryuk agree that it’s always very popular.
- @orkneylibrary Body in the Library Twitter thing sounded like an effective idea. (@mmitscotland)
Q6. Would you like to see libraries from a wider variety of sectors participate in National Libraries Day? [And do what?]
- Most people still think of it as public library based. (@ggenwed) NLD is still thought of as being a public library thing, and the focus of NLD (in the media) does not dispel this. (@agentk23)
- @kathleenoneill would love to see academic libraries involved especially with schoolkids to make them more comfortable with the space before they start. National Libraries have to get involved. Rare book events such as those held in British Library are good crowd pleasers with experts on hand.
- Campaigners/users @FOGlibraries organised loads of events in Gloucestershire libraries and had great turn out (@ggnewed)
- It’d be great if other kinds of libraries held an open day for the public (@agentk23, @yalibraryuk, @kathleenoneill) @usernametaken10 has received feedback suggesting this is not easy to do. Issues such as convincing senior staff, health and safety worries, and worries about theft of stock were mentioned.
- Teeside uni held an open day (@bikerbid) There were poetry readings, library trail, children’s activities, recommendations by staff and tea and cake (@lizjolly)
- St George’s Medical School library did a pop-up library to mark NLD (@tomroper) [Though it was not on the day itself]
- @calire is hoping to involved all libraries in the city next year, public/uni/college etc. Plymouth coordinates through the Learning through Libraries Group @ggenewed and @bikerbid believe that a coordinated local effort/ joined up action is a good idea.
- There were displayed in FE colleges and schools, and possibly Cardiff university (@katywrathall)
- Maybe have displays about public libraries vs academic libraries (@yalibraryuk)
- Corporate libraries could let staff ‘borrow a librarian’ Perhaps they can visit them at their desk and teach them something? (@usernametaken) Library swaps (@agentk23). @kathleenoneill suggested t-shirts for librarians with datestamp space on them!
- However (@tinareynolds) pointed out the Saturdays would not work for Libraries that work weekdays 9-5 and this would also apply to schools, and professional stuff in universities. Her library also does not allow for external people on the working floor.
- @ggnewed suggest that National Libraries Week would help overcome the cases of libraries that do not operate on Saturdays.
- @kathleenoneill mentioned that smaller libraries such as poetry libraries might find it difficult to host events. How would extra help be paid for?
- @Kathleenoneill suggests offering the chance to spend day working in library. E.g. children running children’s section.
- @jonathanmcshane suggests twinning libraries.
- @deadlylibrarian suggested the idea of taken food in lieu of fines. It could be done across country and food can be donated to the community. @kathleenoneill added Food Not Fines could be great in the run up to Christmas (food parcels for homeless).
- @stjerome1st had a public library staff member in a display during induction week. And it was much appreciated on both sides. @tinareynolds believes law firms and similar places could do something with that idea, as she knows of few that have a bring your own fiction section.
Question 7. What long-term effects do you think events like National Libraries Day have (if any)?
- Foundation for advocacy (@bikerbid)
- Keep users/non-users aware of what libraries can offer and increase use, but media needs to be behind it too.
Question 8. What events would you like to see happen next year?
- @Kathleenoneill
- Performances, like the dance routine by the department of library and information science in the University of Delhi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-OAsF9uRfc
- Readathons
- Book reenactments for kids, with a dressing up box available.
- @ggenewed suggested input and support from Arts Council England to help increase coverage and maybe provide ACE funding
- @yalibraryuk wanted to see
- groups of roving librarians, roving librarians doing outreach?
- bigger library crawls
- more library themed events outside of buildings
- pop-up libraries
- @stephthorpeuk gave a link to #libcampnw session on pop-up libraries bit.ly/wAAzD0
- @bikerbid would like to see
- political involvement
- talking to communities in public libraries
- A BBC Question Time on library issues (the other sort)
___
The twitter session was great and brought out a lot of good ideas for National Libraries Day! Hopefully these can be taken on board to make next year’s National Library Day bigger and better!
Ka-Ming
Agenda 9th Feb 2012: National Libraries Day
The agenda for Thursday 9th February 2012 is up!
We will be discussing National Libraries Day. Did your library do anything? Was it a success? What more could be done?
Our new agenda is now live. On the 26th Jan we will be getting to grips with professional bodies – what makes them tick, what makes you join and what is their purpose (and much more!).
Please add questions in the usual way to our agenda here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ioMSKHM0anU08EAdXiLxDJJqoi4AZHRqVQIzKltjrBQ/edit?hl=en_US and we look forward to chatting with you then!
Agenda – 26th Jan – Professional Bodies
Our new agenda is now live. On the 26th Jan we will be getting to grips with professional bodies – what makes them tick, what makes you join and what is their purpose (and much more!).
Please add questions in the usual way to our agenda here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QHncug34Ni9rkvOqm-gv2rPHhXxJotlb-dCAgirzyGs/edit and we look forward to chatting with you then!
Summary Part 2: 3rd November – Library School
7. Which is more highly valued by employers: qualifications or experience?
- Experience is valued over qualifications – even if experience is not in libraries (@ggnewed)
- Lots of years doesn’t necessarily mean enhanced performance (@jwebbery)
- Qualifications still incorporated into interview point scoring system at workplace (@jwebbery)
- Seems like whatever you have they don’t need, whatever you don’t have they need (@richardveevers)
- Qualification gets you to interview stage but your skills and experience more important than qualification (@Readyourbook, @ostephens, @joeyanne, @halfpricechamp)
- Qualification gives you advantage if you both have the experience – it’s very competitive (@EmmaBettyHughes, @Sonja_Kujansuu, @Library_Karen)
- Some posts don’t require or reward qualifications – but now in a job where qualification is needed (@call_me_cathy)
- Qualifications no longer required at current workplace – value experience and capabilities (@JoLibrariAnne, @shedsue)
- Can be both. Have appointed less experienced people because of greater knowledge, skills, abilities (@jwebbery)
- Even if you lack professional experience, don’t underestimate the respect that having done a graduate traineeship will get you (@sarahcchilds)
- Employers don’t ask about qualifications at interview – they ask about experience (@usernametaken10)
- The old saying ‘recruit for attitude, train for skills’ which is true even in the context of fair recruitment (@liz_jolly via @prossian)
- Not usually awarded job on basis of degree mark but can make a difference (@jwebbery)
- Qualifications are important but continuing professional CPD is essential (@JeanetteCastle)
8. What can a new graduate offer an employer that an experienced candidate cannot in an increasingly competitive job market?
- Employers may perceive them to be more enthusiastic (@sarahcchilds, @KrisWJ)
- Employers may perceive them to be more technologically proficient (@sarahcchilds)
- Employers may perceive them to be more flexible (@sarahcchilds)
- Question things others may take for granted (@booleanberry, @ggnewed)
- New graduates might come with more current background academic knowledge on librarianship (@Sonja_Kujansuu)
- We all bring individual skills & experience to what we do. Newly qualified doesn’t mean inexperienced (@ostephens)
- New professionals are very high calibre at the moment compared to recent years (@jwebbery)
9. For those that are not “new professionals” – how do you view the course now compared to when you took it?
- Quit Aberystwyth Bachelors degree in 2009 as it felt outdated – this may have changed (@JoLibrariAnne)
- UCL (2006-2008) – mixed feelings – polarised over good and bad bits. Want more computing and theory of information etc. (@girlinthe)
- Manchester Metropolitan (1999). HR, management, web content, using library, writing website all good. Cataloguing dull(@shedsue)
- Impression is that they still lack decent computing element (@ostephens). Although @PaulaGoodale and @dgtherunner pointed put that few choose techy options that are available
- Many lack cataloguing and classification (@ggnewed)
10. For those that are not “new professionals” – do you notice any skill gaps that you think those leaving library school have?
- Sometimes wonder if there’s much focus on customer service - the job is as much about communication as about organization (@kathryntyne)
11. How do you think the fee changes will affect the future of the profession? Will people still do MAs?
- Distance and part-time learning will be more popular (@Sonja_Kujansuu)
- I’m not sure the fee changes will really have much of an effect, as students pay it back when working (@jothelibrarian)
12. Has anyone taken part in #hacklibschool? http://hacklibschool.wordpress.com/about/
- Haven’t done #hacklibschool but would love to. Given fees and need for greater edge, want to make most of being a student (@booleanberry)
- Read blog and might write Aberystwyth review after graduating (@Sonja_Kujansuu)
13. Any tips on writing a statement or applying for library school?
- Get as many people to read it as possible (@sarahcchilds)
- Be honest and enthusiastic about your passions (@girlinthe, @booleanberry, @Jothelibrarian)
- Even if you haven’t got library experience, look for transferable skills from elsewhere (@Library_Karen)
- Be very clear about why you want to do the course and what you think you will get out of it (@PaulaGoodale)
- Why don’t they teach practical cataloguing skills in some library schools and what is the best way to learn this if you want to go into cataloguing?
- Learning cataloguing skills by volunteering – e.g. museum sector, public libraries or charities (@JoLibrariAnne, @MyWeeklyBook, @Library_Karen, @sarahcchilds)
- Started cataloguing at work before library school as knew it was part of course, it helped having that background (@KrisWJ)
- Cat & class helps me consider usability, organisation, theory, etc (@booleanberry)
- Bowman’s Essential Cataloguing is approachable as a text with lots of examples (@booleanberry, @jothelibrarian) http://t.co/1mEL8kYY
- Shadowing (@KrisWJ)
- Courses e.g. ASLIB (@ellyob)
15. What did you write your dissertation on? How did you decide topic? Any advice for people trying to come up with topic?
- Interested in doing dissertation on digitisation or portal design (@MyWeeklyBook)
- Wanted to do dissertation on information literacy in the workplace (@JoLibrariAnne)
- Interested in doing dissertation on something rare books related, but unsure how specific to make it (@Sonja_Kujansuu)
- Catalogue use of rare books as potential topic (@girlinthe)
- Ethics – had good project design and was interested in topic (@call_me_cathy)
- User generated tagging of oral history archives (@KrisWJ)
- The use of virtual reality to provide information (1993-4) -wanted to show info was more than just words. Interesting how augmented reality has moved to mobile phones (@ggnewed)
- Wrote dissertation about history and development of the project I worked on, learned a lot about qualitative research & interviewed a CBE & KBE (@ellyob)
- Advise not to work 2 jobs at the same time as trying to write dissertation! (@call_me_cathy)
- Plan ahead – especially if you will need a placement, make the contacts and form working relationships asap (@MyWeeklyBook)
- Choose something you love (@joeyanne, @PaulaGoodale, @jothelibrarian, @ellyob)
- Don’t relate to a work project if there’s any chance the project will be delayed or stop altogether (@joeyanne)
- Really enjoyed doing it.. Supervisors just let me get on with it, as I was having so much fun! (@jothelibrarian)
- Pick the right supervisor (@MyWeeklyBook, @jothelibrarian)
- Treat it like a job and get it done (@jothelibrarian)
- Try reading about topics of interest, I found ideas start to take form once you’re looking at related literature out there (@KrisWJ)
- Doesn’t necessarily need to relate to current or future job (@joeyanne)
16. Do you have any advice on making the transition to a professional position?
- Make use of university careers service (@call_me_cathy)
- Use any and all experience you have from library jobs or anything else (@call_me_cathy)
- Networking (@call_me_cathy)
Other points:
- Suggestion to ask for study leave if you’re working (@kirsty_thomson)
Information about courses and qualifications:
- At Loughborough you get to design Information Literacy intervention
- Very little practical cataloguing and classification at Aberystwyth
- CPD route at Shefieldf you can do - ’independent studies’ on any subject (@PaulaGoodale)
- Glasgow course accredited by CILIP and archives body
- Other points to note:
- Some employers now view NVQs as acceptable qualifications (@Readyourbook, @BhamLibrarian,)
- You can charter without doing information/library management qualification – called extraordinary route (@Kwiddows)
- Think about doing other non-library qualifications e.g. Project Management (@kwiddows)
Fees
- Berlin course is €5000 http://bit.ly/vZiahk
- University course in Boras, Sweden offers digital library course – no fees http://bit.ly/AlJPa6
- High fees can make you resent bad classes (@booleanberry)
- Beware fees going up after you have accepted offer (@booleanberry, @myweeklybook)
- Fees keep going up – though perhaps market will bring them down eventually (@MyWeeklyBook)
- Non-distance learning classes and full-time classes may die out (@MyWeeklyBook)
- Several people have had to drop out of course, or weren’t able to start them in the first place because of funding problems (@MyWeeklyBook, @stormfilled, @calire, @HemBem)
- Some had had some or all of their fees paid by employers but recognised that this was an increasingly rare option. Employers who have sponsored degrees: University of Cambridge, Oxford Libraries. Although this funding can be withdrawn (@joeyanne)
- Some had fees paid by bodies like SAAS and AHRC (@call_me_cathy, @kirsty_thomson)
Some universities believed not to charge more if it’s your second MA:
Summary Part 1: 3rd November – Library School
1.a. Which course did you do?
- Aberystwyth University – most were distance learning (@joeyanne, @Sonja_Kujansuu, @EmmaBettyHughes, @KrisWJ, @MariaJGrant) http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/dis/
- Berlin University – distance learning (@lisaburscheidt) http://bit.ly/vZiahk
- Brighton University (@DreamingEntity) http://www.brighton.ac.uk/cem/
- City University (@LindsayWallace) http://bit.ly/zeBO2N
- Loughborough University (@sarahcchilds, @stjerome1st) http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/
- Northumbria University(@halfpricechamp, @karenelainehall, @preater, @Library_Karen) http://bit.ly/ygsOsf
- Manchester Metropolitan University (@Library_Michael, @shedsue, @LFairie) http://bit.ly/oLAJHQ
- Robert Gordon University (_@kimguin) http://bit.ly/9Kvy1Y
- Sheffield University (@rachel_s_b) http://www.shef.ac.uk/is
- Strathclyde University (@call_me_cathy) http://www.strath.ac.uk/cis/
- University of Central England – now Birmingham City University (@MariaJGrant). Course no longer offered, now Evidence Base research facility http://www.ebase.bcu.ac.uk/
- University College London (@sphericalfruit, @Annie_Bob, @JenniferYellin, @usernametaken10, @Prossian, @ErikaDelbecque, @ellyob) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dis/
1.b. Why did you choose your course?
- Enjoyed graduate traineeship (@sarahcchilds)
- Location (@karenelainehall, @shedsue, @halfpricechamp, @Annie_Bob, @ErikaDelbecque, call_me_cathy)
- Low cost (@sarahcchilds, @Sonja_Kujansuu, @joeyanne))
- Tutors (@jothelibrarian)
- Chose course because it was accredited by CILIP (@DreamingEntity, @karenelainehall, @halfpricechamp, @KrisWJ)
- Required for current job (@Library_Michael)
- Required for future jobs/to progress in career (@Annie_Bob, @Rosie_Lake, @call_me_cathy)
- Working at the university already (@halfpricechamp)
- To have qualification to back up experience (@LindsayWallace)
- Distance learning meant learning in course could be applied in practice (@joeyanne)
- Distance learning meant I didn’t have to worry about being unemployed afterwards (@Sonja_Kujansuu)
- Accredited course – to help get work abroad (@Sarahmaule)
- Personal recommendations (@KrisWJ)
- Course content/module options (@jothelibrarian, @sarahcchilds, @Sonja_Kujansuu, @MariaJGrant, @Prossian, @ErikaDelbecque)
- Flexible – can study at own pace (@Sonja_Kujansuu)
- Guaranteed part-time work after traineeship (@sarahmaule)
- Reputation (@ErikaDelbecque)
- Liked the university/the place (@stjerome1st, @jothelibrarian)
- Traditional yet transferable skills (@ellyob)
2. What was the most useful thing you learned at Library School?
- Cataloguing and classification (@sarahcchilds, @ellyob, @Annie_Bob, @halfpricechamp, @usernametaken10, @KrisWJ, @MyWeeklyBook, @girlinthe, @booleanberry)
- How important it is to stay on top of advances in the field, policy making (@sarahmaule)
- Research skills (@sarahmaule, @halfpricechamp, @call_me_cathy, @JoLibrariAnne)
- Digital resources (@PaulaGoodale, @KrisWJ)
- Information Retrieval (@PaulaGoodale)
- Persistence (@joeyanne, @sarahmaule)
- Work placement (@halfpricechamp, @call_me_cathy)
- Web design (@LFairie, @usernametaken10, @sarahcchilds, @sarahmaule, @girlinthe, @ellyob, @jothelibrarian, @JoLibrariAnne)
- Management (@KrisWJ, @ellyob, @prossian, @ostephens)
- Dissertation (@jothelibrarian, @usernametaken10)
- Ethics (@call_me_cathy)
- Marketing (@call_me_cathy)
- Manuscript studies (@girlinthe)
- XHTML (@Prossian)
- Improved presentation skills (@usernametaken10)
- Being more user-friendly and doing things diffeently – Sandy Berman (@BhamLibrarian)
- Learning that it was about more than books (@ggnewed)
- Difficult to always get truth from information provided (@ggnewed)
- Competitive intelligence – useful for business information (@jothelibrarian) http://t.co/3ZxNcMTU http://t.co/nwCNbjzX
- Knowledge Management (@JoLibrariAnne)
- Learned skills and knowledge beyond work experience (@ellyob)
- @call_me_cathy pointed out that even though she hadn’t used all of the skills she’d learnt, she was still glad to have learnt about them
- @usernametaken10 said that doing the course prompted him to learn about Web 2.0 in own time, which helped him with job
3. What do you wish you’d learnt or had been different?
- Support for information literacy teaching and subject librarian skills (@BhamLibrarian, @KrisWJ, @kirsty_thomson, @joeyanne, @sarahmaule, @Lfairie, @ellyob, @prossian, @girlinthe, @halfpricechamp, @ggnewed, @call_me_cathy)
- Conference advice, e.g. networking (@joeyanne, @girlinthe)
- Writing for publication (@joeyanne, @MariaJGrant)
- Research skills (@MariaJGrant, @sarahmaule)
- Career planning (@MariaJGrant, @KrisWJ)
- Cataloguing – more practicals (@DreamingEntity, @Sonja_Kujansuu)
- More choice for part-time students (@ellyob)
- Better socialising opportunities for part-time students (@ellyob)
- More IT skills and advanced computing element e.g. web design, databases, VLEs, digital libraries (@shedsue, @JoLibrariAnne, @ostephens, @sarahmaule, @Sonja_Kujansuu)
- Reference interview skills (@kirsty_thomson)
- Keeping up to date (@girlinthe)
- Public libraries (@girlinthe, @sarahmaule)
- Marketing (@sarahmaule)
- Presentation skills (@Readyourbook)
- Advocacy – selling oneself and services (@Readyourbook)
- Budgeting (@call_me_cathy,@clinestar)
- Behaviour management (@call_me_cathy)
- Time management (@call_me_cathy)
- Personality types and communication at work, 360 assessment or similar could be added to mangement module (@jothelibrarian)
- More presentations (@jothelibrarian)
- Records management (@JoLibrariAnne)
Universities should offer stand-alone course as CPD (@JoLibrariAnne). Some already offer this e.g. Northumbria (?) Many, many others agreed with this suggestion – Ed.
4. Did you do a distance learning course? Were you satisfied with its quality?
Those who didn’t do distance learning:
- Many felt face-to-face contact was important, and it wouldn’t suit them. Potentially lonely (@booleanberry, @usernametaken10, @sarahcchilds, @jothelibrarian)
- Admire distance learning students – they work the hardest (@sarahmaule)
- Studying full-time can distance you from the library world – volunteering is helpful (@Prossian)
Those who did distance learning courses:
- Concerned about learning alone but doing well so far (@EmmaBettyHughes)
- Good to be able to apply learning (@joeyanne, @JoLibrariAnne)
- Was a little disappointed as content outdated (@joeyanne, @Sonja_Kujansuu)
- Not much online support e.g. webinars (@joeyanne, @KrisWJ)
- Poor online communication though this is variable (@joeyanne, @KrisWJ)
- Poor feedback, slow response time (@joeyanne, @Sonja_Kujansuu)
- Happy with course despite poor reputation for distance learning. Difficult to compare the two (@preater)
- Assignments can be vague with little guidance – not sure if you’re writing the right thing (@Sonja_Kujansuu)
- A few admin problems but never felt unsupported (@preater)
- Big plus is working at same time, relief to have job security. Supportive boss is very important (@KrisWJ)
- Tutors good so far but online help from fellow students also great (@Library_Karen)
- Really helpful, good online community, interesting modules (@_kimguin)
- Need to be motivated (@joeyanne)
- Structured at Robert Gordon – have deadlines (@_kimguin)
- Aberystwyth totally flexible and never know who is studying same module as you (@joeyanne)
- Those who used VLE found it useful (@joeyanne, @_kimguin)
5. Was your library course worth the money?
- Yes – got a job with it (@BhamLibrarian, @sarahcchilds, @sarahmaule, @prossian, @readmybook, @LFairie, @Kirsty_Thomson)
- Yes – though difficult to judge. Friendships made, enthusiasm shared – definitely worthwhile (@jothelibrarian)
- Yes – better pay (@girlinthe)
- Yes – although was funded (@call_me_cathy)
- Yes – although fess lower and funding available (@ostephens)
- Yes – wish I’d done it earlier – for less money (@preater)
- Got more out of it than value for money (@sarahcchilds, @prossian)
- Don’t need qualification to do current job but also couldn’t do current job without it (@halfpricechamp)
- Could have been a lot better (@LFairie)
- Judge it on a module by module basis as doing distance learning (@JoLibrariAnne)
- Got jobs & pay rises based on being about to do course, doing course & having done course – so paid for itself (@ellyob)
- Qualification will make it easier to find a job post-redundancy (@LindsayWallace)
6. Are you concerned that public sector cuts will mean you won’t find a professional post after #libraryschool?
- Very worried as are many trainees (@Rosie_Lake)
- Qualification is useful outside libraries (@DreamingEntity)
- Worried about economy (@DreamingEntity, @RRosieRose)
- Concerned – will join library campaigns. Currently working in museums and we face similar issues (@Library_Karen)
- Number on library course has dropped, presumably partly due to current situation (@Sarahcchilds)
- Much more competitive (@Sonja_Kujansuu, @KrisWJ)
- Constantly worried that should be doing more to make employable (@booleanberry)
- It was tough around 5 years ago – must be worse now (@call_me_cathy)
- Being able to move around makes you more employable (@sarahcchilds)
- Not many qualified posts left in the public sector – opens up opportunities (@shedsue)
#UKLibChat has a calendar!
Hi folks,
Some good news for 2012. As promised for the new year, #UKLibChat now has a calendar for you to import into your own, meaning that you need never forget a chat ever again! The calendar has been embedded into a page above, and you can follow the link it provides to add it to your own Google calendar account. Alternatively, the links you will need are as follows (please choose which ever takes your fancy!)
iCal (for adding to Google, Outlook etc): https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/1q6bt6kp6mnvnv44a677t5g8vg%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
HTML (for opening the calendar in your browser, not embedding): https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=1q6bt6kp6mnvnv44a677t5g8vg%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Europe/London
Thanks!
Agenda: 12th January: Libraries and Librarians in 2012
Happy New Year!
The first chat of 2012 will be on “libraries and librarians in 2012″, feel free to add topics or questions that you would like to discuss to the agenda!
URL: http://bit.ly/ttY135
Look forward to “seeing” you then!
