I have always been a fan of the benefits of volunteering - I see it as a great way to get experience and learn new things without the pressure of a job interview and all the invisible pressures and expectations that come with a paid job (although I know that you would sometimes have to interview for voluntary positions).
From when I was a teenager I volunteered to help out with a week long kid's club that ran near where I lived. Although it was not library related, I'm sure that it helped me to get my first library job, at a community library which was attached to a primary school. Volunteering gives you new skills, as well as showing that you have a work ethic.
At the moment I have taken the role of band librarian for the community wind band that I play in. Although it can be a bit time consuming and complicated (anyone that works with music scores will know what I mean!) it gives me another skill that is different from my day job, but still useful in a library.
I am hoping that once I finish my library studies I can take on a new voluntary role, maybe involving cataloguing as I haven't really done any of this apart from on my course. I'm interested to read about other people's experiences.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Doors Open Day, Edinburgh September 23rd
As it was doors open day in Edinburgh, I decided to go to see a few places that I’d never been before. I was planning to see inside of Edinburgh University’s Main Library, but as it turned out quite a few of the places that I wanted to see had libraries of their own, so I thought I’d write about it in this blog.
The first library I saw was part of Edinburgh University’s Old College at South Bridge. I’ll quote from the University of Edinburgh’s Doors Open brochure now…“Old College houses the Playfair Library Hall, one of Edinburgh’s grandest interiors, where eleven bays support a coffered vaulted ceiling.”
The picture below shows some of the books and you can see some of the busts in the background too. Before the University’s current main library was completed in 1967, this area would have functioned as a lending library.
We also saw the Talbot Rice gallery which had a Tim Rollins and K.O.S exhibition on, as well as the Raeburn and Carstares Rooms which were full of amazing furniture and paintings.
From there we went on to George Square, to see the University of Edinburgh’s Main Library which sits between George Square and the Meadows. The library was designed by Basil Spence, and refurbishment began in 2007. Seven of the library’s eight floors have been refurbished, so the project is almost complete.
The library is an impressive space, with a large and open entrance level space, with a very big service desk, and a display screen which showed search terms that had been used in the library’s catalogue. On this level there is also a small museum room showing a ‘City of Words’ exhibition: Celebrating 250 years of English Literature, Writers, Readers, Critics 1762-2012.
We started off on the top level, which had a large amount of silent study space and houses the university’s journal collection. The levels beneath had great facilities, including group study rooms, group study pods, self issue and return machines, large printers and poster printers, guillotines, lockers, a café and a lot of computers and study space. It was great to see inside the university library, and compare it to my own workplace.
Below is a bit of a dingy photo that I took with my phone – I didn’t want to take anymore because it was making a clicking noise, tsk! I didn’t want to get ‘Shhh’d’, that would’ve been embarrassing.
Next stop on the library tour was the Royal College of Physicians, on Queen Street. Another amazing building, inside you can find two libraries. The first is the New Library, designed by David Bryce, which was added in 1876 to house the College’s expanding book collection. This was the first library in Scotland built with the purpose of the study of medicine.
The picture below shows me in the New Library. It’s a lovely space, I was actually there once before at my cousin’s wedding reception!
The Top Library houses some of the 50,000 monographs store in the Library, covering subjects such as botany, medicine, science and travel. There are 22 books in the collection published before 1500, and about 700 published between 1500 and 1600. The titles in the photo below show a couple that would be less than politically correct now:
Apart from libraries, we also saw Edinburgh’s City Chambers, the Assembly Rooms and the Mansfield Traquair Centre – all beautiful buildings.
The first library I saw was part of Edinburgh University’s Old College at South Bridge. I’ll quote from the University of Edinburgh’s Doors Open brochure now…“Old College houses the Playfair Library Hall, one of Edinburgh’s grandest interiors, where eleven bays support a coffered vaulted ceiling.”
The picture below shows some of the books and you can see some of the busts in the background too. Before the University’s current main library was completed in 1967, this area would have functioned as a lending library.
 |
| Edinburgh University's Old College |
We also saw the Talbot Rice gallery which had a Tim Rollins and K.O.S exhibition on, as well as the Raeburn and Carstares Rooms which were full of amazing furniture and paintings.
From there we went on to George Square, to see the University of Edinburgh’s Main Library which sits between George Square and the Meadows. The library was designed by Basil Spence, and refurbishment began in 2007. Seven of the library’s eight floors have been refurbished, so the project is almost complete.
The library is an impressive space, with a large and open entrance level space, with a very big service desk, and a display screen which showed search terms that had been used in the library’s catalogue. On this level there is also a small museum room showing a ‘City of Words’ exhibition: Celebrating 250 years of English Literature, Writers, Readers, Critics 1762-2012.
We started off on the top level, which had a large amount of silent study space and houses the university’s journal collection. The levels beneath had great facilities, including group study rooms, group study pods, self issue and return machines, large printers and poster printers, guillotines, lockers, a café and a lot of computers and study space. It was great to see inside the university library, and compare it to my own workplace.
Below is a bit of a dingy photo that I took with my phone – I didn’t want to take anymore because it was making a clicking noise, tsk! I didn’t want to get ‘Shhh’d’, that would’ve been embarrassing.
 |
| Edinburgh University's Main Library (phone camera = poor) |
Next stop on the library tour was the Royal College of Physicians, on Queen Street. Another amazing building, inside you can find two libraries. The first is the New Library, designed by David Bryce, which was added in 1876 to house the College’s expanding book collection. This was the first library in Scotland built with the purpose of the study of medicine.
The picture below shows me in the New Library. It’s a lovely space, I was actually there once before at my cousin’s wedding reception!
 |
| Royal College of Physicians, New Library |
The Top Library houses some of the 50,000 monographs store in the Library, covering subjects such as botany, medicine, science and travel. There are 22 books in the collection published before 1500, and about 700 published between 1500 and 1600. The titles in the photo below show a couple that would be less than politically correct now:
 |
| Books in the Royal College of Physician's Top Library |
Apart from libraries, we also saw Edinburgh’s City Chambers, the Assembly Rooms and the Mansfield Traquair Centre – all beautiful buildings.
Roots and routes.
My route into libraries probably started off with my roots, since my mum is a librarian. I think that this did mean that I was exposed to libraries and reading early on, as far back as I remember. For my 8th birthday I asked for a huge box full of books, and my mum chose some lovely hardbacks with stories from around the world, as well as lots of children’s classics.
I had never really thought about a career in libraries, but when I graduated in 2008 with my Music degree I already knew that I didn’t want to teach in secondary schools (I tried it… not for me!) and the uncertainty of a career in music is daunting at the outset of your career. I applied for a graduate traineeship at Glasgow University library…..and didn’t get an interview. Now I realise that these traineeships are very sought after and that there is a lot of competition.
I was still keen on the idea of working in a library and applied to be summer staff at the public libraries in Edinburgh. I was really lucky to secure a short-term contract, working in community libraries –my experience volunteering at children’s holiday clubs came to my aid, and came in very useful over the next few years. Luckily, my contract was continually renewed until I got a permanent position. I really enjoyed working in community libraries, which involved a lot of work with children, including rhyme times, children’s book clubs, craft activities and endless colouring in. It was a great job! Eventually, after 3 and a half years, I decided I needed to get out of my comfort zone and start a new challenge. This was also around the time I decided to apply for a postgraduate library course, and I was accepted as a distance learner at Robert Gordon University.
I’ve now been working as an Information Assistant at an Edinburgh University for 8 months, and have so far learned a completely different set of skills. This brings me up to date – I am midway through my MSc in Information and Library Studies, and am really enjoying the course. I still have a lot to learn about Academic libraries, I think it could be a lifetime’s work! I don’t know where my career will take me yet, but I’d like to try some different roles and see if I can find a job where I combine some of my favourite things.
I had never really thought about a career in libraries, but when I graduated in 2008 with my Music degree I already knew that I didn’t want to teach in secondary schools (I tried it… not for me!) and the uncertainty of a career in music is daunting at the outset of your career. I applied for a graduate traineeship at Glasgow University library…..and didn’t get an interview. Now I realise that these traineeships are very sought after and that there is a lot of competition.
I was still keen on the idea of working in a library and applied to be summer staff at the public libraries in Edinburgh. I was really lucky to secure a short-term contract, working in community libraries –my experience volunteering at children’s holiday clubs came to my aid, and came in very useful over the next few years. Luckily, my contract was continually renewed until I got a permanent position. I really enjoyed working in community libraries, which involved a lot of work with children, including rhyme times, children’s book clubs, craft activities and endless colouring in. It was a great job! Eventually, after 3 and a half years, I decided I needed to get out of my comfort zone and start a new challenge. This was also around the time I decided to apply for a postgraduate library course, and I was accepted as a distance learner at Robert Gordon University.
I’ve now been working as an Information Assistant at an Edinburgh University for 8 months, and have so far learned a completely different set of skills. This brings me up to date – I am midway through my MSc in Information and Library Studies, and am really enjoying the course. I still have a lot to learn about Academic libraries, I think it could be a lifetime’s work! I don’t know where my career will take me yet, but I’d like to try some different roles and see if I can find a job where I combine some of my favourite things.
Friday, 14 September 2012
Thing 19 - Integrating and reflecting
I have certainly learned a lot from the 18 odd things that I have looked at so far. What I’ve learned has been more than just skills, I have gained awareness of the type of world that I am entering into as an information professional. I tend to shy away from all things new and technical, so having a quiet summer at work to really have a proper look at things was helpful. Who knows, I might be learning some new 'practical' technical skills soon too, as we are becoming an integrated team with our IT counterparts at work.
Before tackling 23 things, I had no idea that there were so many library related blogs, professionals, social events, CPD events….. It is almost a bit overwhelming to be aware of what is out there. Although I’ve worked in libraries for 4 years now, you meet with a wide variety of attitudes across different sectors, and sometimes we can get bogged down in our own special area/domain and forget that there is a wider community.
Things I’ve found especially useful were:
Advice about using Twitter – although I have not been great at Tweeting, I’m really pleased to have found out more about Twitter. I think it’s a great tool to use with students (although we don’t really communicate via Twitter where I work) and have found that you always get the most up-to-date information this way.
Online networks – LISNPN. It’s great to know about other people who are in a similar position to me! I had no idea there were so many of us.
Referencing tools – This section inspired me to have another look at Refworks, which we use where I study. I have definitely got the hang of it a lot better now and can make use of it this term.
Prezi – I loved playing with Prezi, I hope that I will get to use it for something soon.
The reflective sections have also been good - part of my studies involves updating a reflective log throughout the course, and submitting it after the placement element, so it has been handy to keep in the right frame of mind for this. Reading other people’s blogs has been a big influence on me, especially people who have a lot of experience under their belt, as I am new to the profession. I don’t think I had once looked at a blog before CPD23 (!!), so creating one of my own was a big step.
It’s certainly been a great experience for me, and I hope others have had positive experiences too.
Before tackling 23 things, I had no idea that there were so many library related blogs, professionals, social events, CPD events….. It is almost a bit overwhelming to be aware of what is out there. Although I’ve worked in libraries for 4 years now, you meet with a wide variety of attitudes across different sectors, and sometimes we can get bogged down in our own special area/domain and forget that there is a wider community.
Things I’ve found especially useful were:
Advice about using Twitter – although I have not been great at Tweeting, I’m really pleased to have found out more about Twitter. I think it’s a great tool to use with students (although we don’t really communicate via Twitter where I work) and have found that you always get the most up-to-date information this way.
Online networks – LISNPN. It’s great to know about other people who are in a similar position to me! I had no idea there were so many of us.
Referencing tools – This section inspired me to have another look at Refworks, which we use where I study. I have definitely got the hang of it a lot better now and can make use of it this term.
Prezi – I loved playing with Prezi, I hope that I will get to use it for something soon.
The reflective sections have also been good - part of my studies involves updating a reflective log throughout the course, and submitting it after the placement element, so it has been handy to keep in the right frame of mind for this. Reading other people’s blogs has been a big influence on me, especially people who have a lot of experience under their belt, as I am new to the profession. I don’t think I had once looked at a blog before CPD23 (!!), so creating one of my own was a big step.
It’s certainly been a great experience for me, and I hope others have had positive experiences too.
Thing 18 - Jing and podcasts...I haven't quite got round to it...
This will be a short post because I haven’t had a chance to look at these things.
Oh well, I’ll catch up another time, and I think I’d rather move on than get ‘stuck’. I like the idea of using screen capture to make short ‘how to’ type instructional videos, but as this is not something that I am tasked with at the moment, I’ll put it on the backburner until I need it.
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Thing 17 - Prezi and Slideshare
Slideshare also looks good, I’ll definitely use it if I start collecting presentations at some point, at the moment sadly I don’t really have anything to share. Any others insights are minimal today, I hope that my brain will de-numb itself for the start of term next week!
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Thing 16: advocacy and speaking up for the profession
Hmm, there seem to be a lot of 'things' that I am not doing too well on as a beginner librarian...
I don't really have any experience in this area, when I worked in public libraries I certainly tried to promote the library and create good relationships with local organisations and schools, as the more people there are who use your services the easier it is to 'prove' your worth in the eyes of the budget-cutters. Although this was not really part of my job role I do feel strongly about it, although never thought of taking it to a higher level, such as writing a piece for publication. I am still getting to grips with my new role in a university library. I guess the importance of this role is in user education and promoting the library's services. Hopefully reading other people's blogs will help me to learn more.
It's a struggle to feel your opinions are valid enough to need to be heard, especially as a young person starting out. I think I will consider this 'thing' as one for the future, although I will definitely look out for any opportunities that come my way.
Well done to library advocates out there doing their bit!
I don't really have any experience in this area, when I worked in public libraries I certainly tried to promote the library and create good relationships with local organisations and schools, as the more people there are who use your services the easier it is to 'prove' your worth in the eyes of the budget-cutters. Although this was not really part of my job role I do feel strongly about it, although never thought of taking it to a higher level, such as writing a piece for publication. I am still getting to grips with my new role in a university library. I guess the importance of this role is in user education and promoting the library's services. Hopefully reading other people's blogs will help me to learn more.
It's a struggle to feel your opinions are valid enough to need to be heard, especially as a young person starting out. I think I will consider this 'thing' as one for the future, although I will definitely look out for any opportunities that come my way.
Well done to library advocates out there doing their bit!
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