Thing 17 - Reflective Practice

self awareness, description, critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation

Thrown in the deep-end in my most recent position, self-reflection is something that may be useful. When i started the job it seemed straightforward; everything new i had to do was in a manual my predecessor gave me. But as time moved forward, the job and it's needs evolved to include roles i had no frame or reference for, nor any real guide. Piecing together material was all i could do. Or was it?

Reflecting on the process told me that when under pressure to do a task i never did before without help made me feel stressed; beyond belief. Keeping it to myself , ie separating it from home life made me feel worse, and i needed to vent my frustrations. But i also learnt from evaluating my response, that too much of this venting caused me to get further down.

The new role in question is diploma coordinator. So theres a lot involved; registering students, dealing with their queries and liaising with the lecturer.

So i learnt for the experience that i need to a) spend time getting to know where relevant materials can be found. I need to put aside time to look, calmly through these and decipher what might be useful going forward and not get too bogged down in the vast collection of old material from previous role-holders.
b) asking for help, even from those who may not have done the specific job but may have similar experience within the instiution in enrollment and admissions work. Get their guidance but dont expect them to do the work for you. Learn by doing but write down what they suggest and what works and what doesnt.
c) I needed also to be less hard on myself for not responding to students immediately regarding this new role but its better to take a bit of time with it and give them an acceptable solution rather that updating them a few times on progress. 

These findings about the situation, analysis of what i did that worked and what that didnt and what else i can do is something i can do in my job in the future. That and realise i am not super-human and that i can sometimes say no to people. The key thing i have learned is i need to time-manage better in these situations and prioritise, setting time aside for each thing i need to do rather than trying to answer emails while doing these tasks and thus getting so bogged down in 'i have all this to do and only this time to do it' and therefore getting nothing done efficiently. 

Thing 16: Collaboration Tools

Collaboration is indeed a huge part of advocacy - collaboration with other staff in your job, collaborating with decision-makers to gain their liking and creating a mutually beneficial relationship, collaborating with others in the field for ideas and support when things get tough.

For the most part i use only email, excel and social media to collaborate - email at work to share marketing ideas, service information and support, email with my ILN (international librarian network) partner to gain an insight to how others might approach it. But I definitely understand that broadening my outlook will help in future collaboration. In a way our institution's use of a staff drive is similar how to many use Google drive. Anything we share at work, excel sheets of student information, posters promoting library's services, general information, organising meetings, we share via this staff drive and/or email . 

Microsoft Word is something i collaborated on exam paper formatting with aswell, which could have been shared using google drive if we weren't set up on Outlook and hotmail. 

 I know many people use Google drive to share college work and/or readings however legally that may be. Google Drive is something I probably would use if i was collaborating outside our institution or outside working hours. I'm pretty sure I used in during my GDIP LIS on group work and we were encouraged to use wiki's and instant messaging tools. We will eventually be doing library induction for our students (we fell behind on the formalities with a premises move, same as i fell behind on the course) and i reckon google slides might be useful even though i usually use powerpoint.

Looking through Google Docs myself, i realised i had used my account to share an embarrassing video way back when and i had used to when the DOAJ share their guidelines with us volunteer editors. The document templates seem somewhat useful so i may use the cv one in future. It is also useful that you can edit a document while using google hangouts. Now that i think of it, i participated in a doodle poll that someone else had set up. This tool may be useful in finding time in everyone's busy schedules at work. As things change we definitely need to meet more frequently to touch base.

When approaching the task for this thing i thought my browser had again changed the language. Let me explain; my Google chrome seems to like to change the language frequently despite how much i change it back to English. It has currently settled on French, a language i can sort of understand from my basic grasp garnered in secondary school and i use my own netbook so infrequently i havent bothered to change it yet :P.

Upon reading further down (rather than investigating, i guess weekend laziness) i found out it's Latin. This could be interesting! I have an odd fascination with learning Latin; some connection to posh private schooling and magic, i guess. 

Interesting when i tried to translate the first few paragraphs (Google Translate) only some of it translated  and very poor english:

“It's time for members across the country…. darts of fear, or soccer pure ...Performance of life,  poverty or hate. But we ought to load...great is the fear, that the main group, takes life….there was a competition, consectetur, neither with the arrows, is effected in the gate of the sapien. Great for the vehicles the same….In the refinancing. It's the element of the earth is not elit ….s not the members, through a pulvinar...and the course of the Moors, and….Smartphones….poverty, my real estate. But in front of a free,....Until nibh eros, arrows, and that photography, that, at the price of the game. ...functional advantage Reserved. Employment in silence, by the Class twist our marriage,...or expensive, and the advantage of, wind, but pure. …..In fact, never invest in targeted hate….Also a soft bed this...bananas which, in the arrows from the author at. But with their arrows…..bananas, innovative poverty-free layer. This innovative no laughter…..the earth,...emperature whom there was not before.

the Moors, but the game...advantage of the ends of the jaws of temperature. Nutella ….that strong and the gate….important layer. In diameter than the disease….pain, but blandit players and sorted by. In order to ...fear, of needs, from the thermal one…. at the court of a great keyboard,..such as soccer the earth across the country."

Google Drive is a useful tool indeed, learned a lot from other collaborators. 

Thing 15: Advocacy

This is a term I'm well aware of. I was aware of it anyway but then I did an ED X MOOC in Library Advocacy. It's something I needed to do for little things, but recently it's something I'm doing every time I can get my boss on the phone. Not in an annoying shouty way (like protesting) as some people may associate with advocacy, but getting my thoughts in between asking how he is, respecting his time and understanding that these decisions are not always in his hands alone.

You see our library opening hours are under review. I have no idea what way it's gonna go. For me and for my two colleagues. Any chance I get I'm arguing the importance of the evenings. Of the weekend. But it's completely out of my hands when everyone's so busy with the big move they don't have time even for my elevator speech. I'm not even sure my report, my spiel on emails or phone messages will even work, but I'm still gonna try. I have been. I've not only given my reasons why keeping all our hours are necessary but also done what the Ed X course taught- met the people at their level. I.e. the numbers, the money, the students' results. I've also been building up a rapport with the other departments and the decision makers since I started just in case anything like this happened and encouraged my colleagues to do the same, if they aren't already. Advocacy starts before the issues arise not after like the view above of protest advocacy may suggest.

The campaigns mentioned in the Rudai post are more about the outwards advocacy than what I've learned about. Once you have advocated your services to decision makers and gained support from you peers you can then go into the WWW to voice this advocacy to others in the field and to find ways to visually illustrate how your services help the student population. Sowing what the similar institutions are doing also helps and the figures provided by the various groups mentioned would be helpful for this. I myself used opening hours from similar libraries in my argument.


The element of need to be heard is a common one, from Libraries Unshushed (my MOOC) to the next LIA A&SL conference being called (all caps) SMASHING STEREOTYPES: LIBRARIANS GET LOUD. Some of the groups we've been told about include 'voices' and  'speak up'  while some are just promoting love of libraries. I just love the long long article on why public libraries are important. One day I would love to find an example of a  disadvantaged kid that became a great scientific discoverer , particularly if it was lifesaving, just so I could be like 'hey scientists think they're so great and they're role in the world is more important, but literacy came first and that's what librarians do, save lives via literacy'. Not because I'm spiteful or bitter but just a little sick of science majors looking at me like I did a degree in playing with blocks or boardback books or something.
There, vent over, sorry guys!


So anybody want to start a library friends group?  Every library seems like an interesting place for Advocacy as it helps organise petitions to get the people in power to vote for or against changes in funding as well as encouraging people to use their vote. Who says petitioning doesn't work?Speak Up for Libraries raised the interesting question of whether or not volunteer-led libraries work. My question would be why is our role seen as something that could or should be voluntary? But figures to back up the need for qualified people would indeed be a bonus. I have just skimmed the content on the first batch of sites, but its useful to know the resources are there going forward.


Will be taking a look at some of the second batch, ie started in recent years which you can contribute to or use, in a bit and will update with how I get on!


update 10/9
Taking a look at these 'get involved' links it seems that CILIP needs to be joined, so that won't be happening. Library A to Z is a fantastic idea and I wasted quite a bit of time waiting for the letters to change to see what each stood for! Also love the idea of librarians showing their pride via I freaking love libraries. I'm pretty sure I already heard about the 'This is what a Librarian looks like" campaign a while ago because it made me think of stereotypes I could satire for my own post on this topic.I might take a funny #shelfie concerning said stereotypes sometime. I'm wondering if I could do something where I work for Library Ireland week. It's not til November so I have loads of time.


My Hunt Library and Not Your Average Library almost make me want to get on Instagram. Almost. Those libraries are really cool.



Thing 14: Augmented Reality - to be continued

This is a term I've heard only briefly, and usually either on my cert in computing science or in nerdy circles. I know the information profession is connected to evolving technology but this is far out of my normal realm of everyday librarianship. Most people in Ireland's everyday librarianship I'd wager. The most contact I've had with this concept is probably QR codes, which in my experience aren't what they're cracked up to be.




Needless to say, I was a bit sceptical starting this module as to how relevant or useful it could be to me and my job. The mere mention of downloading something 4D kind of made me giggle. I understand how apps such as field trip, or at least apps that exist around the same idea of providing additional information about what somebody is looking at, may be useful, but some of the apps such as Aurasma seem a bit frivolous on the outset. They are interesting developments in lenses etc but much like popart on your old Nokia they're fun but don't really add anything useful.




The Anatomy app could indeed be useful but I can barely update the apps I have at the moment, never mind download a new one. I will give it a go later though.




Testing out either or these apps, realistically, either involve the user setting up an account or me paying money. I'd be inclined to agree that Layar would be the better option for a real project but as it's only a tester I'd be more inclined to consider Aurasma. For a second I thought I'd seen the Summer Buzz bee in Maynooth library, but I thought it was just that; a picture of a bee.




>Update<


I later decided that if I want to do this for a purpose, i.e. for my fan blog, Layar would be better, but I'd have to set it up so it only runs for a month.
As I began to use the AR I also began to see what Niamh was talking about as regards it being a way of teaching young people digital literacy, a big part of our job. It could be something more fun or interesting I could use to promote library use in my own institution but obviously only for a short period. I will try it for my own mini fanblog project first and see how I get on.


I will update once I use it and also once I take a look at the librARi demo....

Update 2: 

Much like with Screencast, my lack of decent technology has limited my ability to try these things out. No matter hoe much I delete, my phone doesn't have enough room to download Anatomy 4D or Layar, meaning I can't truly try them out. Layer also doesn't seem to have a less than 6 months/extortionate charge option but the free one month plan seems cool enough if only I could actually get the app to see the results. Anybody want to take a look and tell me? https://www.layar.com/campaigns/W9DAXTR0F6

The demo for LibrARi is pretty cool with the related texts and latest additions in given topic. At first I thought it was for lazy people with the "your book is here" function though haha.

Thing 13: Professional Organisations

Before I begin talking about this topic, it's important to point out I'm one step closer to my screencast because I have a screencast-o-matic account set up and the latest version of Java on my netbook. I tried to get further than that yesterday evening but my computer is deadly slow and there was IKEA furniture to be made. A slight setback to my study plan, but the set-up is done and I can do the screencast this evening. I will stick to my new post study plan!

The only group I'm officially a member of is the Library Association of Ireland (got use of my countdown card last week at the Wax museum) but I will definitely investigate some of those blogged about. I am in a few groups in LinkedIn , as discussed in Thing 3/5 as well.

As IFLA is 63euro to join, even as an unwaged which I technically am not, I think I will keep an eye out for streaming and or more local locations, but this years was in Cape Town and the next two years seem to be Ohio and Warsaw. The have an e-forum coming up on Sustainable Development Goals: The Impact of Access to Information on our Societies between 7-18 September 2015 that I'll be joining if you don't have to pay  . Looking at their last conference all I can think is Oooh some rare books photos!

Eblida sound interesting, particularly since the term 'lobbying' is used in the description. Libraries need advocacy all the time so the fact that this group actively lobbies is a good thing. Yeesh, it costs €624,55 to join? That's for people under 25,000 a year as well! Again with the watching out for streaming stuff! Interestingly Ireland participated in their Knowledge and Information Centre survey and it seems they do good work.

CILIP is something I get updates from on LinkedIn and Twitter. Membership is a bit steep unless you are a student, which I am not anymore. My average pay grade means I'd be paying A CRAY CRAY £112 a year or 10 instalments of £11.20. I don't even earn that much money. That's a lot considering the LIA is so much less. They have a conference this month in London but it's a bit steep. They also have a free New Professionals Day like us, I'm assuming that's where the idea came from. If you happen to be in Edinburgh for the LMS showcase, which is free, tell us all about it! They post very interesting stories, particularly UK stories which are somewhat more relevant to us here in Ireland.

The ALA is another group I follow but I don't see the point in joining since all their events are in the US.

I'm technically in the Academic and Special Libraries section of the LAI but haven't gone to anything yet. I have thought about joining a committee but haven't got around to it yet. I will look into the Repository Network Ireland seminar on open access :) 



Thing 12: Attending conferences

It's interesting that this topic came up in my study schedule today. I am in the most recent ILN (international Librarian Network) program and this is our first post-introductory topic of conversation. This is a program where you're connected with a peer from another part of the world in a sort of peer mentoring capacity. I just sent an email to my peer Chester in the Philippines talking about a few of the seminars and PD day's I went to as part of the LIA and also New Professionals Day.

The most useful ones I've attended are a Career Professional Development day on CVs and interviews in Pearse Library last year and New Professionals Day 2015 (duly noted I see our 3D elephant is pictured in the post). I understand the importance of networking and the condensed information presentations at these events, but unless they are affordable and I have adequate time to book time off, it can be difficult to attend. For example, the one-day conference at DBS this year sounded fantastic and was free (this is my favourite word) but as it turned out I was sick that particular day. In this case, online recording of the event was very helpful!

I would love to go to any RDA workshop, but as it stands I don't have that kind of money, and when management are talking about reviewing opening hours I can hardly imagine a worse time to ask to be sponsored to attend, especially when our current cataloguing system works just fine. As I work in an academic library, the A&SL conference would be something I will venture to, but I will need to,again, prepare my own funding for attending. Another event I plan on attending next year is Library Camp. It didn't work out this year because I had a christening to go to.

Mingling, for me, is terrifying and it's something I find hard to do unless I have a friend with me, so it's nice when you see the same faces again and can go, "hi, yes I've met you before Caroline". I might invest in some business cards, but for the time being I follow through on adding people on LinkedIn!

Thing 11: Reflective Practice (once again)

Dude, how did I fall so far behind? Work hasn't even been THAT busy, though it's mega stressful with work so motivation is something I'm lacking a lot of.


I can safely say that most of the new stuff I haven't done before is done, pinterest and podcasting included, but I do need to get back to doing my screencast. This is something I would have long done on some lunchbreak, but technology is lacking, ie JAVA. Home life has also been quite busy with a new housemate and all the adjustments that brings so therefore I will let go on a little while this evening at home to download the appropriate software and get that box ticked! though it wouldn't be the first time I've said 'this evening, i'll do it this evening'. If I put a reminder on my phone it will make it more likely.


I have to say, I'm good at time management with work, but when it comes to extra-curriculars I'm not taking into account how courses like this might eat into my chill at home time. Knowing myself, I know that I won't do this kind of thing after work because i'll be beat, but also are reluctant to give up weekend time. Therefore, now is a good time to re-evaluate when I will have time to do courses like these now that that summer slump is slipping through my fingers at work. Or at least prioritise which courses I can and cannot fit into my schedule.  I work better when I ease into the Monday morning, so this is when I will do this course, except of course once term time hits when Monday mornings will be a busy time with students. I will re-evaluate once that happens in about two weeks.


Today: thing 11 and 12
Tomorrow:Thing 13 and 14




Thankfully, these two weeks are the time when the catch-up time is so I should be able to catch up if I do a couple of bits today and tomorrow to ease me into the week. It would be best to catch up now, before I really have to think about the college's big move across the quays....