Advance learning in libraries: an American approach.

Having just read the very exciting article entitled: 4 strategies in advance learning in libraries http://www.cilip.org.uk/cilip/blog/4-strategies-advance-learning-libraries. This paper was written in America and it is fascinating to read, several library leaders came together over 2 years to identify impact and outcomes of funding for libraries. Though this paper looks at federal funding, and examples are American. This is something useful to take from our state side information professionals. Having attended many conferences over the last few years, it has always occurred to me that America is somewhat ahead of the game. Having introduced a national Information Literacy month... yet the UK lags behind.

So to return to the summary article on these meetings. Though the meetings covered many topics, and looked at a variety of information professionals settings, 4 main themes were established. A full report is accessible https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/publications/documents/imlsfocuslearninginlibrariesfinalreport.pdf which on my reading list.

In brief, for now, here are the 4 topics

1. Connect LIS education and professional development to 21st century librarianship- starting and progressing from school librarians, this section looks at creating a new space and new services fit for the 21st century. Librarians should be embedded within the community that they work with. 
2. Pursue research that connects with library practice- connecting research that informs and is informed by practice. Working with others, and ensuring dissemination needs to be optimal for impact and influence. 
3. Designing participatory learning programs that demonstrate innovation and scalability- Design and develop library programmes that aid patrons over their lifespan.
4. Develop cross-disciplinary collaborations that advance library services nationwide- Engage with other non library organisations on a national level, to broaden the service of the library to new audiences. 

Proof reading

Having decided to work on my proof reading skills, due to my commitments with ARLIS (Art libraries society). I have started to read up on a few things online and putting them in to practice with some work I am trying to get published. 

Tips I have used:

Print it out- this has been critical for me to be able to read a long document. I personally find reading long documents on screen gives me eye strain. 

Contentrate- which sounds obvious, but working in a busy open office environment that isn't easy. To resolve this, I have needed to find a quiet space to work, which is usually at home after my two year old has gone to bed. No TV and no other distractions. 

Check for punctuation- proof reading is about the information being correct, the spelling being right and the punctuation being accurate. So far I have found that I need to do an inital read of the document, then a second more detailed read through. Taking it slowly, contentrating on each line, making sure the words, phrasing and punctuation is all correct. At the moment I am taking quiet a while to get this right, but I am sure I will speed up. 

Check homonyms- words that are spelt or pronounced the same. These can be tricky, and I have found myself speaking sections out loud, much to the amusement of my husband, to ensure I am getting it right. A good online spoken dictionary can also be useful here. 

The use of apostrophes- again this can be tricky, and it makes you think back to your GCSE English class and what did Miss Christopher teach me about when you use apostrophes. To be fair, I was probably younger than doing my GCSE's but Miss Christopher is the only English teacher that I can remember, possibly because she was amazing. One of those teachers who inspired people to read and love literature. Anyway, the apostrophes are important as they also help make sense of what is being said, but checking them is one of those tricky bits. But proof reading is one of those tasks where the devil is in the detail. 

Get a proof reading buddy- get someone else to read it for you, once you have finished. A collegue of mine wants to write a book and I have offered proof read her work, if she will proof read mine. Seems like a fair swop.

This last tip I tried and it didn't show up any problems, mainly as nothing made sense. The tip was to read the document backwards. It completely confused me and the sentences made no sense what so ever, so I am not sure how this is meant to help. 

My future plans are to continue with proof reading, continue to learn as much as I can and use it both in my role as librarian and with ARLIS.

The Hive, Worcester

I starting my, frankly ridiculously, early day at 5:30am to get to Worcester by lunch time, during the train journey (well one coach, then two trains) I pull out this month’s issue of CILIP update (talk about dedication), of the South West newsletter, there is a review of The Hive, by Dr Judith Keene, the person I am traveling to see. Now I feel that my outfit was completely wrong. Jeans and a top, I think is should have dressed up.

As my train journey comes to an end, I start to compile all of the questions that I want to find answers to. The reason for my very long journey(car, bus, two trains then a short walk), is to see:

A) what a higher educational institution library looks like (use camera)
B) find out the pitfalls involved in moving a library
C) find out what a new library service is offering and how this relates to what we are thinking about offering.
And) finally complete some of my paperwork whilst traveling between Plymouth and Worcester.

Also on a more personal note I lived in the town next to Worcester for several years, almost 20 and having not been there for almost 10 years, I would love to see how the city has changed over that time. I have fond memories of the old library, which was attached to the museum. But I am full of excitement to see how this new venture in libraries compares.

Having arrived, the outside is great, it really stands out as a building and as excellently located.

In talking to members of staff, certain things, such as safe guarding which had never been a consideration for a HEi, where as having small children wandering around considerations such as internet access, book content need to be thought about. As we are moving the other way, this is much easier for us. We have 4 years olds (at Saturday Arts Club), staff are fully aware of the implications of such content.

In terms of it looking like a HEi, it did, but equally it looked like a public library. I think it depends on where you are standing, in fiction then it's public, in non-fiction then it's academic, with subtle variations, for instance non-fiction books are housed in shelves that are 6 shelves high, fiction is 4 or 5.

The usual book patterns could be seen with multiple copies of the most popular non fiction book, very similar to any academic library, but the variation lies in the fact that they were reserved for students.

In terms of pitfalls, we chatted about the designers plans not necessarily working in practice as they did on paper and a robust approach was needed to change the original design. Two years on and they are still changing elements of the design. Which I suppose is to be expected from such a large development offering such a massive service.

In terms of it being a HEi, many members of the public benefit from this, as services like confidence building skills, which may not be seen in public libraries. Services that could, and in several cases should, be offered to everyone. Also the opening hours were really interesting, closing at 8 pm, very similar to my smaller library. One place were the difference between public and academic library was most felt was the charging of printing of paper, with difference pricing structures for both public and students.

Dotted around the library there were also some examples of great innovative technology. What looks like a large see through ceiling lamp shade that when you walk under it, it activates a recorded tape of local history.

 Plus there were a few touch screen tables, where you could activate 6 different folders of maps, information and photos.

Overall I have to say I was very impressed with the library. 

Visit to a very special collection

Yesterday I was invited to St Saviours, a fantastic, if not recently storm damaged building, which houses Robert Lenkiewicz private book collection. The room itself has that wonderful smell of musty books mixed with damp. A smell that always hold a sense of mystery for myself. The books occupy two floors, with the books on beautiful  bespoke bookshelves, reaching to the ceiling, each with a place for books to be rested upon, made by a carpenter friend of Roberts before he died. The room is enticing and there is something in the room, that makes it such a pleasure to be there.

The collection of books were purchased by Robert himself during his lifetime and rightly so they haven't been added to, so there is a wonderful sense of magic in the room, that you can only get from being with loved books. The thought that someone purchased this, because he had an interest in them is something wonderful. This isn't a public library, these were brought and read by someone genuinely interested in the topic. I get that feeling whenever I am with a large collection of books, having the connection to Robert, provides an added layer of interest. From looking at his books, you can tell a lot, knowing the collection is about the human condition, but who he was inspired by, there are shelves and shelves of books by or about Rembrandt. There are thousands of books by individual artists, it genuinely is a uplifting and heart warming collection. 

The reason for me being there was because the trust is trying to work out what is the best course of action for the collection, which is a tough conversation. With the building damaged, parts of the collection had to be sold just after Robert's death 12 years ago. I am meant to provide a possible course of action, having spent time wandering the shelves of the library. Looking at the rarity of the books, how useful this is for the city of Plymouth as a whole, but more importantly, in my mind to the artist community. 

I suppose one of the other parts which makes me love this place, is there are still Robert's artifacts lying around, or boxed up. Such as his palate boards, or his boots and a purple lined coffin which at one point must have been a prop, I didn't ask, I was hoping it was nothing more sinister. 

It was such a special day yesterday and luckily St Saviours is only a short walk away from where I work, so I can easily pop over, and be enticed and inspired by such a wonderful atmosphere. For a librarian, this is a marvelous legacy to leave the city, now Plymouth just needs to work out how it can be sorted and viewed. 

Article, ARLIS and LILAC bursary

Well, yet again, it has been a while since I last managed to write which is a little frustrating. However this week has been exceptional busy, possibly one of the most exciting weeks, where professional some exceptional events have happened.  

 

Firstly I have had a piece of work published in CILIP update. This is the fourth piece of writing I have now published (not including my blog). This piece was a piece that both my mentor and I wrote about our use of Skype in our chartership, from her position of the mentor and mine the mentee. The reason using Skype came about was we were unable to physically meet up. Over the course of 12-18 months we met virtually every other month. Towards the end of my chartership, which I successfully completed and have been awarded MCLIP in November 2013, we started thinking, how unique is this? Using conference call technology to complete something like a chartership, which needs to have two people working together for guidance etc? Which got us to ask the question, how many other people have used this method of working? With everyone having more and more work demands on them, travelling several times a month, year or every week become not only expensive but also impractical. 

 

I am very proud to have been a part of this project and I will continue to be grateful for the support of my mentor. She has already suggested we meet up with a glass of wine on Skype to celebrate, which personally seems very fitting.

 

Secondly I have now a member of the publications committee for ARLIS, which is amazingly exciting. ARLIS is the Art Libraries Society for the UK and Ireland, which promotes excellence within this community. Sadly due to the weather I was unable to travel to London, however Skype was used, with some success. Not to go in too much detail, but I think there is some great potential in an established publication. Alongside being a committee member I will also been asked to help co-edit the newsletter, which is brilliant, whilst someone else is on maternity leave. Editing is something that I have not done previously, however I have done proof reading. Having my husband’s aunt work in editing has always fascinated me. So being given this opportunity is one that I am very enthusiastic about.

 

All of this came about by attending last year’s ARLIS conference, which was in Bristol and I had a great time. I ended up chatting to loads of people, and obviously I must have made a pretty good impression on them. A few weeks after the conference I was asked to join the committee and then asked to become the co-editor. 

 

So it really has been an amazing week. Then I find out that I was successful in getting the bursary for the LILAC conference in April. Which I was really surprised that I had won and completely thrilled. I am hoping to do a write up after the sessions, for publication in CILIP, as well as blog about the days. Information literacy is a massive part of my role and something I have developed within my own role. 

 

It truly has been a remarkable week, were connected have developed in to exciting new projects or hard work has paid off. 

Innovation in libraries

Having recently read over the Art Council England report about innovation in libraries, I thought I would blog about it. Even though the project is based on public libraries, and I work in an academic one, I feel that the innovative projects could be transferred from one area to another. This is of particular interest to me and I feel there is a lot that can be learnt from different libraries as well as my current library is moving location.

This, I think would be an ideal time to alter processes, make them more effective and provide new services. It seems that all libraries at the moment are either having funding reviewed and maybe because of this or due to this there is an increased need for local communities to help with libraries.

One of the libraries that the report highlights is Delft Concept Library, DOK, in the Netherlands, which is basically a world leader on the types of services, facilities and design that it offers its users. Using mobile technology and gaming to help people use the library.

Some of the other services mentioned in the report and offered by UK and overseas libraries, are more main stream but done either in a more personalised manner or found innovative funding. Other innovative services which have been highlighted in the report include:

·         Digital Bazaar, run by volunteers for people who want to learn more about their technology device. Providing hands on experience for people to learn how to sell on eBay, how to make an online phone call to a member of family and how to download an eBook.

·         More technologically advanced projects have been the reading glove, fitted with RFID, where the wearer can choose the direction that there story takes. 

·         Door step library, building on the notion of mobile library service, but instead it is specifically aimed to low income families, who can borrow children’s from someone working at the library.

New CILIP regulations

With CILIP having changed there regulations, on obtaining chartership, I thought I would spend a few minutes to explain the changes. Firstly for MCLIP, they are going from 4 (or was it 5) down to 3. Plus making a clearer definition between each of the criterion.

The first Criteria deals with identifying there learning needs and reflect on the learning. This is made much easier with the introduction of Professional Knowledge and Skills Base.

The second criteria needs to show that they have examined their organization and shown an ability to improve the service. 

The third and final criteria needs to show an understanding of their wider professional context.

It sounds much easier but maybe because I have just had someone calmly explain this to me for near 6 hours and I don't need to put any of this in to practice.

There are loads of simple things that can be added in to tick off parts of the criteria. for each there needs to be 5-6 piece of evidence. 

Chartership and beyond

Tuesday I was able to attend the CILIP qualification session on the new regulations. Which first of all is a little confusing because as the trainer said achieving chartership is not a qualification. Which I thought it was, however it turns out it is actually demonstrating a level of achievement and commitment. But the day was good, I met some people I think who could be useful contact for the future. This is one of the reasons why I really enjoy these sessions, you mean people who are connected to your role or right on the edge of your role and they can be really useful in a certain situation as they have experience in a field that is not connected to your own.

The pace of the session was slow enough to write up notes but contained enough information for the session to hold the attention of people thinking about becoming ACLIP, MCLIP and the odd person like me who is thinking about becoming a mentor. 

Having completed my MCLIP, I now would like to give something back, if that makes sense and pay on the favor to another generation of librarians. My mentor was great with me, she was very supportive and everything that she made me do (which in the end I did do) was on the list of things that needed to be completed. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention at the last session which I attended. 

My next step is to register as a mentor and get trained, I have already have 4 people say they would like to have me as a mentor, which is pretty amazing.

One thing that did positively annoy me was if someone with experience in a library now wants to go an get a chartership they need no previous qualifications, I am not saying I only want people with Masters to be librarians. I am not elitist and part of the first generation of my family to obtain a degree. Actually I am the highest qualified person in my family. Getting more people in to librarianship is a good idea, but I don't think making everyone a chartered librarian is the right way forward. Personally I think there sound be different awards depending on your qualifications and experience.

UKlibchat

Last night for the first time in ages I managed to catch #uklibchat, usually I join #chartershipchat, as I have just submitted my chartership, but I fancied a change. Uklibchat is a twitter conversation between library professionals, we met roughly once a month. Last nights session was really good. We discussed the definition of users, who are the users. For me it's a closed group, the staff and students that are at the college. An easy one to start with.

Customer service and barriers to delivering this. Coming from a retail background customer service is back ending a shift exhausted having helping everyone else. Maybe that is a bit extreme, but customer service is about putting the customer first, stopping that conversation and dealing with the customer. Personally I hate to ask where something else in a shop and if I then get a rude person telling me I am likely not to bother buying the product. Good customer care is shared, you normally tell someone about it. Working in education where students have to pay a massive amount to attend, someone recently told me students are paying £35 per day to attend, so give them what they deserve.

Barriers to providing good customer care- staff personality, work load and not being able to give students what they want due to budget or conflicting strategy plans of the department. I have to say reading success at the enquiry desk by Tim Owen, dated by very good for training sessions.  I must have used this book twice, maybe three sessions.

Online users experience, a decent website needs to have the content written by the librarian, a web designer to make everything pretty and a web developer to make it actually work. Technology not working, due to IT issues is one of my biggest problems when teaching students. Luckily I have a decent relationship with the IT department and they are use to no body ever saying something works well.

Article update

Having spent time researching my topic for my article of information literacy, and read far and wide on the topic, I have started with a bang.

At the moment my article is still in the draft stage, but I have early results from my third years. All I need to do now is write the questionnaire for my first and second years. Then I should be pretty much there.

I have to say I am feeling pretty happy about my article, I think it is too long, but I could write a book on information literacy. I've researched, created the FE and HE programme for the college and shared it as best practice to another institution.

Portfolio building training session

Attended the portfolio building training session for MCILIPyesterday, I was a little sceptical about how worth while it was going to be and thought it might be CILIP trying to justify the £50 admin fee. But having spent 3 hours listening and note taking the course intersting and I seem now to have understood the 4 criteria. However I am unsure of how the event previously lasted all day, as ever my interested faltered after the break.

Content
I felt highly relevant I formation was delievered, providing additional relevant material on what should and shouldn't be including. For example, finding out that only5 pieces of evidence is needed per criterion and that pieces can represent multiple criteria, sets my mind at ease as several of my projects tick more than one box.

Trainers
Both for approachable and knowledgable, which made the session enjoyable and motivational, as half way through the session I was thinking that after MCILIP, I would like to become a mentor but in the short term my goal is to break down the task of completion in to sizeable tasks, with realistic deadlines and follow the twitter conversations #chartership chat and return to the previously engaged with #uklibchat. however if i am being totally honest I found the content of the first presenter more depth and interesting in comparison to the first half a dozen slides of the second presentor.

Overall I consider the most relevant aspect of the course to be the reinitiation of my previously dwindling motivation. Currently feeling inspired and that I could complete my chartership, as the task now seems to be in manageable pieces, unlike 24 hours ago when it felt like a bit of a drain only resources. I feel I have significantly increased my chances of successfully completing my portfolio, which I would like to do before the 11 th feb 2013, my return to work date post maternity leave.

Man who turned his home into a public library

Interesting story on the BBC, about a 60 year old man who turned his house in to a public library. A library with no rules, set up in the memory of his parents. Impressive guy, liking his act of kindsness to his community.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19547365

What should an information literacy package contain

Information literacy being the seeking, retrieval and manipulation of information, in a ethically Infocorrect fashion. Regardless of the medium and format which it is presented. There are several models to explain what an information literacy package should contain- the most widely agreed upon

Content
1. Realising there is a need for information and how much information is needed
2. Research skills, both in traditional formats and online.
3. Critical thinking, the ability to evaluate and assess the information, to ensure accuracy, decency, legitimacy and validity.
4. Communication, of how the information will be presented from the reader to the audience and how the information will be collected.
5. Library skills, which is to encompass everything from finding a book using OPAC, to creating an Athens account, and doing a Boolean search within JSTOR.
6. Media literacy, to encompass computer literacy and visual literacy
7. The organisation and adapting of information. 

it's also important to work with the academics, to ensure timely delivery of the content, to soon into a new course and the information will be irrelevant, to late and it's equally pointless. 

Presentation
Regardless of the format, whether it be standing in front ova PowerPoint presentation, so it resembles a lecture,or something more flash like prezi, it doesn't matter along as the message is getting across to them. engaging  in to technology may  interest students more, or have the opposite effect of distracting from the message. However, in an attempt to be environmentally friendly I wouldn't create massive amounts of printed handouts , unless it was due to DDA. If it is, ensure enlarged font sizes, as well as printing on different coloured paper. 


Involment
To ensure learning has taken place, an activity is a excellent  ethos of testing this.vagain this can be as technologically  focused as you like from a interactive game online, to a series of activities. Or a question and answer session, participation is important, without it the above was pointless. Demonstrating certain points, for instance where the ebooks are but then letting them find something they are interested in, provides a stronger learning outcome. 

Tips for a successful library induction

A successful library induction, can have a major impact not only on the student returning to the library but also their grades and input in to the National student survey.

Timing is key, at the beginning of the new academic year with the first week
 Make it relevant, not only to there course but also there level of education
Get them to move, just listening to someone is very dull, provide a tour of the library
Give them a task
Make them laugh, or at least don't send them to sleep
Promote the service- it's free surely that must help
Group size's
Remember they will forget everything

Digital games in the academic library

Having read the article by john kirriemuir article in clip update September 2012,
which discusses academic game use mainly at US universities. It put a different
 slant on something that was introduced last term at my library. Where we
introduced the lending of 40 or so computer games, suitable for different platforms-
 ps3, Xbox 360 and Psp. Having read the article, one idea it suggested was keeping the games for archive purposes, something that i hadn't considered- the technology will change, at quiet a quick rate, so it might be worth holding to the current techology. Another point that the article raised was one university had purchased consoles, sadly this has not been something that we have been able to due, because of budgetary reasons. Within the article is discusses using gaming for information literacy, something which I could introduce in to our library, as the college teaches design for games at both further and higher education levels.  

Going to look in to the international games day @ your library for next November. 

Academic librarianship

Book review on Academic librarianship    by Camila Alire and Edward Evans.


Thoughts  
Having started reading this dense and rather heavy book, a couple of weeks ago. I have found that the majority of evidence though interesting, is all from America. Making some aspects of the book have limited relevance, which at times just leads to frustration.  The author also point out the reason why there needs to be a section on the history of the academic library, I feel it has limited impact or relevance, in particular to a English academic librarian. Especially when this takes up nearly 40 pages of the book. At times the book is too in depth, covering too many subheading, resulting in the initial point is at times lost and the reader needs to refer back several pages to ensure they remember what point is being made. On a more positive note, the chapter on services, under the heading of "the academic library today", which starts 215 pages out of 355, does provide very useful information, which is worth reading and developing certain ideas within any library. It is in this section that the authors show there worth and the relevance of the text.

Overall the coversge of topics is very good, possibly this book would have been more useful when I was  studying for my post grad, to provide a wider insight in to academic libraries. However this book is clearly written for people in academic libraries, more so than people wishing to join 


Cost 
Nearly £60.00
Understandably due to it's specific nature and detailed highly researched text. This book was 
never aiming for the mass market. 

Thing 18 part one

Podcasts I know ths is something that the college is keen to embrace and, I would like to dedicate time to using a medium to create a podcast to reinforce the students induction. However as I work at an art college, that teaches media, anything I create might look a little rough around the edges. On one previous occasion I had a media student create a podcast, but after copyright issues and grammar errors, it was deemed unsuitable for usage. Which was a great shame, as the podcast was apart from the two errors well constructed. Jing sounds great, little apprehensive over the recording f my voice, in previous occasions when recording my voice I have always sounded like I have a cold. I think i will have a greater look in more detail next week at work. As I need to download software.

Prezi- thing 17

I've seen Prezi a few times, normally on large screens, and felt sick, due to the motion. I think it provides a more interesting design concept but I the presentations can still be boring. The best presentations are the ones with decent content on an interesting topic, not ones which induce sea sickness in people.

On a more positive note, it can be great to capture people's attention, with high quality resources. I've watched the videos and maybe I'll have a look at it next time I have to do a presentation to senior management.

Thing 16

Promoting service Having recently completed an in depth year long study of item usage in the library, and presented it to senior management team, as well as additiontal important members of staff. I have needed to, explain the importance of information literacy to them. With there being connections to both grades and retention. Both of which are critical topics in education at the moment. In addition to this, I am also promoting a new cost saving service, where digital chapters from books therefore saving paper, as well as the academics time. As the service with be being supported by the IT Support software team. Advocacy As I work in a specialist library, where students have particular issues. Promotion the services in a manner which is acceptable tithe cohort is essential. In terms of advocacy, I am keen to promote the excellence of libraries In general. Interns of my own library, I promote the library during the induction process to students, continues to promote them during the course of the by either attending team meetings, or via our twitter account. We are also have an LCD screen, which we can create content, again this is used to get the message across to students about what the library can offer to them. Such as the lend of headphones, Computer games and DVD, along with more traditional resource. During the course of the following year the library will start to actively promoting itself to members of the general. In the first instance this will be promoted to people leaving from our evening courses. Getting published Having previously had two articles published, one being a letter and another being a book review, I am tempted to try for a third.

Art and Design libraries

As I work in a specialist art library, there is limited resources for myself to read, however the Handbook of Art and Design Librarianship for Higher Education, as proven to be an excellent read, Rachel Clarke’s chapter on cataloguing and classification for art and design school libraries: challenges and considerations. Where the article draws the reader’s attention to the process of cataloguing which must suit the information seeking behaviour of the student cohort. This concept has previously leaded me to have flexibility in aspects of the Dewey system to ensure that the users needs are considered. 

Some excellent points have been covered with in the chapter, for instance Artists in DDC are classified the country of  origin, not at our library, were we use their surname, this aids searching and creates less confusion for the students. Along side this there are other possible ideas for development, were the same process of the end user, a visual learner is taken into consideration.