Thing 23: Reflection

Participating in Cpd23 has been a learning journey for me. I have enjoyed learning about the different web 2.0 features.  Some of them are very useful, some not so but it's good to know about them nonetheless.  Many thanks to the organisers, their hardwork is very much appreciated.

I've done my SWOT analysis and set some SMART goals so will be incorporating them into my appraisal next month. 

Thing 22: Volunteering to get experience

I believe in volunteering for experience.  I have done it since I was very young.  I have learnt a lot over the years and would recommend it to anyone.

I don't think it devalues our profession.  The skills and knowledge gain from volunteering can be diverse which are useful to cement the gaps of skills and knowledge that we obtain from our day jobs.  I have recently volunteer at an NHS library.  I was amazed to learn how an health library works.  While I was there, the library moved from manual circulation to RFID so that was an eye opener. I was also given an opportunity to give a presentation to a group of library assistants about my library and how we can can help them.

Whilst the experience really helped me grow as a librarian, the library also benefited from my presence.  I was able to share my cataloguing knowledge with them when they were moving from an in-house cataloguing rules to the mainstream standards.

To get the most out of the volunteering experience, I would recommend that you have clear objectives and SMART goals. These objectives then need to be agreed by the organisation and yourself and they need to be reviewed periodically to ensure that they are being achieved. I would like to volunteer at a university library next.  Please get in touch if you know one that you can recommend. I am opened to new experiences so happy to do anything.

Thing 21: Promoting yourself in job application & interview

My dream job would be a library database administrator or system librarian. My knowledge and skills are limited to what I picked up from my current job. I have done a little bit of configurating cataloguing tables etc. on a unix system but can use more experience and training on the subject. I think there are two ways I can obtain this skills.  One is to attend courses on computer programming or something similar. Two is hands-on work either on the job or as a volunteer. I am not doing a lot to achieve my dream because I don't know where to start and it's very costly. Perhaps a session with CILIP career advisor would be helpful. I am not so sure but it could be a start. In the meantime, my CV database can definitely benefit from an update. Does anyone have one that work that they can share? I find that I have too many files and sometimes end up deleting the wrong in an attempt to tidy up.

Thing 20: Library roots/routes

I grew up in Vietnam without reading a story book until I was 11 years old.  I did not know there was such thing as a library or books that are not school textbooks.  One day I was chatting to my lovely neighbour, who turned out to be a librarian at my school, about having to write a story for my language class. I told her that I had no idea what to write and she suggested that I visit her at the school library where she can lend me some books to give me some ideas. I did exactly that the next day and borrowed Cinderella.  I have not stopped reading since.  I borrowed book after book and after I read them I told the stories to my little sister.

Years later, after we migrated to America, I visited my local library and knew instantly that I wanted to work there.  I applied for a job as a shelfer and started part time work while I was attending college.  By the time I got my bachelor degree, I knew I wanted to work in libraries for the rest of my life.  I enrolled to study for a master degree in Library and Information Science and qualified in 1998.  My first professional post was reference librarian in a public library.  In 2000 I moved to England and started working for a charity as an assistant cataloguer.  I am now a cataloguer and technical system support librarian at the same organisation. 

That's my root/route and I'm hoping to continue working in libraries for a long time to come.

Thing 17: Prezi and slideshare

Just signed up for an account on Prezi. Had a look at some demos and tutorials but cannot for the life of me figure out how create a prezi.  It seems very hard to use.  I can add shapes etc. but cannot add text.  It's very strange.  I don't like to give up but I just don't have the time and patience for Prezi at the moment.  I'm going to go back to the last task and create podcasts instead.  I might give Prezi another go some other time.

Slideshare is great.  I have viewed a few presentations on slideshare before and found them very useful. I much prefer to learn through viewing slides than reading documents.  I have never presented with slides before so will try and create some instructions using Powerpoint instead of Word.

Thing 19 integrating

I have learnt a great deal since I joined the cpd23 programme. The things I found most useful so far are RSS feeds, Evernote, Google Docs and podcasts subscription. I have been able to make use of these instantly and will carry on using them. They are tools that enhance my Internet experience and help me with my personal and work life.
Pushnote, Google calendar and citation are tools that I will not be using in the near future but might come in handy some day.

It has not all been smooth sailing however.  Many of these web based tools are blocked from my work PC. Some are frustratingly unreliable. Nevertheless I feel more knowledgeable and proud that I have achieved so much in 13 weeks.

Thing 18: Jing / Screen capture / Podcasts

I had fun playing around with Jing. Only managed to capture an image, added an arrow and a text box but it's still an accomplishment! I was unable to share it at this time but hopefully it will be working by the time I finish this post, in which case I will include a link to it. It's a useful screen capture tool. It saves us time re-creating things but we have to think about the copyright implication when using something like this. Is it enough citing the source or is it necessary to obtain permission? I suppose it all depends. We just need to be careful when using someone else's work to check their copyright statement.

Unfortunately the free version is a bit unreliable so I can't get a link to the screen capture that I did.  I had a look at the other screen capture tools mentioned but didn't find anything suitable for me.

Podcasts: now I know why I haven't been able to listen to any podcasts. I need another software! I am pleased to report that I can now subscribe to the New York Time book reviews that I've been wanting to listen to for ages.  Thank you so much for showing me the light!

I now have the facility to record a podcast but still have to learn about creating feeds for them so people can subscribe. Podcasthost.com seems to be a chargeable service so I'll be searching the Internet for a free equivalent.  Soundcloud.com will host sound files for free but there's no mention of creating feeds to them. The search continues.

Thing 16: Advocacy and speaking up for the profession

I feel bad because at age 38, I still haven't spoken out for the profession.  I need to do something about it. I will start by registering as a mentor to help CILIP chartership candidates obtain their qualifications. I'll try and think of something else.  I have always find it difficult to articulate myself and allowed it to be a hindrance to my career progession. I'll remember not to allow myself to take a back seat on any situation and force myself to be involved in the professional. I am ready to start!

Thing 15: Events etc.

I have attended many events in my professional career but I am still nervous every time due to the pressure of networking and getting the most out of the investment. Relaxing and trying to take in the picture is a good advice that I will try next time.

I am terrified of public speaking so being a speaker is a hard task for me. It is something I would like more practice of but don't like the idea of inflicting it on myself. I have done it twice and it's not as bad as I fear but still very stressful. I have learnt that the audience always want me to do well so I shouldn't worry about them. An advice that I received and found it very useful is "it's not about me". I'm doing it for my audience's benefit. This mantra helps me focus and pay attention to my audience and their reactions which means that I forget how nervous I am.

I am part of a CILIP CDG committee so I do help out with organising small training sessions and visits etc. It's a great way to learn new skills. I certainly recommend it. I am an introvert so being part of a group helps draw me out of my shell. I just need to work on my communication skills a bit harder especially how to talk to strangers!

Thing 14: Zotero / Mendeley / Citeulike

Three new resources that I have never heard of, which I have now explored and find that they are not relevant to me at this time.  I can see that it may be useful for those two are compiling a reading list for the purpose of writing an article or dissertation. I'll know now if anyone ever ask me about resources for researchers.

Thing 13: Google Docs, Wikis and Dropbox

I like Google Docs. I have a personal account where I keep files that I wish to access on more than one PCs. During my chartering process I used Google Docs to share my work with my mentor. I don't use Google Docs for work because we have other ways of sharing files within the organisation. I have access to a shared Google Calendar for CILIP related events with the East of England branch and do update the calendar with our events to avoid duplications.

Dropbox sounds like a useful site but it's something else that I don't need so I won't be signing up for an account.

I created a wiki but that was at least a year ago. Like everything else, I have not been keeping it up to date. I have added content to existing wikis but have not set up one in a professional capacity.

I can appreciate the usefulness of these resources and it's good to know that they are out there but I have no use for them at this time.

Thing 12 Social Media

I like social media.  It has many advatanges which have already been mentioned but I can see at least one disadvantage. It's very time consuming. I know many people who create accounts on many social networking sites but are not actively taking part. It's so easy to laspse even though it's a very convenient way to stay in touch. The rule I use to determine whether I am going to take part in social media is whether I will be contributing regularly or not. If the answer is no then I will not sign up for an account. I like to keep up with what's going on but I just don't have time to take part in everything that's happening on the Internet.

I have used social media a few times for professional development but I am not part of any community. I dip in and out of CILIP blogs and community forums. I created a blog but this is the first time I post regularly to it. I'll try to keep it going after cpd23 finishes.

I have a Twitter account but I don't tweet unless I have something that I think others would like to know and someone else is unlikely to tweet about. That doesn't happen very often so my account is idle most of the time. I do have a group of people that I follow to keep up with developments. Outside of work, I have a Facebook account that I use regularly to keep in touch with my family which works very well.

That's the extent of my social media involvement and I don't see any changes in the future. Although I don't use them I still want to know what they are and how to use them just to keep up to date with changes.

Thing 11 Mentoring

I am very lucky to have found a mentor who is not only supportive but also knowledgeable and very involved in the profession.  With her help I have achieved chartered status and am working toward revalidation. She's no longer my mentor but we keep in touch so she's still a source of advice and support to me. I used to have a mentor who worked in the same organisation but that didn't work out very well. It's good to have a new and fresh perspective from someone who is not familiar with what I do and my organisational structure. I think this is especially important for those who are chartering.  It encourages the mentee to go back to basic when explaining his/her situation. Chartering or not I would recommend everyone to have someone they can talk to for personal and professional development.

Thing 10 Librarianship qualification

I qualified under the ALA-accredited Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program  in California in 1998. To obtain a library qualification in California it is necessary to first obtain an undergraduate degree and then carry on a further two years for a Master in Library and Information Science. My undergraduate degree is in Social Work. Whilst studying for my Social Work Bachelor degree, I worked in various libraries and loved it so much I decided that I wanted to be a Librarian. I enrolled with the San Jose State University Satelite programme which meant that I was able to study at Fullerton University where I can commute to on a daily basis.

I started my professional post in June 1998 at a public library in Los Angeles County.  In May 2000, I moved to England and started working as an assistant at RNIB Library Service.  I am now a Cataloguing and Technical Support Librarian. I love the system side of my job.  I would really like to become a system librarian one day in a University environment. Unfortunately I don't have a computer qualification so I am considering going back to school part-time to obtain a degree in computer science or something that would give me the knowledge and skills required for a system librarian post.

I am a member of both the American Library Association and CILIP. In 2009 I successfully completed my chartership process and become a CILIP registered chartered librarian. I am proud with this achievement and since then I have registered for revalidation.  I am a bit concerned about the status of libraries and librarians at the moment but I am hoping to stay in the profession for the rest of my working life.

Thing 9 Evernote

I have now set up an account with Evernote and had a go at clipping web pages and making notes.  I find it really useful. I love the clipping we pages feature.  It's so convenient to just save a page while browsing and come back to it later. At first I was a bit skeptical, didn't think I need another tool.  I have changed my mind since I started using it.  I love the fact that I can search my notes. That makes accessing them easy and fast.  Thank you for introducing me to Evernote.

Thing 8 Google calendar

I am a reasonably organised person and I do have many means of keeping tab of what's happening in my personal and professional life. I use a paper diary, a Blackberry and Microsoft Outlook at the moment. Occassionally I do lapse and my Blackberry diary is out of date. I chose not to sync my Blackberry to Microsoft Outlook because I try to avoid installing any software that is not work related onto my work PC. While I can see how useful Google calendar and particularly the sharing with others function, I don't need it at this time. I will not have time to keep it updated so I won't start it.  With all the gadgets out there I still prefer to have a paper diary.  Yes, I know it's old fashion but that's how I keep myself organised and I always have my Blackberry for when I'm on the go.

Thing 7 real life networking

I enjoy online networking because it's easy but nothing can beat real life networking when it works. It's fun, satisfying and rewarding to meet new people. But it's hard! For me anyway.  I think it requires more committment and dedication. It's expensive so opportunities can be hard to come by. So when it does happen there's the pressure to network and that takes the enjoyment out of the process.

I am naturally shy and an introvert so finds it very hard to make conversation with strangers so do appreciate the professional organisations and groups that create opportunities that bring people together. Like online networking sites, one has to be selective as to which to be part of to get the most out of them. I think that it's better to be an active member of a few rather than trying to be part of too many.

I was encouraged that our networking event at the Brewery Tap in Peterborough was attended by seven people. It tells me that despite the numerous networking sites on the Internet people still want to meet in a face to face environment and connect with others. Great task!

Thing 6 online networking

I'm fond of online networking. I believe it's convenient and very productive. From my experience, it's always been a quick and easy way to get help and advice from others online. It's also cheap to maintain contact.  But online networks can also work the other way. It's also very easy to lose touch.  I think some people believe that signing up for an account and having some contacts is all that is required for online networking. I have friends on Facebook who never touch their accounts after the initial set up. I believe that if you don't intend to stay active on network sites then there's no point in being on it.  You have to put in some effort to reaps the reward. I also find that there are too many network sites out there. It would be nice if we can synchronise them all into one so that it's more manageable. Visiting each site separately is very time consuming so one has to be very selective which network sites to join. I am a member of Facebook but have not seen the need to join LinkedIn yet. One day I might but at this time I feel that I don't need a LinkedIn account. It could be that I am missing out but I just can't commit myself fully to another networking site.  I can appreciate networking sites usefulness and have dipped in and out of a few occassionally but haven't felt compel to join them all.

Thing 5 Reflecting

It's been a while since I reflect and find it difficult to do so now. With practice it becomes easier but there is never enough time in the day to sit and think and write and rewrite. Not for me anyway. I am a slow thinker and it takes me even longer to put my thoughts into proper English which people understand. So far cpd23 proves to be a learning experience. I feel a sense of achivement accomplishing the tasks that  are set each week. It's entirely different to think that I know how to do something than actually doing it. There are many things that I think I know how to do. cpd23 requires me to prove it.

RSS feed is something that I thought I knew but never managed to get it working, if it worked it was by accident. After the exercise, I feel confident that I understand how it works and have managed to subscribe to feeds and found them afterward. I felt even better when I was able to explain it to my boss how it works. It's a useful tool that I can make use at work and at home. I prefer to use Google Reader because it means that I can read the feeds on any computer with internet access. But some sites do not give the option to choose a reader which means that I am tied to a certain computer which isn't as convenient. My solution at the moment is subscribing to the sites on multiple computers which can be time consuming.
Twitter is something that I would like to exploit further. It's so useful to keep up-to-date with developments in rda. Previously I have only used it at home and on my blackberry but have since convinced my employer that it's necessary for work so it is no longer blocked from my work computer. It's a result that I am proud of.

Something else that I am pleased about and it's all down to committing myself to cpd23 is my initiative to set up a real life networking opportunity for information workers in the Peterborough area. I was going to attend the Cambridge event but after I have spoken to my colleagues I decided to take my own advice and be proactive and set one up myself. It was a last minute thing but I am receiving support from others who are advertising the event widely so I am hoping it will be a successful event with many people showing up. I feel empowered and confident for taking responsibilty and be an activist for what I am passionate about. I am quite shy so this is quite an achievement for me.

Thing 4

I have done a lot of reading this week and feel as if I am very knowledgeable about the current issues on the subject of technology. I am already using Twitter and follow quite a few librarians and CILIP. I often read the same tweet more than once because people tend to retweet. I find that a waste of time but have also benefited from them so can see the plus side so am willing to tolerate it.  So far I mainly follow and read tweets. With regular usage I think I will feel more confident and use it more often to tweet. Before I start to tweet properly, I will need to investigate tiny url first so that I can include manageable links in my tweets. I find that it's hard to compose a meaningful message with 140 characters without a link to the full story elsewhere. With Twitter being blocked from work it restrict me from using it for work which is an annoyance sometimes. It makes it harder for me to keep in touch in with new developments on subjects like RDA and MARC.

I think I know what RSS is and how to subscribe to one but it never seem to work properly. I can't find the feed that I subscribed to until now! Thanks for the tip about Google Reader. It's great because that means that I can read my feeds from any computers. I have also come across sites that do not allow me to choose a reader when I subscribe. That's not so convenient because the default reader is specific to the machine I am using. I feel great for finally mastering RSS! As a result I have been going around subscribing to all the sites that I regularly visit for news and updates. It's a much more manageable way to keep up to date.

Pushnote is something that I won't be using very often. I can the see the usefulness.  It's not convenient for me because it requires Firefox and it's also block from my work computer. I don't like the fact that I have to download something because it restricts me to one computer. I think I will reserve judgement until I have sufficient time to test it out first.

Thing 3

A search on Google returned 63 results and only three of those were about me. That tells me that I don't have much of an online presence and it's not news to me. It's deliberate on my part. Whether that is short sighted or not I am still unsure. Not having an online presence doesn't mean that I don't join in and use social networking sites. I just use a screenname instead. The three entries about me were: an announcement that I had won an award for some funding from the Ulverscroft foundation, minutes of committee meetings I attended and an article I wrote for an online magazine.

In these days of identity theft, I don't like to give too much information away. Sometimes it's necessary so I will do it if I need to but I don't volunteer personal information unlike some people I see on Facebook. I don't expect any employer to head hunt me so I don't think it's necessary the create a branding.  Perhaps when I am very famous and popular I might rethink!

Thing 2

I don't usually read blogs because I used to think it's like reading someone's diary.  But I have disregard that idea and started reading blogs as I was instructed to do.  I am amazed at the number of blogs out there now that I'm looking out for them.  Some are really interesting and some aren't worth reading. Some allow the readers to leave comment, some don't.  I read about a blind person's experience with BT broadband which made me realised how lucky I am to have sight. I read the Salem Press Library Blogs Award winners and bookmarked them for future reading. I particularly like the TeenLibrarian blog which features reviews of young adult books and interviews with authors. I love children books so will check back regularly for updates.

Thing 1

I used to think that I was up-to-date with technology but the speed of change is so fast these days that I find I have been left behind.  Joining in and working through cpd23 is my attempt to catch up, if not entirely, at least some of the way. I hope learn more about RSS feeds and podcasts and everything else that has to do with web 2.0.  By the end of the programme, I would like to have discovered a convenient way to capture my reflections for cpd purpose, which I can continue long after the programme finished.  I'm very excited in taking part in cpd23 and am looking forward to learning a lot of new things in the next 10 weeks.  Thank you for setting it up.

Cpd23

I am officially committed to finishing the 23 Things for Professional Development programme.  I've signed up and linked my blog with the Cpd23 blog.  I am looking forward to learning loads of new things!

Rapeseed field

rapeseed field a photo by katthyt on Flickr.

I am enjoying this new challenge of learning all about Flickr. Linking Flickr with Blogging sounds hard but it's actually quite easy. I don't need to do very much. Everything is so intuitive. It's fabulous and I love it!

Learning 2.0 update

I have not been keeping up with my web 2.0 learning.  I got stuck at Flickr because it's blocked from work and have been too lazy to do it at home. I am going start again today and will try to keep to the time line of 8 and 1/2 weeks.