My contribution to CPD 23 Things

Phew, I started working on the CPD 23 Things for professional development programme at the beginning of summer 2011, along with hundreds of other librarians. This is a really well set-up, comprehensive programme which I was very excited about and was really enthusiastic to be joining. And for the first few weeks, I did keep up. Then followed a relaxing 3-week holiday (lazing in the Andalucian sunshine with no internet access, which was just wonderful). However, once I was back at work in August, I just never caught up again. Everyone else on the programme was weeks ahead of me (or so it seemed), and no-one was still working on the same 'thing' as me. My focus shifted to the rapidly approaching start of term, to my contribution to our library space redevelopment project, to preparing a library workshop programme for new PhD students, and so it went on. I kept up with some of the CPD 23 Things blogs, especially those written by folks I know and respect and I experimented with the 'things' in a rather piecemeal fashion for a few more weeks. Now, I have to say that I think it's time for me to stop trying to catch up. I definitely intend to try to complete the programme and I'll probably do this by picking up on the 'things' that I'm particularly interested in first of all (I'm definitely going to have a look at Evernote, for example). I've dabbled with lots of the tools already (LinkedIn, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Zotero and Mendeley, Prezi and Jing) and I already use some of the tools as an integral part of my working, professional and personal life (Twitter, Facebook, Diigo, blogs, RSS feeds). I'm planning on updating this blog as and when I've really explored these tools rather than trying to dash through the remaining 'things', just to say I've completed the programme. While I feel somewhat disappointed that I haven't finished the programme and won't receive a sparkly, crisp certificate, I look forward to the next time it runs again, as one of the most motivating factors was exploring the 'things' at the same time as lots of other folks.

Anyway, I really just wanted to say thank-you CPD 23 Things, it's been great, but I'll potter on at my own speed for now :-)

(Note to self: remember, CPD is a pleasure not a chore (sorry slightly longer than 6 words!)

Thing 6: Online networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter...)

LinkedIn
Yes, I do have a LinkedIn profile, although I'm not linked to a huge number of people (25 at the time of writing). However, I'm finding the Groups useful and I have joined the CILIP group and the CPD23Things group (naturally), as well as ACRL, CILIP CDG, CILIP CSG Info Lit Group, IFLA, UKeiG and UKSG.

Facebook
Although I've used Facebook for a long time, I use it much less frequently than I used to. I go there mainly to share and look at photographs and to keep up with friends.

Twitter
I realise we've covered Twitter in Thing 4: Current Awareness and I (@jennycampbell), find it a fabulous online network which I use every day to keep in touch with colleagues and find out what folks are up to. It's been the most wonderful way of creating a network of colleagues from all over the UK and beyond. I also created and jointly manage a work Twitter account (@nulibsage) which we use to communicate with staff and students in science and engineering subjects at Newcastle University.

Thing 4 (part 2): Twitter

I love Twitter. I really do. I've used it for what feels like a long time, although I haven't managed to work out exactly when I signed up. I managed to get my real name though, so it must have been quite a while ago.
I have a personal account @jennycampbell and a work account @nulibsage, which I use to share news and information about the library with science and engineering students and staff here at Newcastle University.

Through my personal account, I've made links and connections with librarians from all over the UK and beyond. It is Twitter more than anything that has made me feel really engaged with and part of the information profession again. (And I also follow lots of Radio 5 Live commentators and presenters too. My favourite hashtag (as of November 2011) is #scd (strictly come dancing), so not all work and no play...)

Thing 3: Your own personal brand

As a consequence of taking part in CPD23 Things, I've started to take my 'digital footprint' a lot more seriously. I've always tended to use my real name wherever possible, when regisyering with new resources, except for in my work twitter account @nulibsage, which I use in my role as Subject Librarian for communicating news and information about library services and. resources to science and engineering students here at Newcastle University. I also have a personal twitter account @jennycampbell. When I joined Twitter, my real name was still available and I've subsequently tried to register the same version of my name wherever possible.

A straightforward search for my name on Google (.co.uk) put my Google+ account top of the list - not really surprising, I suppose - good old Google. I'm then followed by a caravan rental company in Minehead and a dancing studio. My Twitter account appears next, followed by my LinkedIn profile. Not too bad. No sign of a blog, but that's hardly surprising since I've neglected this for such a long time - I'll check again in a few weeks once I've uploaded a few more posts.

A search for my name followed by 'library' or 'librarian' was much more rewarding. All the first page was about me (including a work blog that I started years ago but had forgotten about - resurrect or delete?)
Only a couple of images of me though - is that good or bad? I use the same photograph on all my sites, taken in Venice on my 40th:-) But other than that I try to keep photographs private, certainly on sites like Facebook, etc.

I set up an About.me page to try and link my various profiles together. I also set up a Flavors.me page. I prefer About.me at the moment, probably because I haven't experimented with either for long enough so I'd be interested to know what others use.

Thing 2: Exploring blogs and Thing 4: RSS feeds

Gosh, I'm finding it hard to keep up. My problem, and I've known this for some time but haven't addressed it properly, is good, old-fashioned information overload. And I'm supposed to be an information professional. I definitely don't practice what I preach. I've just added up the RSS feeds in my Google Reader - I have over 120. Is that normal? I can't keep up, but I think there are lots of reasons why I've subscribed to so many feeds over the last few years; maybe I'm scared I'll miss a gem, that golden nugget of information or recommendation about a fantastic new resource; but mainly I love to read about what other folk are doing, and reading inspiring posts that makes me smile and remember why I love my job. I want to feel immersed in everything that's going on, and perhaps I've done that so successfully that I'm now drowning.

Many of the feeds are from blogs, mostly information professionals and librarians (and one is the CILIP members blog - currently almost 200 unread items! Arrrghhhh!), but also relating to HE generally. Time to take stock of who I'm reading and why. Are there any blogs that I scan over quickly and never investigate thoroughly? (Yes). Are there blogs that I think I 'ought' to follow but don't get much out of? (Yes). Are there blogs I really enjoy reading but never get round to commenting on because I don't make the time (Yes, yes, yes!).

So, I've decided that today's (this week's?) challenge is to critically review my professional reading and whittle my RSS feeds down a manageable number. I currently have over 1000 unread items in my Google Reader, how ridiculous is that? Maybe once I reach a sensible number, I'll find the time to engage a bit more, rather than just reading, absorbing and bookmarking for 'later'. Time to slow down and jump off the treadmill...

Becoming an 'old' information professional

When did it happen? Has it happened? When did I stop being a new information professional and become an (old) information professional? I've been following a debate on Twitter over the last couple of days which has concerned me and I'm not entirely sure why. I've been a professional librarian (still unchartered, granted, but that's a different issue) for over 15 years, and when I was appointed to my current post, I was 27 years old (I think), and for quite a few years, was considered the 'young' one. Obviously, time passes, folks move on, and I'm definitely no longer the baby in the team!

When I qualified, there was no such thing as Twitter, nobody blogged, networking was done at meetings and conferences, although we did have email. For me, lis-link and lis-usltg, in particular, were places to engage with other librarians and keep your ear to the ground. USTLG (Universities Science and Technology Librarians' Group) also held regular meetings and was (and still is) a great place to meet folks doing the same job as me. Now, I can keep up to date with colleagues and fellow professionals in so many different ways. I have a Twitter account and although I can't quite keep on top of it, or contribute as much as I might (I'm working on this...), I'm finding it a great way of keeping up-to-date and finding out what folks (new and experienced) are up to, and am taking inspiration and ideas from lots of people. Isn't that the point?

I joined the CPD 23 Things programme for a variety of reasons; my own (personal & professional) development being one of them, obviously, but my main aim is to use this opportunity to re-engage with the profession as I feel as though I've neglected this area of my professional development in recent years (partly due to my extended exhaustion after 2 periods of maternity leave, and then combining raising 2 small children with the demands and pressures of work. I know lots of working mums who manage this a lot better than me though...). How do I feel about the new generation of professionals. To be honest, I hadn't given it much thought., aren't we all just professionals, trying to do our best and make a difference? Actually, if I'm honest, I'm quite envious of the years they have in front of them. Am I envious of their network? Perhaps? How would I feel turning up at a conference designed for new professionals? Would I feel the need to justify myself? (" Hello, no, I'm not a new professional, but I love to learn new things and meet new people!") And I do love exploring and experimenting with new technologies and different ways of doing things, and I don't think this has changed as I've aged or gained experience. In some ways and in some areas, I feel as new and inexperienced as I did 15 years ago. However, I love looking to the future and exploring, experimenting. It's got nothing to do with age, it's a state of mind.

Reasons for joining CPD23

Reasons for joining CPD23? Well, where to start? Interest in social media, a desire to take control of my own CPD, CILIP chartership, networking, to help me support researchers, staff and students as part of my job, getting to know more librarians nationally (and internationally), (re)joining a community of librarians from which I feel a bit detached.

I'm really interested in social media and web 2.0 technologies generally and am experimenting with as much as I can as part of my job, and I do consider it to be part of my job, but I do find that my approach is a bit scatter gun and I'm hoping the CPD23 programme will help me focus a bit more over the summer.
I'm also really interested in taking a greater degree of control over my own CPD. I can't grumble about a lack of opportunities because there are lots of opportunities for staff development where I work, but having the option of following a programme remotely, at my own speed is very attractive. Especially as I'm more likely to dip in and out at fairly unsocial hours. I'm also in the process of updating a 'Social Media for science and engineering researchers' and am hoping to pick up some new tips and ideas! I don't wish to re-invent the wheel and whilst I feel familar with some of the theory, I'm hoping to find real, practical examples of social media for research which I can share, to help demonstrate how these technologies might help the folks I support in my jo. But mostly, I'm interested in re-engaging professionally. I've been in my current post for around 14 years (I think), but in recent years have had time off for maternity and am now working part time (I've increased my hours up to 80% in the last 12 months), and have found that I no longer feel as engaged with the community as I'd really like to be.

So, hello, here I am. Looking forward to learning new stuff and meeting new people.

Another blog

I've decided to start a new blog as part of the CPD23 things programme, which is due to kick off in a few days time. I've already got a Wordpress blog and I'm creating a teaching resources using a Posterous blog for work, so thought I'd experiment with something else too. Really looking forward to the programme...