Disqus - Latest Comments for LibrarianIdol

Re: Some thoughts about library blogging (8 June)

Librarian Idol — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 03:38:12 -0000

That's great to hear! I'd love to know more about makerspaces in academic libraries. I'd have assumed that most academic librarians would have seen them as some fad, like gaming, that public libraries do to lure library users in because they don't read anymore. ;)

I do try to stay in the loop, despite having been somewhat out of library land for a year now. That said, I've found that working beyond the bubble of the library sector has opened my eyes - in some ways, the rest of the world could learn a lot from the ways that libraries work, and in this respect I have a lot of skills to offer. But even better, I've gotten to work with people who aren't librarians, and realised that there are a lot of things that libraries do that can be quite detached from reality. So, in that sense, I entirely agree with you that we need to be aware of how other sectors operate, and challenge each other accordingly - rather than create an industry of silos that don't see the relevance in each other.

Re: Some thoughts about library blogging (8 June)

Librarian Idol — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 07:44:33 -0000

I've been thinking a lot about this lately too.

5-10 years ago, there was a lot of cohesion between library blogs through the advent of social media and "Library 2.0" (which focused not just on technology, but also toward having more user-centred spaces and services. It felt like something of a point of convergence for many of the otherwise-vastly-different sectors.

However, since then, I feel like a lot of the sectors have gone their separate ways. A lot of things that people might and do blog about no longer has that feel of universal relevance across the profession.

Furthermore, I feel like many of the issues from 5-10 years ago still remain, and blogging feels like repetitious navel-gazing these days. The only big thing (that I'm really conscious of) that seems to have expanded the discourse is the emergence of makerspaces, which is limited to public and school libraries. As you point out, there's no longer the interconnectedness of the biblioblogosphere that there used to be, and so we're less aware of the issues and innovations in the industry. Something like the resurrection of linteract could be the thing we need for a new age of library blogging...

Re: Women reveal all the sexist questions they’ve been asked at job interviews

Librarian Idol — Sat, 30 May 2015 12:04:47 -0000

I said is *shouldn't* - but it does at the moment.

Thanks for illustrating the difference in challenges that men and women have to face if they want to have both a family *and* a career. Why should women have to choose to sacrifice one when most men can have both?

Re: Women reveal all the sexist questions they’ve been asked at job interviews

Librarian Idol — Sat, 30 May 2015 02:16:53 -0000

In Australia it's actually illegal to ask somebody if they're planning on having kids. It should have no bearing on the recruitment process.

Re: I like a good sled dog, she said huskily.

Librarian Idol — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 09:18:38 -0000

"I tend to be wary of redheads," she said gingerly.

Re: The Land of Surprising Pun: Preparing to fly...

Librarian Idol — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:13:11 -0000

Yes, but the question was "Knowing then what you know now..."

Re: The Land of Surprising Pun: Bring on the Spring...

Librarian Idol — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:57:33 -0000

Thanks for the advice. I've just done the first lesson, then attempted the first project, and started getting flashbacks of first year Engineering. Not the good memories, either...

Re: The Land of Surprising Pun: Travelling to Singapore...

Librarian Idol — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:00:42 -0000

That was the Crane Dance at Sentosa Island. http://www.sentosa.com.sg/e...

Re: 10 Tips to Do Presentations Like Me: It’s a performance

Librarian Idol — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:19:41 -0000

To make a performance engaging, you need to first and foremost acknowledge the audience. Make sure they're listening. Perhaps start with a question like, "So, who here has ever had a problematic library user?" Get them to throw examples back to you.

Also - pop culture references are a real winner in getting the audience on-side (but don't overdo it!).

Finally, if you believe in what you're saying, and really find the pleasure in the message that you're delivering, then hopefully your audience will. (On the other hand, if you're feeling uninspired and awkward with your presentation, then the audience will DEFINITELY feel the same way.)

Re: That library smell – it’s the smell of death

Librarian Idol — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:08:24 -0000

We covered this at uni in collection maintenance 101... so why is it so hard for so many librarians to understand? :-/

Re: desk set downunder: Bookstores Behind Bars (or in their general vicinity...)

Librarian Idol — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:12:02 -0000

Sounds like a splendid idea... one that deserves mention in the guide, even if we can't make it there this time around!

Re: Mentoring in LibraryLand: The Guru

Librarian Idol — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:35:40 -0000

I have to say that one of the bigger challenges to being a librarian - and I have encountered this almost every time - is adjusting to a new workplace. Although the basic professional principles of librarianship are the same, I've also found that every time I've started working in a new sector, the culture has been completely different, and attitudes toward libraries are sometimes the complete opposite to what they were in a previous library.

And as good as I might be at what I used to do, it almost feels like I'm starting my profession again from scratch.

I find that it's in these situations that finding a mentor is absolutely invaluable. Ideally, your employer would pair you with somebody who would help you settle in and understand "the way we do things here", but that's often not the case. I was fortunate enough to have a former boss from a previous workplace, who moved into the school sector a little bit before me, and whom I can contact from time to time to bounce ideas off, work through problems with, or just vent frustrations and seek some kind of contextual understanding of them.

However, in the past, I've also met people at conferences, or seen people speak at conferences and contact them afterwards. I do think it's important that you seek out a mentor that you might find inspirational, or who has impressed you with some level of "wisdom" from whom you might hope to glean a little more.

At the end of the day, it's all about setting up professional support networks. And I should add that I find that, additional (or as an alternative) to establishing a mentor, it's also really useful to seek out peers that are at the same stage in their career as you. It's so comforting to have people with whom you can empathise and share your experiences, and to know that you're not alone at this stage of your career. And (yes, I'm blowing my own trumpet here) I find that groups like the ALIA New Graduates Group are a great way of seeking out like-minded professional peers, and forming those networks.

Finally, I think that the most important advice is to do what works best for you. If mentoring feels like too much effort, and you're self-motivated and confident in your work, then maybe there are better ways of finding that professional support. Or if you have an extremely supportive workplace with a fantastic boss, then you may not need a mentor.

Re: Dear Miffy...

Librarian Idol — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:53:22 -0000

Actually, for most public libraries, Band 5 is for a entry-level librarian. Band 6 is when you get up to second-in-charge level in a branch, and Band 7 is when you're a branch manager.

Re: The Desk Set Downunder Logo... A work in progress

Librarian Idol — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:01:08 -0000

I clicked the "Like" button because, yes, we're at work, but it's not long until it's A LONG WEEKEND! :D

Re: Library Folk in the Pub Melbourne!!!

Librarian Idol — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:52:11 -0000

Count me in as well!

Re: The Desk Set Downunder Logo... A work in progress

Librarian Idol — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:11:34 -0000

If there were a "Like" option, I'd be clicking it now.

Re: Careering into the future...

Librarian Idol — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:53:37 -0000

Hi Clare,

Being in Melbourne, I know quite a few people who have been through the course at RMIT, and were happy with it. I myself started the course at Monash, but found it extremely dry (and expensive!). I then switched to CSU, which I found really good, especially for an online course, which suited me working full-time.

Re: Turning the tables

Librarian Idol — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:10:59 -0000

Hi Jenny,

Firstly, it's great that you had the resources to take on the financial strain. However, the fact remains that I don't have that kind of financial support, presumably by family or a partner.

Secondly, with my current job, I've kind of made a full-time commitment to developing the school library over the next few years, of which the scope includes massive redevelopment and capital works. If I were to quit my job after one year, I'd definitely be upsetting people and screwing over the school.

Whilst you say you've seen librarians struggle to provide a service, I haven't felt that way at all. Of course, I manage an excellent team, comprising of a teacher librarian and a library technician, and between the three of us, we provide an excellent service.

Which makes me think that perhaps its a case of not so much looking at the individual team member, but looking at the team as a whole, and working each member for their strengths, and the ways that they complement each other team member.

Re: What's in your (hand)bag? An invitation

Librarian Idol — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:54:47 -0000

I wish I could meet a nice girl with a Southern Eastern Quoll badge. If you know of any, feel free to send them my way.

Re: Young librarianship in schools.

Librarian Idol — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 07:15:13 -0000

Anne - I tend to agree with you.

Except that there's an expectation that, as professionals, there is an idea of best practice. It defines the rules that we keep in the library, and the expectations that we have of library users. And many of these are based around the relationship between the librarian and the user, and the level of trust present.

And, working in a school, it's already blatantly obvious that students respond VERY differently to younger staff than older staff. I think that's a fair observation.

And the thing that keeps me up at night is that people tell me that I should be doing things this way or that way, or that my ideas are naive because it wouldn't work for them. And yes, I'm hearing all of this from people with whom I have a substantial generation gap.

And when I look to the industry for evidence-based practice, I see things that have worked, which would NOT work for me, because it's based on a relationship with the client that I don't have.

So, my question is, where do I look for the right way to do it for ME?

Or do I just go with my instinct, the way many other librarians seem to do, in spite of repeating the mistakes of others.

Re: The Best YA Books You Haven’t Read

Librarian Idol — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:46:48 -0000

Marchetta's next book is a sequel to Saving Francesca, so hopefully that will definitely drum up more interest in it...

Re: Questions & Answers

Librarian Idol — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:58:02 -0000

I totally agree that we all need to, as you say, be the change. However, it also needs to be a collaborative effort. Members need to be actively encouraged to step up together, and get involved in these kinds of projects.

I still feel like there's very much a culture of passive membership, where people wait for somebody else to do something, and then complain that nobody does anything. I know that I've been guilty of it myself. Just like people complaining that nobody gets involved in stimulating discussion on the e-lists like they used to. It only takes two people to start a discussion, but at the same time, it takes a minimum of two...

Re: Professional anniversary navel-gazing...

Librarian Idol — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:33:01 -0000

It's definitely up there on my relatively short list of places where I'd like to work.

Re: Professional anniversary navel-gazing...

Librarian Idol — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:20:13 -0000

I'm not sure why I'm a little reluctant to articulate on this - it feels slightly *too* personal, like trying to describe what my ideal partner would be. It's very much an ideal set of circumstances that are unlikely to come my way unless I'm very lucky. However, there are a few aspects that I certainly look out for:

- Reader development focus, above all.
- Strong ties with the literary industry
- Relatively small, professional, team that doesn't involve too much micro-management.
- Project management
- Evidence-based practice
- Public programs planning and delivery
- Usability focus (both online and in the physical space)
- Research and development, with opportunities to speak at conferences.

So, if you can think of any jobs that tick all those boxes, be sure to let me know. ;)

Re: Taking the "young" out of YA Fiction...

Librarian Idol — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:22:41 -0000

Oh wow, bean bags, instant coffee... you're starting to remind me of my brief foray into spending Friday nights at my local church's youth group...

That said, they were onto something - all you really need is a stereo, some bean bags, and food, and you've got the makings of a hang-out space for teens... maybe some card/board games, butchers paper on the walls, an online PC, and an awesome collection of books...