August 2013
I see from my stats that this blog was visited yesterday, despite having been dormant for several months. The fact that someone looks but finds nothing new, will never do! So, in case anyone else happens upon this blog, which I started when I was following the 23 Things initiative in 2012, I thought I'd just post an update.
Since completing 23 Things, my contract has changed. (The change is unconnected with 23 Things, I hasten to add.) My working week has been modified, as I am currently 60:40 music librarian : postdoctoral researcher on an AHRC-funded project. A new professional covers my non-library days. Spending two days a week on music research is work, not specific, scheduled training, but it nonetheless develops my research skills, so you could argue it's a kind of Continuing Professional Development.
Also since completing 23 Things, I've signed up to be a CILIP Mentor for new library professionals embarking upon their Chartership training. It's time to put something back into the profession. I already have one shiny new mentee, with the prospect of a couple more.
The most recent formal training event I've attended was the Scottish Storytelling Workshop's Stagecraft Workshop: How to be the Social Glue. It was basically about hosting an event - being the compere - as I thought it would be a good idea to brush up my presentation skills for non-academic audiences. And why? Because I've done various talks for special interest groups, and I had a book-launch of my own in April 2013! My husband has since reflected, 'You basically used that book-launch as an excuse for a full-scale concert'. He's half-right. I was introduced by a senior manager, then gave an illustrated talk. The performers were our students, a former colleague of mine, and me at the piano.
For years, I've represented the Whittaker Library at SALCTG, the Scottish Academic Libraries Cooperative Training Group, and last summer I became Convenor of the group, so that's the last piece of news in my CPD update. I'm not just updating myself, but helping develop other libraries' staff too. I gave a pecha kucha presentation about SALCTG's aims and objectives, at a seminar earlier this summer.
It's possible that CILIP may have a new name soon. The voting at the AGM will be whether to accept Information and Library Professionals UK: the Chartered Institute for the Knowledge Professions, as our new name. I'll index this update under both the present name and the potential new one, to aid retrieval. (Once a librarian, always a librarian?!)
