Citting pretty

Like the play on words? Last week I started working on Staff Development at our central library in the city. It was different, but something I know I will enjoy because of that. My colleague does have quite a workload, so anything I can do to help while she works on her special project, I am willing. When we looked at how much time I have been released from my Information Services position to help her though (8 hrs p/w approx. 20 times), it is sure to go fast.

One of the first tasks I was given to do when I started a month ago, was to organise an induction morning for new library staff. It happened last Thursday and overall, was a success. It included chats from the Library Executive, a presentation from a very willing existing staff member, morning tea, a game (speed dating, which everyone seemed to enjoy) and a tour of one of our libraries for those who were interested. I asked one of the participants if they enjoyed themselves and they did, so that is all I could have asked for. Of course, there are always things you could do better, (less formal at the start, better setup of the game) but that’s for next time and I hope there will be a next time.

Next week, after I tidy up a few things from the Induction and evaluate what I thought of it, it will then be on to looking at mini-lunges ISTs and what can be done. As a follow on from 21 Lunges, which I am taking Robyn through at the moment, the champions and the Staff Development Co-ordinator felt that maybe some short, sharp training sessions led by staff experts on particular Web 2.0 tools, with hands-on time included, would spark more staff interest in Web 2.0.

Talking about the Library Technicians Conference, the brochure of the program has just come out, and it looks like we will be presenting at 2.00pm on Thursday the 17th September under the theme ‘Technique’. But I wish they had spelt my name right and acknowledged Robyn! Now I just have to decide whether I’m going to attend the whole conference or just one day. Still got time. And we must get more of a wriggle on. I don’t want time becoming our enemy. Big discussion point of our Wednesday meeting this week.

I’ve finished looking through all the lunges, and the last ones don’t seem to need any tweaking or additions, which is good. I hope Robyn doesn’t have any more technical difficulties with access though.

Who knew Easter could be so fun?

Why, do you ask? Because I went over some more of the 21 Lunges posts, to help Robyn in her journey, and I had forgotten how great some of it was. Social video and entertainment was a great post, Yahoo Pipes got me thinking again, as to how to create a mashup, I realised that bubbl.us could help me in my Staff Development work, creating colourful mind maps (why did I not remember it when we were discussing mind maps in our New Professionals Group?) and I tried out Diigo as a social bookmarking alternative to the now defunct Furl.

Of course there were some not so great things, and I've tried to come up with some new avenues for Robyn to try, or advised her ignore them altogether, without losing the main essence. of the original program. Great fun! But I wonder sometimes whether my enthusiasm has made Robyn confused in the process or overloaded, because I like to share everything.

We had a meeting today. Robyn was having trouble signing up for Facebook. It was annoying! I think our organisation blocks a lot of sites, or slows them down, so I'm sure there will be challenges ahead. I must get on Facebook and try to friend her now...

Where has the daylight gone!

Well, here I am again. End of daylight savings.

Robyn and I have met and discussed a few things this week, tried to come up with a timeline. We will be having regular one-hour catchups once a week during April, with Robyn aiming to have the program completed by the end of the month. Then in May, we can start working on our ideas for the paper/presentation. We have to submit the final paper by the 14th August, but with Robyn and my busy schedules, and Robyn also going on leave in June, we're being safe. We decided not to have our paper refereed when we were writing the abstract, so that is less pressure.

Today I looked through a few of the Lunges posts again, which was interesting. Social news still does not set my heart on fire, but I know the basic premise, so we should be fine. Furl has recently ceased and become part of Diigo, so I will test this out and point Robyn in its direction, as another social bookmarking example. One of the original participants in the program also pointed out that LibraryThing isn't included, and I agree it should have been, so I'll point that out as something to look at the end of the other social bookmarking content. I also found another wiki example a few weeks ago.

To end, I can now share that I will be working in my Library's Staff Development area one day a week on secondment till October. I am very excited and have already started working on a task.