What is in a job?

I have mentioned previously that I now have one of those rare things in Librarianship. A permanent role. The role is certainly different to my previous job here and let me explain why. Previously, I was in user services department. This generally meant being able to do membership, desk duties, searching for missing books etc. The new role is working as an assistant in collection management team. The other job was good, but I prefer the collection management. The reason is:-
1. I'm constantly busy.
2. With Senate House in the midst of moving its collections I get a better understanding of the collection. As well as learning how expensive space can be.
3. I'm able to focus on one job at a time.
4. As we are a small team, and movers are in, I need to communicate better to them so that we can get everything done. This as actually been the best part so far. Improving my communication and management skills.
5. I now have a permanent role and am less stressed about waiting for my contract to be not renewed.
6. Finally, as I said in my interview, Digital libraries and collection management seem to be growth area's in librarianship (I feel). I feel (paper) collections will be retained more in depositories off site and more books become digitalisated, therefore I see a growth area in my present position.

Anyhow, the job means I'm more tired, drinking less and quit smoking.

The best of times, the worst of Times

Since working for over three years at Senate House Library, I've had the good fortune to work with someone called Jim Callaghan. Jim opened the library, sorted the tills out, moved the books to there area and other jobs. Not the most glamorous job, but one he'd done well for 27 years. In that time he'd seen the library change from having a tea urn and bar, to a streamlined machine. He'd seen people come and people go.
In July he was to retire, with a new gran daughter to take care of and time with the family. We'd already organised his last birthday present (a London Irish rugby shirt, a bottle of whisky and a book). When we gave it to him, he had tears in his eyes. He was going to miss this place on retirement.
We were organising a leaving do for him in July. To hear his stories and to see him smile. Unfortunately, Jim passed away on Saturday in his sleep. It's amazingly sad, but I'm so glad he had that birthday and to see him smile. Sometimes when I blog I forget works not all about gadgets and talk. Its often about the people you interact with. You'll be sadly missed Jim.

New job, new start

As mentioned previously, I've started a new job at Senate House Library. Tomorrow I offically move to that team, which means lots of moving books, collection movement etc. There was another job here, in which two colleagues went up for the job. One I'd worked with since I started and another who has been here for 18 months. I'd hope the girl I started with got it, but the other guy got it (who is a nice guy and very good). Anyhow, office tittle, tattle is VERY dull.

A permanent role, a less permanent blog

Having not written on here for six or seven weeks, as I just didn't want to. I've also been busy getting a permanent role as Senate House library working within the collection management team. As a reward to myself I have now also bought a kindle. Therefore, I maybe cutting back on my blog entries. If you had not noticed already.

Interviews and preparation Part.1

This is a follow up to an earlier post by Meredith Farkas and Ned Potter's recent post about working in libraries. My post will look at a recent interview I had for a job within an academic library in London as maternity cover. Its just a reflection of my approach to it. What I felt I did right and what I didn't do correctly.

Firstly, I was a bit shocked, as getting any interviews in this market was a surprise. I also was a bit fearful, as I have had some faux pas at interviews.

I then saw it as an opportunity. Therefore, my first port of call was to look at the job specification. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it. Therefore, first thing you should do, is make individual folders (virtual or paper) of each job you go for later reference. I therefore looked at the job specification via the cache web page I found. I also looked at the application form. This would allow me to see what I was going for and what I had put respectively. Then, I started reading a book my girlfriend used called Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions. This is a really good book, and had a great anecdote, in which he says of a lawyer who never lost a case, was once asked why he was such a great lawyer. He said he was not a great lawyer, but the best prepared. Preparation was therefore what I was going to do.

My first piece of preparation was to look at the library website. In looking at this I discovered three things. Firstly, that they used Millenium III library management system. Secondly, that they used the same photocopying and print system than what I had been used. Finally, that this was found via the libraries youtube channel. Very web 2.0 and something that made the job more appealing. Therefore, I felt at an advantage because in the interview I could point out I wouldn't need so much training.

I then looked at the panel and checked there digital status (aka linkedin, facebook etc. This allowed me to see what there area of expertise was and what they looked like.

I then looked at the map of where I had to go for the interview, and printed off directions. Just in case I got lost. I certainly did not want to be late for an interview as that created a very bad impression.

I then proceeded to be Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions. I set up a table of questions he raised, giving a short answer to each. I then looked at the questions I should ask. I did this over a week before the interview so I was honed in on the target. Getting the job. Being this well prepared I felt pretty confident.

In part two I will discuss the interview.

Contract extended....its beer o'clock

As mentioned previously it looked liked my contract had been extended until 31.03.11. So time for a beer I believe.

All quite on the library front

I've not been blogging lately, as work is hectic with new undergraduates and post graduates (which I prefer). It did look like I might only be at work till christmas, but it seems I may have a few more months in the new year to. So thats good.

Talk on library and films at Senate House tonight (well actually 21.10.10)

I'm going to a talk tonight* at Senate House entitled Something Stirring in the Stack? Why filmmakers enter the library. The event is hosted by Professor Ian Christie.
The blurb saysa of the evening:-

Libraries have often provided an incongruous setting for unacademic pursuits on screen, from manhunts to hauntings, and of course seductions. But they also represent knowledge, which is often dangerous as well as enlightening. And in a select group of films, culminating in Amenabar's recent Agora, the defence of the library becomes a powerful symbol of civilisation itself. Little wonder that filmmakers are heavy borrowers.

The twitter hashtag is #EV2010c1021. I'm going as per usual.

* #epicfail the date of the event is actually 21.10.10. Apologies for the error.

Can you sell your library? If not, why not?

Today and yesterday I helped out with the University Of London. I wasn't timetabled on, but as only one person was doing it, and for iover four hours I thought they may need a break. Anyhow, I love open days. How often can you be at work and tell people what a great facility Senate House, what a great building it is, that it has been used for a multiple of films.
So, my question is. How do you sell your library to clients? Because if you can't, no one else will.

Musical Darwinism: the evolutionary implications of indeterminate notation and its intersection with a Library 2.0 world paper

A colleague of mine has just written an interesting paper entitled Musical Darwinism: the evolutionary implications of indeterminate notation and its intersection with a Library 2.0 world. Very worthwhile if interested in musical libraries a web 2.0.

The Charles Holden Lecture by Dame Lynne Brindley tomorrow

Senate House is holding the Charles Holden Lecture by Dame Lynne Brindley tomorrow from 6pm.Although I'm off for the day I am going to attend as she will be discussing:-

"The British Library: a library for the world"Outlining the many ways in which the British Library collaborates internationally, including cultural diplomacy projects and the use of new technologies to share texts of international significance with a world-wide audience.

And a wine reception after. Not bad ;)

Why do I do this?

I recently read Jennie Laws Blogpost Why do I do This?, which was a follow up to Woodsiegirls post entitled Careers Advice. Both looked at why they had become librarians and how they had got to this career path. I thought I would add my reasons on becoming a librarian.

Well, I went to Bath Spa University in 1992 to do my BA in History and English. Whilst there I spent a lot of my time working in the library, went to the courses on how to use inter-library loans. I really enjoyed my time there and graduated in 1995. I really wanted to then be a librarian. In 1996 I went to Kingston and worked for an agency and even went for a job interview as a librarian and did not get it. Well, a few more jobs came and went (but nothing like what I wanted). Then in 2004 I worked for a friend as a carer and assisted him on his movie in the USA. Whilst working as a carer I was able to save up to do my Masters Degree in 2005 at City. As part of my degree I had to work within a library. I worked at a public library in Seven sisters as a volunteer for 2 years and really enjoyed it.

Whilst doing my masters I became interested in Web 2.0 and library 2.0. I began blogging whilst doing my degree and have been ever since.

In 2007 I passed my masters and began looking for a job. I got my first paid job working as library assistant in a public library on the Holloway road in October 2007. It was a temporary role, but it was enjoyable to enjoy going into work. In march 2008 I got my present role at an academic library in Bloomsbury.

Although it took me a long time to get the job in a library, I never have regretted it. Its the best job in the world.

What is an academic library?

Whilst meeting my mentor for my Cilip chartership we discussed the what my working role was and what is the role of an academic library and librarian?
Since then I have been thinking what is an academic library in the broadest sense? Via wikipedia it is:-

a library which serves an institution of higher learning, such as a college or a university — libraries in secondary and primary schools are called school libraries. These libraries serve two complementary purposes: to support the school's curriculum, and to support the research of the university faculty and students.

But every library has an individual approach to this. Where I work, te library is part of the University of London, and serves 22 London Universities. From tropical diseases to art. The academic library therefore has a large remit to cover. The mission statement of the library can be found here. The library therefore can at times be unwieldly with so many patrons to 'satisfy'. On top of this the Library is also being rewired, which means a three week closure, retraining and re-acquainting ourselves with re-opened area's.

I also feel academic libraries serve are what Tony Hirst recently wrote in a blog post:-

- students (i.e. people taking a course);

- lecturers (i.e. people creating or supporting a course);

- researchers;- folk off the web (i.e. people who Googled in who are none of the above).

Do we within an academic library fulfil our criteria for the 3 groups? I couldn't really discuss that here on my blog, but I do feel that things should be simplified for users. Anyhow, no more to add.

Good news for me

Firstly, i'm off to Seville with my Girlfriend for a long weekend today and taking no phone, ipod or internet. We have one day around the town on friday and a wedding saturday, but it will be nice to get away.
Secondly, my contract was extended for a year and being moved to a new department.
Thirdly, because of two I can start my Cilip Chartership. This was spurred on by a recent post I read and that I know have a years security.
This also means I can use some of my holiday time up on projects like using Yahoo Pipes, Moodle and Flash MX. Am I happy ;)

Save Senate house appeal

Obviously as some of you may know I work at Senate House. Well, it seems HEFCE (the governing body for higher education) has slashed the funding of Senate house by £716000. This could possibly mean the closure of Senate house, and the splitting of the marvellous collections it has. Though I doubt London would agree to have a great early twentieth century building made into posh flats would they?

Anyhow, some students have set up a facebook page to save senate house. They have also set up a petition. Anyhow, if you have time please sign it and join this group.

Senate House, a fine spring morning

I thought I would try out my new phone, on Senate House, where I work.