Worldwide Library 2.011 Conference in November 2011

I just got this via email, that might be of interest to you:-

This is our official call for presentations for the Library 2.011 conference, November 2 - 3, 2011. The conference will be held online, in multiple time zones over the course of two days, and will be free to attend. We encourage all to participate, and ask that you share this information where appropriate. Presentation submission instructions are at http://www.library20.com/pages/call-for-proposals.

The Library 2.011 conference will be a unique chance to participate in a global conversation on the current and future state of libraries. The conference strands are at the bottom of this email. Session proposals will be posted on the conference website, and we encourage making comments to and connecting with others based on their session proposals, as well as "voting" for session using the "like" button on the submissions. Session proposals are due September 15, and session acceptances will be communicated by September 30.

Good news for Somerset......bad news for libraries and librarians

The BBC has reportrd three Somerset libraries set to stay open. The article says:-

Three out of six libraries due to lose funding from Somerset County Council in three months are set to stay open.

Six libraries in the county will have their funding stopped from 1 October and another five will have their funding stopped from next April.

Volunteers have stepped in to pay for and run libraries in Bishops Lydeard, Bruton and Porlock.

The Conservative-led council aims to save 25%, or £1.35m of the library budget.

I'm not really one for the volunteers in libraries thing. I thing it won't work as there is little financial. intellectual or social pay back for the volunteers. Also, they won't have the skillset for users on copyright issues etc. oh well.

23 Things for Professional Development Thing 4: Current awareness - Twitter, RSS and Pushnote

23 Things for Professional Development new post discusses Thing 4: Current awareness - Twitter, RSS and Pushnote.

The twitter part looks at join (which I did YEARS ago). It then looked at introducing oneself on twitter and using the hashtag #cpd23.

My problem with twitter is you need to be constantly on it to know whats going on.

The RSS section looked at what RSS does, what RSS reader to use. It also sites to perhaps add to your reader:-

Librarian by Day - transliteracy, digital library services
Phil Bradley's weblog - "where librarians and the Internet meet" - search engines, web 2.0 technologies
The Wikiman - library advocacy, marketing, social media
Thoughts of a [wannabe] librarian - IT in libraries, digital divide, library news and advocacy
Agnostic Maybe - ebooks, library news. Hosts an "open-thread Thursday" discussion each week
Hack Library School - a must for LIS students, "hack" your library school experience using the web as a collaborative space
Rarely Sited - special collections and outreach
Mashable - social media and technology news

I was disappointed I wasn't there. I also think they should add you can compartmentalised different blog interest group. I did comment on this here (google actually said no to that on 10 occasions). My query was:-

RSS can also be used for multiple interest. For example sport, news, work. Maybe that might be something to add to cpd23?

The final thing was Pushnote. described as:-

a tool that allows you to rate and comment on any website. If any of your Twitter or Facebook friends use Pushnote as well, you can add them as a friend, and then share pages with them. You can also choose to automatically post your comments to Twitter and/or Facebook if you want to share them with a wider audience.

I've never really been a fan of this system, so I didn't sign up for it.

Gloucester libraries on channel 4 news

It was with some interest I saw Friends of Gloucester Libraries was on channel 4 news. The news discussed The High Court issues an injunction against Gloucestershire County Council over library closures. I did also get to see the delightful conservative leader Mark Hawthorne complaining about it.

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.

Kindle power

Having continually pointed out I have a Kindle, I thought I'd mention how its going using it. I now some articles have said :-

Books as I grew up with them — books with jackets and covers and paper and spines — have stories that reach beyond what's written inside, and those stories are mine. There's the paperback copy of "Fahrenheit 451," signed by Ray Bradbury when he came to my hometown bookstore (and which I consequently never returned to the library).

But I find the kindle more convenient etc. I don't want an autograph book (why would I want to bow before the alter of celebrity fandom?) I really don't have space in an expensive London flat. I can arange the books into my own categories. I can take 2000 books with me. I can start reading without fear of losing my book marker. I can sell my books to pay for my Kindle. I never thought I would say it, but I prefer my kindle.

Out Of This World Science Fiction Exhibition at BL

I was reading Gary Green's blog recently, and his going to the British Library to see the Out of this world exhibition. For those who can go I'd really recommend it. There's books there by Margaret Attwood, Mary Shelley, Phillip K Dick, Alan Moore and Neal Stephenson. The exhition looked at Dystopia novels, utopian novels, time shifting novels and Virtual reality novels amongst others. If that doesn't interest you, Dr.Who's Tardis is there.

23 Things for Professional Development part 3. Consider your brand

As mentioned previously I have started on the 23 Things for Professional Development. The third part is entitled Thing 3: Consider your personal brand by Jo Alcock.
Anyway, its something I'll look into later.

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.

The beginning of the end for books?

There's a good article In the Guardian entitled Want to know print's future? It will cost you… looking at the impact of Ebooks on paper books? Robert McGrum,the author of the article says:-

The history of technology teaches that the printing press did not make the manuscript redundant, nor did the typewriter eliminate the fountain pen. Despite dire predictions, television did not kill radio. Technological change is discontinuous.

Work, Work, Work

I have mentioned previously I have a new role at Senate House. This means I'm working as part of the collection management. This means I'm helping move collections. A lot of lifting. A lot of moving. But its a change......

The British Library and Google in conjunction to release 250,000 books

A colleague pointed this article The British Library and Google to make 250,000 books available to all out to me. Wonder how long it'll take to complete the digitising for that?

Supercharge your CPD: 23 Things for Professional Development starts today

I've just joined Supercharge your CPD: 23 Things for Professional Development (which I found via here). Described as:-

23 Things for Professional Development, also known as cpd23, is a self-directed, self-paced, inclusive, practical and free online programme open to librarians and information professionals at all stages of their career, in any type of role, any sector, and from any part of the world. It encourages information professionals to explore and discover social media 'Things', including Twitter, RSS feeds and file-sharing, as well as other 'traditional' CPD routes, such as gaining qualifications, presenting skills and getting published. Participants will be asked to assess how each Thing can assist them in their professional development, and then to blog about each Thing and share their thoughts, views and expertise. The programme is completely informal and no prior knowledge or experience is expected or assumed.

The first part was to set up a blog. The second part was to investigate and comment on others. I am hoping to do the course even though my new job means i'm constantly busy.

British Library still to release out of date copyright books for Kindle

I was reading with some in A Kindle World blog and the article British Library Books Follow-up: Enhanced Versions on iPad with Option to Buy Printed Copies at Amazon
What happened on the British Library books?. I had heard the British Library was to release these in February.
TUAW has reported though that Ipad has stolen a march on the kindle, by getting these books first. It also seems the Ipad App is only available in the USA. Thats so clever BL!

CILIP London: Voices for the Library: a new model for library advocacy at The Sekforde Arms Hashtag

As mentioned previously in this blog, Tom Roper will be talking at the Sekforde Arms. I mentioned in the post, that at the time there was no hashtag. Tom quickly responded by saying it might be worth using #vftlciliplond as the hashtag. Thanks Tom. I'm hoping to be there, but workuing until 6.00pm.

Bow down before the Kindle

As mentioned previously I have a Kindle. I have bought a load of books which are:-
*The Man
*Lair of the White Worm
*Alan Moore: The Essential Guide to the Creator of watchmen, From Hell and V for Vendetta (Pocket Essential series)
*Lord Jim
*Nostromo, a Tale of the Seaboard
*The Works of H. Rider Haggard

I love my Kindle. Its actually making me read more. Its so simple to use to.

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.

Women’s Institute to campaign for libraries via Cilip

The Women’s Institute to campaign for libraries. Anyhow, thats a pretty big organisation to be supporting CILIP campaign against public library closures.

CILIP London: Voices for the Library: a new model for library advocacy at The Sekforde Arms

Tom Roper will be talking at Sekforde Inn in London entitled CILIP London: Voices for the Library: a new model for library advocacy. I might got along. Also unsure what the hashtag is for the event

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.