Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Helibtech update
As mentioned previously, I've joined Helibtech. As mentioned previously I said I would include the twitter hashtag here. Also the editor can be found here to.
Chrismash.....Andrew Preater style
Although I didn't make the chrismash event last saturday (mainly because I rarely keep up to date with my RSS feeds or twitter). Anyhow, I had hoped to go as a person I work with Andrew Preater discussing Towards ethnographies of the next-gen catalogue user. Anyway here is a link to the talk. Sorry I missed it.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Helibtech meeting at Sconul
Yesterday, I went to an Helibtech meeting at SCONUL. Helibtech:-
aim of HELibTech is to provide a starting point for anyone interested in library technology in Higher Education. Its particular focus is UK but many of the issues will be relevant elsewhere.
The meeting was arranged by Ken Chad to try and get more content editors on the Helibtech wiki. Therefore, at the meeting with some other members from Plymouth University, Canterbury University and University of West London amongst other places (I won't say who they are, as i'll explain why later).
Anyhow, in the meeting we discussed what needed to be done. How to increase interest? What we would do? Organisational stuff. We also discussed creating content biographies to put on wiki (hence no names mentioned above. I'll do that on this blog at a later date).
The good thing about it was the networking (even learning one month too late about Chrismash. Anyhow, we'll soon have more on this. Hopefully, we'll have a hashtag for the site.
Any queries etc or any thing you might thing is of interest either mention here, or better still over on the wiki.
aim of HELibTech is to provide a starting point for anyone interested in library technology in Higher Education. Its particular focus is UK but many of the issues will be relevant elsewhere.
The meeting was arranged by Ken Chad to try and get more content editors on the Helibtech wiki. Therefore, at the meeting with some other members from Plymouth University, Canterbury University and University of West London amongst other places (I won't say who they are, as i'll explain why later).
Anyhow, in the meeting we discussed what needed to be done. How to increase interest? What we would do? Organisational stuff. We also discussed creating content biographies to put on wiki (hence no names mentioned above. I'll do that on this blog at a later date).
The good thing about it was the networking (even learning one month too late about Chrismash. Anyhow, we'll soon have more on this. Hopefully, we'll have a hashtag for the site.
Any queries etc or any thing you might thing is of interest either mention here, or better still over on the wiki.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Congratulations to Gloucester and Somerset public libraries
As many of you may know, Somerset and Gloucester have ruled library cuts unlawful. This means that both councils will need to look at the closures somewhat differently. It was interesting how Cilip, The Guardian and BBC reported this.
Anyhow, congratulations one and all. Especial mention to for one campaignor who said this after the case:-
Gloucestershire residents should never have had to go through this stressful, upsetting and expensive process and serious questions now also need to be answered by the secretary of state Ed Vaizey. It is Mr Vaizey’s duty to intervene when authorities are not meeting their obligations to provide a library service available to all who wish to use it. Why were Gloucestershire County Council allowed to continue down this destructive path? In opposition Mr Vaizey was a vocal critic of library closures yet our many pleas for help have been ignored whilst library users were left to fight this alone – it is clear that he left his convictions at the door on entering office.
Go get 'em........
Anyhow, congratulations one and all. Especial mention to for one campaignor who said this after the case:-
Gloucestershire residents should never have had to go through this stressful, upsetting and expensive process and serious questions now also need to be answered by the secretary of state Ed Vaizey. It is Mr Vaizey’s duty to intervene when authorities are not meeting their obligations to provide a library service available to all who wish to use it. Why were Gloucestershire County Council allowed to continue down this destructive path? In opposition Mr Vaizey was a vocal critic of library closures yet our many pleas for help have been ignored whilst library users were left to fight this alone – it is clear that he left his convictions at the door on entering office.
Go get 'em........
Saturday, November 12, 2011
CPD 23 Thing 16: Advocacy, speaking up for the profession and getting published
Thing 16: Advocacy, speaking up for the profession and getting published looked at what can be done to stop library closures and to underline libraries importance in an information economy. Laura discussed such area as the #savethelibraries hashtag, the Voices for the Library and CILIP amongst others. Laura also pointed out:-
Unfortunately it's very hard for public library staff to campaign for their own sector without risking their jobs, so it's very important for people outside of public libraries (and within, where possible) to shout about the role of public libraries and talk about why they're more relevant than ever.
She then looked at what might be needed to become an advocate such as a campaigning toolkit amongst other things.
She also looked at things to Do to become an advocate. Her recommendations where :-
There's plenty you can do to incorporate advocacy into your day-to-day life; the hardest part is working out how. For this Thing:
Consider why it's important to advocate for the section of library and information sector that you work for or want to work in.
Have a think about what advocacy you've been involved in. Give examples so we can pool resources and inspire others to do the same. Or, give an example of some advocacy that you think has been particularly effective – library-related or otherwise.
If you haven't been involved in advocacy, reflect on what your skills are (or which you want to develop), what you're most passionate about and think about what you might be able to do.
If you're passionate about public libraries and want to help – let Voices for the Library know! We're keen to get more people involved with things like asking organisations and well-known figures for supporting statements, securing sponsorship, liaising with other campaigning bodies and representing us at events.
If you've got any potential content for That's Not Online! let Jacqueline know.
Think about where advocacy fits in with professionalism – maybe comment on Johanna's blog post about Activism, Advocacy and Professional Identity or if you can get hold of any, look at some job descriptions and identify where you think the advocacy might fit within the requirements of the roles.
Ihave done some advocacy. Very lazy advocacy. This was setting up voices for the library wikipedia page.
Unfortunately it's very hard for public library staff to campaign for their own sector without risking their jobs, so it's very important for people outside of public libraries (and within, where possible) to shout about the role of public libraries and talk about why they're more relevant than ever.
She then looked at what might be needed to become an advocate such as a campaigning toolkit amongst other things.
She also looked at things to Do to become an advocate. Her recommendations where :-
There's plenty you can do to incorporate advocacy into your day-to-day life; the hardest part is working out how. For this Thing:
Consider why it's important to advocate for the section of library and information sector that you work for or want to work in.
Have a think about what advocacy you've been involved in. Give examples so we can pool resources and inspire others to do the same. Or, give an example of some advocacy that you think has been particularly effective – library-related or otherwise.
If you haven't been involved in advocacy, reflect on what your skills are (or which you want to develop), what you're most passionate about and think about what you might be able to do.
If you're passionate about public libraries and want to help – let Voices for the Library know! We're keen to get more people involved with things like asking organisations and well-known figures for supporting statements, securing sponsorship, liaising with other campaigning bodies and representing us at events.
If you've got any potential content for That's Not Online! let Jacqueline know.
Think about where advocacy fits in with professionalism – maybe comment on Johanna's blog post about Activism, Advocacy and Professional Identity or if you can get hold of any, look at some job descriptions and identify where you think the advocacy might fit within the requirements of the roles.
Ihave done some advocacy. Very lazy advocacy. This was setting up voices for the library wikipedia page.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Dorset Council wins motion close 9 public libraries
A Motion to save Dorset libraries defeated.
Libraries earmarked for closure
Burton Bradstock
Chickerell
Colehill
Corfe Castle
Portland Underhill
Puddletown
Stalbridge Wool.
Libraries earmarked for closure
Burton Bradstock
Chickerell
Colehill
Corfe Castle
Portland Underhill
Puddletown
Stalbridge Wool.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Who was the greater economist? - A conversation with Robert H. Frank at Nesta
I am off tonight to Nesta to see Who was the greater economist? - A conversation with Robert H. Frank
. The event will look at:-
Economist and New York Times columnist Robert H. Frank will discuss his new book The Darwin Economy: Liberty, Competition and the Common Good, at NESTA on Wednesday 9th November.
The Darwin Economy contends that Charles Darwin’s understanding of competition describes economic reality far more accurately than Adam Smith. For Smith, market failures were almost always rooted in attempts to suppress competition. In contrast, Darwin’s framework suggests that market failures are rooted in the logic of competition itself.
Hopefully, will write it up sometime this week.
. The event will look at:-
Economist and New York Times columnist Robert H. Frank will discuss his new book The Darwin Economy: Liberty, Competition and the Common Good, at NESTA on Wednesday 9th November.
The Darwin Economy contends that Charles Darwin’s understanding of competition describes economic reality far more accurately than Adam Smith. For Smith, market failures were almost always rooted in attempts to suppress competition. In contrast, Darwin’s framework suggests that market failures are rooted in the logic of competition itself.
Hopefully, will write it up sometime this week.
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