NPID2011

The New Professionals Information Day held at Ridgmount Street on June 3rd 2011 was an interesting and useful day, at the very least because it gave me the chance to look around CILIP’s London office. I picked up hints and tips from Alex Wilson-Campbell’s useful CV and interviewing workshop. I found out about new ways to get involved professionally. I met a group of people who value CPD as highly as I do, I learnt about sponsorship places for conferences, and I had the opportunity to network with lots of new faces. I can even cross some people off my “know on Twitter but not met in person” list.

This blog is going to be reflective; its purpose is to make me into a more reflective practitioner. Therefore this entry will not be a chronological description of events but rather an explanation of why I found the sessions as valuable as I did. The theme of the day was one of professional development and professional engagement. I think that these two processes definitely feed into each other; to develop ourselves professionally, we must be engaged with our profession. The more that we put into our professional body by volunteering and getting involved, the more we get from those membership subs. The central problem lies in trying to convince others of the value of such engagement.

Bethan’s session on getting involved allowed us to investigate in groups the type of engagement activity that we are involved in, why we do it, and what barriers we face. It was interesting for me to see that many people were not formally professionally engaged (quite a few delegates were not CILIP members), but they were engaging with the profession via social media and other grass-roots groups such as LIKE and LISNPN. I am a passionate advocate of Twitter but I am also passionate in my support of professional bodies such as CILIP. If we are not all CILIP members, advocacy becomes an even harder task. Trying to convince people of the benefits of CILIP membership transported me back to some of the barriers to development that I often encounter. If the profession is not valued by its practitioners, who will value what we do? Lack of value and lack of support are two huge barriers to development.

The other strand of Bethan’s session focussed on these barriers to engagement and development. Fear, financial pressures, location, employers: all these and more were named as barriers to professional engagement. Yet the overriding barrier was motivation: why should I put the time into this? This answer? Because it benefits us individually and as a profession. Through this event alone, I feel part of a new network of newly met professionals. We can build these networks together to develop ourselves, ultimately to improve our employability. Also, it is quite fun.

The other hugely inspirational part of the day centred on Maria Cotera’s session. She developed herself by just saying yes to things: yes I will join your committee! She works with librarians from all over the world. She travels in order to understand the ways in which libraries and library services in other parts of the world function. She helped to bring knowledge to African women to stop the spread of HIV. She works with IFLA to promote the rights of women throughout the world. She told us about her work with the African Prisons Project

The day was an experience that I would definitely recommend to any new professionals, whether you’re just starting your library course or going through the Chartership process. The networking opportunities allowed me to make new contacts and the motto of the day was truly inspirational: just say yes! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sponsored conference place application to write.

Committee-d to CPD?

After thinking about the possibility of Chartering for a while, I am finally registering this week. As yet, it’s all quiet on the mentor front. This lack of a mentor started me thinking about motivation during the initial stages and what I expect to get out of the Chartership process as a whole.

Chartership for me means several things. It is a badge of professionalism, a standard which is recognised by others in the profession as the mark of professional competence. With enough time and advocacy, let’s hope others outside our profession will also begin to appreciate the significance of Chartership. It is a process through which I will learn to reflect on my experiences and to develop my skills in the areas of leadership and management. It allows me to extend my knowledge of the library and information profession beyond the sector in which I work. It lets me see the different issues facing each sector of the profession and also explore the common issues that unite us all. I believe that this process will allow me to become an active, confident and competent member of our profession with the skills to nurture and mentor the next generation of library and information professionals. Which brings me back to mentors. And support.

Jennie’s Chartership blog raises some interesting questions about support structures within the workplace. It got me thinking about other support structures that exist within our professional landscape. Which got me thinking about CILIP. I really believe that if I just read Update every month and passively consumed CILIP’s email updates, I would seriously review my membership status. The fact that CILIP is becoming a more high profile player in the area of advocacy would perhaps make me think twice. However, I think that the best way to really get the most out of membership of our professional body, as well as getting the most out of our professional selves, is to join a committee.

I joined the Career Development Group’s East of England committee as an ordinary member last year and have been New Professionals Support Officer since January. I am enjoying this role so much that in fact it is one of the factors that has prompted me to go for Chartership. Being part of a committee where everyone around you is as committed to CPD as you are is so empowering. No one needs convincing that what we’re doing is a positive benefit to both our own development and the development of our members. I regularly deal with new professionals via email and via LISNPN ; it is great to feel a part of this network of new professionals. The committee is comprised of people at all stages of their career and from different sectors of the profession within the Eastern region. Committee meetings make me realise how we have different issues facing each sector. Yet certain issues such as funding or user engagement and advocacy really do affect everyone.

I started this blog post talking about support structures for Chartership and I think that committee membership is a rewarding option for anyone thinking about going through this process. I am committed to CPD and it is so refreshing to meet with a group of people who are all as committed as I am – if not more! It gives me something to aim for once I’m Chartered.

The return of the Blog-I

After a hiatus of several months, it is my great pleasure to announce (drum roll please) that this blog is back and it means business. Well, library business. I admit, after the end of Cam23 last year, I rather lost my way through the blogosphere as other events took hold. After a flu-ey Christmas and a fraught term and a half, I am finally finding some time again to stop and critically reflect on my professional development and workflows. Why do I do what I do, and how do I know when to change? I know, it all sounds very self involved, doesn’t it! I think that the hardest part of blogging regularly is to get over the feeling that one's being very self-obsessed. The Blog-I has returned.

With the advent of cpd23 on the horizon, now seems like the perfect time for me to start blogging again. I am also about to take the step of registering for Chartership, so reflexion and evaluation are the two skills that I need to develop  - what better medium is there than through blogging?! So, with a new look and a new focus on CPD and reflexion, this blog once again takes its metaphorical passport and sets out on the high seas for adventures galore throughout the blogosphere. Perhaps I’ll see you there.