Thing 23: Making It All Work Together

I set up a Hootsuite account and added my twitter account and Linkedin account as these are my two professional social media accounts. I like to keep Facebook and Instagram for family, and am still feeling my way with google+.
To download the app on my iPad was straightforward, I did this via my twitter account. To add Linkedin I went to settings, clicked on the Linkedin banner, and then typed in my e-mail and password. It was very simple.

I posted an update to both my accounts at the same time by simply ticking both account icons when prompted, and did a  scheduled post by clicking on the date icon after writing another message, and setting the date and time via a roll menu. I can see how scheduled posts could be really handy for campaigns, such as the Summer Reading Challenge or shortlists for book awards, or even if I was away and wanted to keep up the interest and momentum of a project.
I do not  use any other social media management tools but think that Buffer may be useful. I like that when I find interesting content on the web I could use the 'buffer button' to save and schedule  the content for later. This would stop me from swamping twitter at any one time just because I had found a lot of interesting stuff at one sitting!

I don't have many social media accounts so don't find it difficult to keep up with them all per se. I do, however, find twitter very fast paced and can feel overwhelmed by the amount of information. To help a little with this I have started to use group headings, so that I can peruse particular areas of interest rather than reading everything.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and have learnt so much from it. As well as new ideas and apps, such as Flipbook and GUM, I feel that I have also gained a deeper understanding of the social media accounts that I was already using. It has given me lots of ideas of things that I can do in the library and has also helped make me feel more competant in  new and emerging technologies.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/intersectionconsulting

 

Thing 18: Communicating through Photographs

I already have an Instagram account, and prefer to use this for family., so have decided to take on the Flickr challenge!
I opened a Flickr account, which was straightforward, and searched for libraries to follow. (I also folowed some travel accounts because the photos were so beautiful). I wasn't sure how to check for creative commons licence initially, but by clicking for more details the copywright was listed.

After doing Thing 19 on copyright I decided to delete the two photographs that were here as a record of my learning process! Not only were they not commons copyright, but by not referencing them fully I could not easily find them again. Another reason for full, accurate & attributable references.

 

 

Both Flickr & Instagram  applications could work very well in my library as another way to communicate with the wider community and attract new followers, but unfortunately our Media bods have directed us to only use Facebook & Twitter for fear of diluting our efforts and impact!

Thing 22: Mobile Things

As an owner of an iPad I downloaded the Gum app easily and scanned and reviewed the two books I had just finished, Raven Girl (ISBN 978-0-224-09787-1)by Audrey Niffenegger and The Rithmatist (ISBN 978-1-4440-0953-8) by Brandon Sanderson.

The copies  of  The Fault in our Stars by John Green (ISBN 978-0-141-34565-9) and Game of Thrones by George R.R Martin (ISBN 978-0-00-754823-1) are all out in my library so I have not been able to scan them. So far any other book I scan doesn't yet have Gum attached to it!

I had briefly thought that Gum would be fun for my Chatterbooks group of 7-11 year-olds  but it would be a potential  safeguarding issue with the possibility for age inappropriate comments. I am also aware that not all of the children would have access to iPhones/smart phones and so potentially a Gum activity would not be inclusive.

I only got my iGadgets last year and so am still really enjoying the apps and different things I can do with them. I do use my phone for work purposes,and to extend my own CPD, with photos of displays and apps such as Easel.ly. Our branch has just been given its own smart phone, so sending things to twitter or Facebook are quite straightforward. I think that mobiles are amazing with all that they can do, but am also aware that as I work with children they can be a safeguarding issue. We do have procedures, as I am sure everyone does, if we wish to use someone's photo for library media.
We do not have a beacon in our library. I do you think it is too much like marketing and an invasion of privacy. I even feel bad that we sell toys, particularly when I hear littlies asking for things and their parents having to say no!
I will have a look at the 23 Mobile Things course. I am already thinking that I will miss Rudai 23 when it finishes. I have learnt so much already, and I am sure that I could learn a lot more about mobiles :-)

A picture of Harry, our library bear, just to counteract all this technological learning stuff!

Thing 21: Creating Infographics

Here is a fun infograph of my ideal day. I can't believe how easy it was. I used an Easel.ly template on offer with the free usage sign-on, changed the script and added a few extra pictures. I didn't want to add many objects as I could see that it could start to look cluttered quite quickly.

Using infographs for presenting data could be more useful than the usual combinations of Excel and Powerpoint for children or those with special educational needs. I think that it would also be appealing for certain topics that are seen as difficult. For example, in our library we often have people come in to use the public computers who have never used them before. As staffing levels are cut and we find we cannot always devote as much time as we would like to help new computer users, an infograph might be a good way of giving instructions for creating an e-mail account or adding attachments to e-mails or suchlike. They might particularly serve as reminders for people who do not use computers often but are not complete novices.

 The only infographs I have seen used in my library are for staff training and corporate policy & strategy. I think that there is a huge scope for creating interesting infographs for use by the public. I am thinking of creating one for a class visit I have next week, showing the children all the things that the library has to offer. They are a Reception Class, so it might be a nice reminder for them to take back to school.

Thing 20: Presentations

Well, at last I have done my presentation! I wanted to wait until I had done my training weekend on Global Education. This proved to be as inspiring and informative as I had hoped, and has led to me producing a short PowerPoint presentation that I want to present to the school where I am a Governor.
Having an ipad means that downloading apps like Google Slides is easy, and although there were no instructions as such I found that it was relatively easy to navigate. I think the limitations of using the ipad showed itself when I tried to manipulate text and then share my PowerPoint presentation on here. I had to use my laptop for the latter. I am quite pleased with the result, it was simple and quick to produce, but I think that next time I would rather use something with a few more bells and whistles. I liked the look of Prezi, but the fact that you need Internet access would put me off as reception can vary and is not always guaranteed. So it looks like I may go back to PowerPoint which I have used lots of times before, and which I know is compatible with the library and school.

A Global Learning Presentation

Thing 19: The Legal Side of Things

I really enjoyed reading this thing 19 on copyright et al. I had never looked at the history of it before and this context made what is a potential minefield much clearer.
I work in a Public library and we are quite hot on copyright with regards to photocopying, scanning, journals and inter-library loans. We can also advise on plagiarism and methods of referencing sources. The whole area of media use, images, publicity and posters is a little more fuzzy. I can see that sharing knowledge with colleagues will be a good idea as we are being asked to do 'more of everything' rather than use our specialisms.
I am the main contributor to our library facebook page and can see that I need to be stricter with images sourced to advertise our classes and events. Simply sharing other posts should not be an issue as they are attributable. Finding sites such as Flickr, Opsound & Pixabay is really helpful, and I found the following link worth investigating for more Creative Commons sources for images;   http://wptavern.com/13-sources-for-free-public-domain-and-cc0-licensed-images

Here are two pictures that I sourced from Flickr  which are creative commons, and also which I have hopefully attributed appropriately. ;

Creative Commons  20091204_Hermitage_library by Christopher John SSFB is licensed by CC BY 2.0
Christopher John SSFBy: Christopher John SSF

Library, Hermitage of st Bernardine, Stroud, NSW

Creative Commons  Matcha Cafe by Hoàng Lãng TửBy: Hoàng Lãng Tử is licensed by CC BY 2.0

 

Thing 17 Reflective Practice

Coming from a teaching background I have a strong sense of reflective practice and responsbility for my own CPD. It was actually part of my PGCE and teaching practices to reflect on lessons I had taken: what went well, what was learnt, what would I do differently etc etc, and I think that I have carried this over into my library work. I think it is good to be open to learning new things and considering new possibilities and new ways of doing things. I love the autonomy within my role that allows me to look at different ways of sharing what we do in the library within the community, and providing different ways to access our resources. Although I am only a very small cog in a huge machine, I have found the Rudai23 course has given me lots of ways of connecting with other professionals and expanding on the work of our library. Reflective practice, like learning itself, is a continual process and very relevant to the expanding needs of library users. I will continue with my blog as I use all the new tools (such as streaming, collaboration & professional organisations) to connect with the bigger questions whilst trying new ways of expanding what we do in the library.

 

Thing 16: Collaboration Tools

I have commented on the shared Google Doc and added to the main body of text. It seemed easy enough and I think it could work well for working with colleagues from other libraries. I do wonder if it is possible to maintain a version of the original for comparison, but perhaps this is just up to individuals to keep a hard copy if they want to.

Doodle meeting is something I can see myself using very soon. The last meeting I had to organise involved referring  to peoples google calendars and then e-mailing all via group e-mails or individually. It got a little frustrating at times as people would say that they couldn't do dates that were clear on their diaries. A very messy, inefficient way of doing things I thought. My only question is whether it would be easy to get others to sign up to doodle initially?

Thing 15: Advocacy for Libraries

For Thing 12 I spoke about attending a Speak Up for Libraries  conference In London which I found very helpful in putting me in touch with advocacy professionals and campaigns. Through social media I have kept up with them and been introduced to others in an organic kind of way which is very satisfying.

Although I had heard of most of the other campaigns, through further research I found out some things I didn't know:

1. Over 10 % of UK Public Libraries are under threat
2. The duty of a local council to provide a “comprehensive and efficient library service” is a legal obligation under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act. The Act also prohibits charging for book loans.
Although I know about the Act (and how the words 'comprehensive and effecient' can be widely interpreted) I didn't realise that we are not allowed to charge for book loans in law!

I do like the way this charity becomes a main stream of other debates and campaigns going on, many of which are not main headlines.

This was an organisation I had not been aware of before doing Rudai 23. I like the way it looks and speaks for Europe as a whole and the campaign 'Libraries Change Lives' says it all.
The fact that Illiteracy in Europe affects 73 million adult Europeans - that is 1 out of 5 - is shocking. School and public libraries play a large role in possibilities for learning and reading for pleasure.

Although I have not directly been involved in an advocacy campaign I do collaborate, network and develop partnerships on TwitterFacebook/LinkedIn and now google+, and I do share resources (such as the Library A-Z) within and outside the library

I think it is important to keep libraries in the headlines and celebrate widely all that they offer. I do worry that they idea of using volunteers is often mooted as a way to save money yet maintain the service; to my mind it short changes the public and denies professionals a job. On balance advocacy is necessary and important, and it gladens my heart that people Care; I  have to believe that it can make a difference.

Thing 14: Augmented Reality

Augmented reality, how exciting! I just had to have a go on Aurasma and create something.It's MO was not that obvious, but now when I scan the book I am reading at the moment the app plays Humpty Dumpty! This is not as random as it sounds as my next step will be to do the same on our library posters advertising rhymetime. I am very happy at this small achievement.

For the Summer Reading Challenge we had a treasure hunt with poster pictures supplied by the Reading Agency. By downloading a Solars app children could then scan the posters and see the characters moving. It was very popular and I think that a lot of our posters could be more interactive with maps and further information. Although this seems a bit gimmicky it could soon expand to information portals without initial overcrowding of information. One of our remits is to have an uncluttered Environment, good in principle but not always easy as a public library!


http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/

Thing 13: Professional Organisations

Although I had already heard of CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals)and SLS (School Library Service) it was really interesting to discover important groups like IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutes) and see what they had to offer. I created an on-line account with IFLA so that I could receive their newsletter and access some of their talks. Before this course I had pondered joining CILIP and SLS. The access to training opportunities/CPD and special interests groups are particularly appealing, as well as the feeling that I would be more in the loop with developments within libraries. The cost has put me off, as I would have to fund membership myself, but I am slowly coming round to the idea. Sometimes working in Public Libraries feels like being the poor relation to other professionals but I do love the variety of my job and feel acutely the need for access to local libraries for all.

Thing 12 - Attending conferences

,

As I work for the local council, conferences are neither tolerated nor paid for! However, a couple of years ago  (23/11/13) I did attend 'Speak Up For Libraries' organised through CILIP at their offices in London. I had to take the day off as annual leave and pay for the ticket & travel myself. It was worth it just for the speakers and contacts made, although it did leave me a little disillusioned about the future of public libraries.

 

The speakers were:

• Yinnon Ezra, Advisor for Libraries at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
• Brian Ashley, Director, Libraries at Arts Council England (ACE)
• Janene Cox, President, The Society of Chief Librarians (SCL)
• Alan Gibbons, author and founder of Campaign for the Book
• Phil Bradley, President, the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP)
• Heather Wakefield, Head of Local Government, UNISON
• Steve Davies, Lecturer in Social Sciences, University of Cardiff

and through linking up with some of them on Linkedin/Twitter I now have further insight into current issues and agendas, which has been really great. This actually proved more helpful than the scribbled notes I had made on the conference handouts. I remember distincltly the speakers that inspired me, and my subsequent research on topics they spoke about was very helpful in understanding the overall picture of public libraries.

There were tea breaks and moving to different rooms for different speakers so it was quite easy to just chat to people and everyone was very friendly.

Next time I go to a conference I may take some business cards with me and do a little research before hand so that I can ask more specific questions.


 

 

Thing 11 - Reflective Practice

Reflection - Deep thinking

I am doing this course as part of my personal CPD. I was really lucky to find out about it through one of the library groups I follow (I think it was SLS on google?). I work in a public library so there isn't any money for training outside of that which is deemed integral to the role or with new ways of working, and much of this is done inhouse. I have relished the chance to connect with other professionals and learn about things that could expand the work I do in the children's library and promote my library in the wider community.

I started the course a little late but find the reflective sessions helpful both as breathing spaces and as consolidation tools to deepen learning, My advice to other participants would be to do the work little and often; even if it is just to read the notes or look at one link it all helps and means that you have done something on those busy days.

I have contacted the Rudai team once with a technical question via email and they replied quickly and succinctly without making me feel daft! It does feel as if there is an invisible wall of professionals supporting and willing us on which can only be good!!

This is a picture of one of the craft sessions I did this summer; from high tech wizardry to paper chains & origami dogs :-)

Thing 10- Live Streaming

This has been an amazing week for learning new skills and having fun. If there were a prize for most expanded head in one week I think that I should get it!!
I have;

1. Had a google hangout session with my son who is in Finland. Really lovely
2. Downloaded Periscope on to my ipad and as well as viewing other live videostreams from the Canaries and London I also did my own live broadcast this morning! Before the library opened I did a tour of the children's library with commentary. Surprisingly easy.
3. Not forgetting of course the video of the bike meet for the last thing, which was the hardest challenge so far.

Now that I know how easy  streaming live events from the library is the possibilities seem endless.. When we have events or speakers it might be nice to publicise that people can also watch from home (particularly valuable for the housebound). It would also be nice to link with local schools; it could even be something as simple as linking for a storytime from the children's area with Harry the Bear and Dingle Dangle Scarecrow!

I look forward to looking at online conferences etc for my CPD and own interest.
I have really enjoyed this Thing 10.

 

Thing 9: Video

At last, I have managed to upload my 2 minute video. This has been the most challenging part of the course so far, not least because of a combination of ipad use and outdated windows! I am on a bit of a roll as I also used google hangouts this week :-)
The video shows the beginning of a rally I was on last week, just to dispel any expectations of library bods.
I would like to explore further the possibility of connecting with local schools, perhaps over projects like the summer reading challenge or chatterbooks, to expand notions of learning.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bw2u_J5F7tc0YVdnelYwR2hfeDQ

Thing 8 - Curation Tools

I have really enjoyed this activity. I had never heard of flipboard before but have now set up an account and have started several library and book related magazines. I think that it could become a valuable resource as well as a way of staying aware of ideas and trends. I guess it's quality depends on the pages followed, and I did feel that some of the initial interest pages had some trashy articles, but I will search out more sources.

Pinterest is an old favourite and I continue to use it for my various interests.

I seem to be getting the bug for studying and also completed a mini course on Open Learn this weekend; whatever next!

Thing 7 : Podcasts

Podcasts are not directly relevant to my work at the moment but I have valued the insight into making them and will consider them in the future. 

I have listened  to the podcasts mentioned in 'Circulating Ideas' and 'Longform' and downloaded the app. They offer a great opportunity to hear what other professionals are doing and to be inspired by new and creative initiatives that can engage and support my readers. I also liked the notion of being in a loop of innovation and best practice. I would like to find some more podcasts that focus on UK librarians and those working within schools.

I continue to listen to my old favourites like 'In Our Time' and 'From Our Own Correspondant'. I find that they are a fascinating insight into the world and its beauty & complexity as well as often sparking off ideas for further research for initiatives, displays, themes and the like!

Thing 6: Reflective Practice

Thing 6: Reflective Practice

I have enjoyed looking at other Ridai23's blogs. Other peoples experiences were very varied but there were also many common threads. I loved the different reasons people came to library work; some fell into it like me but many seemed to know from an early age that it was something that they wanted to do. I was sort of relieved to find out that others were also wary about google holding so much information and also just feeling that it was a bit like having all your eggs in one basket! It also seems that others, like me, have tended to use facebook more as a social toolthan a professional one.
I am thoroughly enjoying the course, and the extended sense of community and shared experiences that comes with it is a much appreciated added bonus.

Thing 5: Online Networks

Thing 5: Online Networks

I have a facebook page but tend to use it more for non-work stuff as I have lots of family and friends abroad. I have joined a couple of library groups including Rudai23 Facebook Group. I am always  thinking about reading and education, so there is some overlap of interest between my personal life and work, but I still think that I would prefer to keep my facebook more for friends and family  
My twitter account is my professional link to the world but I have to admit to having ignored it of late. I think that I have sometimes felt overwhelmed with the sheer volume of information and this put me off slightly. Using lists and hashtags is a beginning in thinning out the info and connecting more directly with groups that interest me the most. I might also have to do some weeding of my follows!

Thing 4- Google

Rudai Thing 4 - Google:

I must admit to being a little sceptical about using Google+ and the amount of information that they hold but as I already have a gmail account and use blogger I decided that integration seemed to make sense!
My picture for my Google+ is a cartoon/avatar version of me while I get used to privacy settings etc and I am enjoying playing with other tools such as photos and calendar. Joining the Rudai23 group on Google+ meant that I could create a circle and start to talk to people and I managed to download the Rudai23 blog list on to my blogger! I feel that I am learning so much and the support from the team and other participants is amazing. Next stop hangouts on air!

 

Rudia23 Thing 3-Linkedin or About.me

This has been quite a learning curve but I am really enjoying being stretched! I think that I was lulled into a false sense of security as I already have a Linkedin account and thought it was okish. The about.me has proved a little more challenging but I think that a lot of my problems stemmed from trying to edit it on my mobile device.
The concept of a professional brand feels a little alien to me but I have used my photo consistently and can see how this immediately seems more polished and professional. I hope that my brand comes across as a professional who in spite of a varied career has always had children's learning and love of reading at its centre.
I have atempted to join the Rudaí23 group on LinkedIn and my application is pending.
I have started to read some of my colleague's blogs and managed to download the OPML on to my new feedly account.
There is so much to learn and I feel the support from the team is amazing.Some cathching up to do but feeling optimistic!

Rudai 23

I actually started off as a primary teacher and still like to stay in touch with this by tutoring and sitting on Governor commitees of a local primary school. Children's love of reading and learning, and the education of the whole child are fundamental to my heart and lead me to outdoor education and then on to the library! Not a straightforward route perhaps but one that strangely seems to make sense. I have spent the last few months taking school assemblies to talk about the Summer Reading Challenge, and this summer is full of children's crafts and activities as well as regular library work.
I really enjoy what I do but do worry about the low importance of public and school libraries on the political agenda as I do think that libraries play a vital role in the lives of children and adults in their local communities.