Steps West Newsletter of the Career Development Group, West Country Division No. 7 – Winter 2010
In this issue
Editorial Welcome to the Winter issue of Steps West which is packed with reports and advise from recent events including our AGM. All previous newsletters are available online, but for the first time, the online Winter issue contains more content including an article about our recent visit to the Windsor Castle Library.
Report from the AGM ― Feedback from Windsor Castle Library Visit ― Advice on Certification for Library Assistants ― Feedback from a Visit to Street Library
We’d be interested to hear any comments with regards to our online issue and any other feedback, ideas or suggestions are very welcome. Just send us an e-mail to: cdgwestcountry@googlemail.com.
Keeping upto--date up-to You can always get in touch with us through e-mail (cdgwestcountry@googlemail.com), but there are other possibilities to keep informed of what’s going on in the region and the whole of the Career Development Group.
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A group of CILIP, The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Registered Charity No. 313014 Debating issues – developing awareness
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No. 7 – Winter 2010
AGM of the Career Development Group West Country Division followed followed by International Talks and Tour of the new Medical Library at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, Bristol, 1st July 2010 by Eilidh Mackay, University of the West of England The formalities of the AGM were dealt with efficiently and we soon moved on to an exciting afternoon of international librarianship. This was a rare opportunity to learn more about international and health libraries. The first speaker of the afternoon was Jane Villa, manager of North Bristol NHS libraries. Jane told us about the work she and her colleagues have done with Ken-HIP (Kenya Health International Partnerships); this was the first of many acronyms! A consortium of libraries and librarians from across the South West Strategic Health Authority (SWSHA) work in partnership with Ken-HIP to improve opportunities for the professsional development of information professionals in Kenya. The presentation highlighted a workshop Jane and her colleagues had recently run for health information professsionals in Kenya, looking at evidence-based healthcare information. Many of the experiences Jane and her colleagues had were unlike anything one would encounter in a UK library. The lack of infrastructure (including IT, which is hoped to improve after the installation of a high speed broadband line in the near future) and funding produced some real challenges. For example there is no system of inter-library loans in Kenya and so little cooperation between libraries.
However, the workshops that Ken-HIP and SWSHA run provide an excellent opportunity for library staff to network and start building such co-operation. Jane also offered advice that could be applied to running any library workshop or induction, such as the importance of finding out about the audience in order to make the session as relevant as possible (a pre-workshop questionnaire was sent out to delegates) and giving out a post-workshop questionnaire to help evaluate the sessions. We all know the importance of being well prepared and bringing plenty of handouts, but this was of paramount importance to Jane and her colleagues. Cultural differences also added another dimension; for example, the delegates were invited in a much more formal fashion than we would tend to do in the UK. It was very inspiring to learn about the work that Jane and her colleagues and the various partners involved are doing and what can be achieved through collaboration. After a break for refreshments, Johanna Anderson, Information Adviser at the University of Gloucestershire, talked about her experience of carrying out research in Malawi at a rural primary school library.
Johanna undertook this research for her Masters dissertation in Information & Library Management. She was investigating library aid (e.g. book donations) from the point of view of the recipients; a point of view which is underrepresented in the literature. Johanna not only talked about book donations and Western NGOS, but also literacy aims and reader development in the context of the Millennium Development Goals. She prompted us to think about assumptions that might be made in the West (e.g. an emphasis on oral culture over the written word) and one of the aims of her research was to look into these assumptions. One of Johanna's findings was that training and reader development are as important as the books that were donated. As with the workshop that Jane ran, it struck me that although there were many aspects of Johanna's experiences in Malawi that were unique, there were lessons that could be applied in many library contexts. The importance of reader development and teaching information literacy skills, and the benefits that arise from networking and collaboration are lessons that can be applied in our UK libraries. Johanna had used Prezi to illustrate her talk, a non-linear web-based presentation tool. [continued p. 3]
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Not only did this make for a welcome change for all of us who have become a bit PowerPointed out, but it looked great and vibrantly illustrated a lot of Johanna's points.
practical ways that information professionals are getting involved in international challenges and opportunities. (Johanna has since been awarded the 2010 LIRG award for her research.)
As with Jane’s talk, it was very inspiring to hear about
The afternoon finished with a tour of Southmead Hospital's
new library, housed within the state-of-the-art Learning & Research building. The library can be accessed 24 hours a day and was designed in consultation with library staff..
Windsor Castle Library Visit, Visit, 16th September September 2010 2010 by Lizz Jennings, University of Bath On Thursday 16th September a small group of curious librarians gathered at Windsor Castle for a rare opportunity to tour the part of the Royal Collection housed in the Library. This was mainly book-based, but also included a number of artefacts acquired or used by Kings and Queens over the past 600 or so years. We were met at the front gate and led through a door marked “Private Entrance”. Beyond that point we were not allowed to take photographs, but it would have been something of a distraction if we were. Access to the library was via a very steep and narrow stairway and you had the feeling of entering a magical world as the beautiful, galleried library was revealed at the top. Our guide for the day was not The Queen (although she does conduct tours for significant visitors), but the very knowledgeable Bibliographer, Bridget Wright. After a brief introduction about the structure and organisation of the collection as a whole, Bridget began showcasing the
Windsor section, which consists of a 42,000 volume book collection and a wide range of artefacts ranging from cups used by royals to pieces of the Berlin Wall, from christening robes to sketches by Leonardo da Vinci (amongst others). One thing that struck me about the library was that you could get so close to the treasures; it did not feel as much like a museum as it could have. We were told the history of each room as well as the treasures within. I particularly liked the room in which Queen Anne received news of the victory at Blenheim: a cosy corner room with breathtaking views of the landscape; the Wembley arch was clearly visible. The book collection was very wide-ranging in topic, and reflected the personal tastes and interests of the monarchs as well as the patronage and activities of the royal family. The real uniqueness of the collection was often in the annotations and letters accompanying items, some just dedications, some life
observations, some systematic notes. Newer acquisitions were rarely of historical items; the main concern was for stock which reflects the current royal activities such as editions of works by Poets Laureate. However, occasional purchases were made of antique books if they had a clear significance for the collection. It was also evident that newer items were given as gifts from other heads of state and dignitaries; a recent example being the Codex Pauli, which was unusual to me in that it had all the fancy binding you’d expect from older items, but was brand new. The day was a fascinating insight into a unique collection and a rare opportunity to view some of our national treasures. Many thanks to Valerie Bearne and Nicki Healey for organising the visit, and to Margaret and Bridget for making our visit so interesting. For more information go to www.royalcollection.org.uk/eg allery/.
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Certification for Library Assistants by Tracy Herrmann, Bournemouth Libraries Since embarking on the route from NVQ to ACLIP I have had lots of questions from library staff in Bournemouth Libraries. Many Library Assistants don’t really understand what CILIP is or what the Certification process is all about. Many who are curious don’t know who to ask. For me it was the logical next step after NVQ3, almost another module tagged onto the end. The difference is that instead of looking at your own library, you need a broader perspective of the role of your library within the library service. How long did it take? The knowledge and experience took years but for me it was a few months gathering evidence and a couple of long weekends writing it all up. How much did it cost? Joining CILIP is the most expensive but I am still finding that it is the most valuable part. CILIP is the library association and you pay £184 for annual membership as an Affiliate. For this you will find monthly magazines, daily emails, discussion boards, access to the website and training very useful. The actual Certification process costs £50. How do you go about it? Attend a workshop; I wish I’d
done it sooner. Although I had already submitted my ACLIP portfolio for assessment, I went to the recent course at Plymouth. Although it was a long way to drive, I found it a very valuable event. Lots of useful hints and tips on what assessors are looking for and their pet hates. Also we were given guidance on common mistakes. I met some great people and can put faces to names now. I had questions answered by people who are going through the process and found new areas of support. There is a useful book which is probably in your staff library and I referred to this a lot: Building Your Portfolio by Margaret Watson. Borrow it; it will get you started. On the CILIP website you can find example submissions, but if you go to a workshop, you can actually look at and handle completed portfolios. I wish I had done this earlier; it would have saved paper and a good deal of worry about whether I was doing the right thing. You will need a mentor and you can find one through the CILIP website. My mentor helped to get me started and read through my first attempts. She was positive and encouraged me to believe in myself and made it all seem achievable.
My supporting letter was written by my Service and Strategy manager who also gave me helpful advice and added depth and polish to my portfolio. You have to submit your portfolio in 3 copies. They will be spiral bound and have a page of contents, CV, personal statement, personal development plan, supporting letter and about 20 pieces of evidence. You need to show you can reflect on what you do. I found that this is something I was already starting to do without being aware. If you organise an event in your library, what do you do at the end? Do you have a discussion with colleagues about what went well, what didn’t work, look at feedback forms and decide what you will do differently next time? Do you keep notes to help you remember? If so you are using reflective thinking and gathering evidence. Maybe Certification is the next step for you too! Oh and I have now discovered that my ACLIP application was successful. Thanks to everyone who helped.
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Visit to Street Library by Elly Cope, University of Bath I’m Elly Cope, Information Librarian for Cataloguing at the University of Bath and before my day at Street Library I knew that public libraries were a “good thing” but I didn’t know just how good… On Wednesday 24th March I made my way down to Street to spend the day at the branch library there. I spent the morning having a tour of the library, shadowing the Library Assistants and talking to one of the Service Development Team Librarians; the afternoon was given over to a Chartership meeting with my mentor during which I enthused about what I’d seen and experienced during the morning. Taking in the surroundings When I arrived at Street Library I thought ‘what a nice building’ and ‘great location, just off the High Street’. The library is one large room with some pillars dividing the space in half with the split being basically fiction on one side and non-fiction on the other. The first order of business was a tour of the library. I thought, having seen it on the way in that this would take about 10 minutes. I was very wrong! Over the next hour I was shown the various different ‘zones’ of the library and was amazed at how the demarcation worked without physical barriers and how well the space was utilised. I was given the history of the building which is fascinating in
itself. Street is a company village, built by the Quaker family Clarks. Back when the library was built the librarian had a cottage attached in the same way that a schoolmaster/ mistress would have done. The cottage now forms the staff room, the librarian’s office; the bedrooms are now the fiction stacks for the whole of Somerset where important editions and books by local authors are kept in storage. In the fiction section I heard about ‘Opening the book’ and the course they run for frontline staff about how to manage displays and present stock in an appealing way. Books are made into more of a feature by being placed on the shelves in such a way as to present the attractive covers to those walking past or casually browsing. This serves the dual purpose of filling empty space on the shelves and presenting something pretty to the library user (because people often do judge a book by its cover!). The use of these techniques at Street Library has seen the library make really attractive and creative use of their existing stock in a time of tight budgets and restricted book buying. Day-to-day work After the tour I got to experience life on the library floor. Street Library is closed on a Tuesday so is usually pretty busy on a Wednesday. As well as higher footfall they have the van delivery. The van brings books from all over the LibrariesWest consortium
area as library patrons from any of the member library services can borrow books held anywhere else. The delivery is a mix of returns and requests and each book is checked on the system and then the appropriate action is taken (send to the stacks, reshelved, put on the holds shelf, etc.). After helping with the van delivery I shadowed the library assistants on the issue desk and found out more about the kind of enquiries they deal with on a day to day basis. The digital switchover is due in the South West soon so they had been receiving quite a few phone calls about that and what people needed to do in order to be ready. Quite often they get people phoning up to try and find out the answer to a crossword clue (in my experience in academic libraries these are the callers who tend to get slightly shorter shrift!). While I was on the desk I was approached by a library user for help; unfortunately it was a computer related question that, due to being unfamiliar with the system, I was unable to answer. I’d rather been hoping for a crossword clue… The Senior Library Assistant in charge told me a little bit about what her duties are and what she’s expected to do. It is a non-professional post and she is basically in charge of everything: making sure that the library works and everything functions. This ranges from maintenance [continued p. 6]
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problems, such as changing light bulbs and making sure the boiler is working, to personnel issues like sick leave and ensuring there is sufficient cover. The most recent, challenging, example of having to deal with all these aspects at once was the very cold weather in January when staff had to be redeployed and take on different shifts depending on whether the library was open or not, and, making sure the library was heated sufficiently was a definite priority. Team Librarians After my stint on the desk I had a session with one of the Service Development Team Librarians who has responsibility for digital citizenship, the People’s Network and elearning. She talked me through what the Team Librarians in Somerset cover. There are 10 Team Librarians for Somerset split into two teams with five on each: Stock & Community and Service Development. They are each based in one library but still work across the whole county and, as there is a lot of crossover in their work, they
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are able to cover events and talks for each other if anyone faces difficulty getting from one area to another. With Somerset being a very large county and the Library Service so active this can happen quite often. As well as promotional work with the community the Service Development Team Librarians also have to maintain the service’s partnerships with other agencies, keeping up to date with any changes and developments and liaising closely with each other on new and continuing initiatives and manage the service level agreements (SLAs – not to be confused with senior library assistants!) with providers. IT training courses are run at the library but helpsheets are also provided for library users on the more commonly asked aspects of computer use such as how to get photos off cameras, set up an email account and burn files onto CDs. One of the websites I was shown was an IT training website (www.myguide.gov.uk) designed for real beginners and it included step-by-step
training on things such as using a mouse and how to get started with a mobile phone. It was perfect for people who might feel like they need to use these things but have absolutely no idea where to start (and are maybe worried about being patronised by people they know who are already proficient!). Thanks where they’re due I’m very grateful to the staff at Street Library for hosting me and showing me what a day in the life of a public branch library is like. Hopefully, being a member of the LibrariesWest consortium should help Somerset library service weather the economic storm somewhat as users will still have access to a wide pool of resources available across the region. Now, with the Comprehensive Spending Review published and things looking extremely gloomy, is the time that public libraries are going to be of increased value to communities with all the services that they have to offer.
Contact details, ideas, suggestions Please send any comments about the newsletter or your ideas and suggestions to the Editor Katrin Flemming (k.flemming@bath.ac.uk). If you want to find out more about the group, please contact us by e-mail (cdgwestcountry@googlemail.com) or check our website (http://www.cilip.org.uk/cdg/wc).
If you require a large-print copy, please contact the Editor Katrin Flemming (k.flemming@bath.ac.uk).