Thing Seven

Thing seven: the real world

Some years back I joined CILIP and looked into certification. It was just starting out and sadly I had to give it up because my then manager who was involved with CILIP left and I couldn't get anyone else interested in my doing the work to assemble the portfolio. I did enjoy reading the journal that came with my annual subscription, but when it became apparent that a combination of things meant that certification was not realistic, I dropped it.
Eventually I was able to get the NVQ level 3 qualification in LIS.

The question of back-up and networking is essential to any sort of CPD at any level, especially at non-qualified levels. There does appear to be much more organisation available these days, not least this one, of course, which is a very good thing.

However, I am the standard-issue library introvert and find real life social gatherings a trial. I am useless at networking, hopeless at small talk and not tactful with people I am not connecting with.

There actually was a meet-up in Cardiff (where I live) for this group. My guilty conscience said "go, you must get involved" etc, etc. But then I thought, I am middle-aged,frumpy, boring female, aforementioned introvert and I completely bottled it.

I have read several things that suggest being introverted is actually useful, and a bit 'sexy' now, at least with those of us involved. This has not trickled down to my own behaviour, I find a lot of people all together a bit of a trial. And I am not sure how to get around that particular hurdle.

I read with interest what Joeyanne Libraryanne - excellent clever name by the way, I am very jealous - has to say about this. Perhaps I can get a strategy from these sorts of books like 'Quiet, the power of introverts ...' by Susan Caine. Up to now I have taken the Popeye option*, should I be facing the fear and doing it anyway? As they say?

* I yam whats  I ams, an  dat's all I yams - or some such.

Postscript
OMG! I just realised that indeed I am part of a real thing, I have been to some of the CLIC (which is Cardiff Libraries in Collaboration) events and enjoyed them a lot! Not such a shrinking violet after all, I will have to reconsider my position.

Thing Six


I am already in (on?) Facebook. I use it for connecting to family and friends from home, we don't have this aspect of modern life available in my place of work. Because it involves me, my family and friends and my life outside of work, I don't intend to use this for my work-face. This is ironic because it is the only bit of the course so far that I am fairly competent at.


I decided to check out Linkedin and have signed up for that. But, how, well, ugly and clunky does it look? It is not very visually impressive and I read that it has issues about password security. However it does have millions of sign-ups and I have given the 23 things group a go.

Still not sure about it.

Thing five

reflective practice in practice.

Hmm.

I feel like I have been thrown into the deep end of the public swimming baths I learned to swim in (for younger readers, this was an outdoor cold water pool ). We learned the term after Easter in the last year of Juniors. Yes kids COLD water in April. In South Wales. That's how boggled I am at the moment. I am currently desperately keeping my head above water and striking for the side to hang on to.

Yes yes I need to kick out and make a bold move for the middle, I do know that. End of metaphor because I am feeling cold and panicky just thinking about this. One last one, when this is over will I have a lovely warm smug feeling? Where is the fluffy towel of achievement?

I have dipped my toe in Twitter, need more kit to make this work for me.

I have some RSS feeds, now this one I have liked from the beginning, just like I have had a revelation in reading the blogs. Just clicking on the Next Blog>> button is great. who knew there were so many wierdies different sorts of people out there? All posting all sorts of things, like the person who went on holiday and not just wrote (in detail) about their every meal, but took a photo too? I mean, that's being seriously interested in food.But still, even when reading the 23 thingers blogs, soo much information.

I read with interest a comment about taking one thing at a time. Now that is advice I should take. I will think on ...

Thing 4

I am well behind for a variety of reasons but will be valiantly catching up - I hope.

I have had to examine Thing 4 from my PC at home because all these types of social media are currently blocked in work, even though most staff are sure of the benefits of reaching current and potential students. I also don't have the sort of mobile phone that does this sort of thing. I am now considering whether my position on these is hopeless posturing and it is time to get real and at least join the second half of the 20th century.
Time to leave that part of my comfort zone and dip a toe in for real.

I have joined up to Twitter and it is so big I am boggled.  I may have to default to getting a book and reading about it, a move that has accompanied me through almost all of my life, when I consider.