Thing 15 - Advocacy

Advocacy definition:
   Advocacy is an activity by an individual or group which aims to influence decisions within political, economic and social systems and institutions.

   Visual images, statistics inc. graphs and speaking out are useful means of advocacy. From R23, Thing 15 examples of visual tools are:
      - http://libraryatoz.org/index.php/materials/       Library A to Z, illustrations by Josh Filhol

      

- http://lookslikelibraryscience.com/           This is what a Librarian looks like is a website with photos of librarians and a short description of themselves. The photos and descriptions are varied, some funky and all interesting!

Success stories

   Library Success stories help the public, politicians and decision-makers look favourably on Library Services. Examples of positive activities/ publications which I have been involved in or know about are: (a)Library Success Stories Day; (b)Business, Enterprise and Employment project; (c)Carnegie Trust UK leaflet.

(a)Library Success Stories Day: The Youth Library Group of the LAI coordinate the Day. In advance of the Day participants submit a a Success story from their library and a booklet is produced. On the Day participants Present and share their stories. I made a Presentation on one of these Days. I was inspired by other stories I heard.
(b)Business, Enterprise and Employment project: This pilot project is currently happening in library authorities around the country. Creating an enterprise culture and jobs is a main objective for the Government. By supporting the business community, potential entrepreneurs and job-seekers libraries are supporting a main Government objective.This project is due to launch in my library in the next few weeks. Provided this project is given the resources it requires, it has the potential to be a Library Success story.
(c)The Carnegie UK Trust produced a leaflet called Speaking Volumes: the impact of public libraries on wellbeing. The leaflet shows how libraries can have a positive impact on a person's social, cultural, education and economic well being.
http://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/changing-minds/knowledge---culture/the-future-of-libraries/speaking-volumes
Success stories are a form of advocacy for libraries.

Advocacy campaigns
   Two campaigns I know about are: Shared services and Plain English.
   Shared Services is being promoted by the current government. Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim would share Library and Fire services. There would be 1 Librarian for all counties instead of 3. Books would be purchased from a central location. Approx. 12 authorities are listed for sharing Library and Fire services with at least 1 other authority.
   The Government's says it would result in a reduction in costs. Impact trade union say the listed counties will have less say in how their Library and Fire service will be run.
   Impact are encouraging members to write to their local representatives highlighting the case against Shared Services. The advocacy campaign is for Library and Fire Services  to retain their county status.
   Plain English campaign was run by NALA recently to highlight the need for public documents to be written in simple language. This would help make public documents easy-to-understand. A petition  was signed via e-mail by thousands of people and submitted to a Government Minister. I signed the petition and was part of this advocacy campaign.
 
Effective?
   I reckon advocacy campaigns are effective for creating awareness and influencing decisions within political, economic and social systems. I agree with the Irish saying "ta neart a chur le chéile", there is strength when people work together. Individuals or a group who are interested and care about a cause have the potential to put forward a strong advocacy campaign and to affect change.

Thing 13 - Professional Organisations

   I have been a member of the LAI  on and off for about 10 years.
   CPD is about learning and developing in my role as Librarian. This helps me be motivated and it is one of the main benefits I see for being part of the LAI. CPD is done through training courses and being awarded the ALAI or FLAI.  
   As an LAI member I am on the e-mailing list and this means being informed about training courses and library events inc. Conferences/ Seminars. Examples of LAI events I have attended are the Annual WRSLAI Seminar, the Public library Conference, Children's literature training.
   The ALAI and FLAI are awards which recognise CPD activities. I am glad these are available, they are goals to aim for. Though these awards have been available for many years I have not pursued them. I do not know many library staff who have gained the awards and I reckon they are not publicised widely. When I am ready I may explore the award process and aim for it. If I find it worthwhile great and if I want a further challenge I would explore CPD activities from another Professional Organisation.
  I am a committee member of the WRSLAI. I welcome the opportunity to develop my skills outside the workplace. These skills include project management, minute taking, writing an annual report, as listed in Thing 13/ Professional Organisations. Though I have been a committee member for the past 2 years I have helped out and made suggestions from the fringes. One reason  I have not been more involved is location. Meetings are held in Galway, 1 - 1 and a half hours drive away. It has not been practical to make meetings regularly. Other committee members are based in Galway. As a committee we tried a virtual meet-up once though the success was limited. We may have more luck in the future, especially after R23! Also my work can get busy and I am ok to help from the fringes. When I am ready to be more involved as a committee member then I would try to make it happen.
     I enjoy meeting and networking with others in the same profession. I agree that being part of a Professional organisation is being part of a community of like-minded professionals.
   CPD activities, contributing to a Professional organisation through a committee and networking are hopefully good for my any potential career moves in the future - watch this space!
   At the 2015 WRSLAI Seminar one speaker gave a talk on the chartership process with CILIP. I was interested in the talk and the process. I have looked up the CILIP website and I reckon they have alot to offer.

Thing 12 - Attending Conferences

 

   I attended the WRSLAI  Annual Seminar 2014/ GMIT Centre  for Creative Arts and Media, Galway/ Monday 23rd of June 2014.

   As part of our HR/ Training Unit requirements I completed a Request for attendance at training form. This form looks for the Course title, Aims, Trainer/ Training company details, Location, Date(s) of course, Cost and Financial code course will be charged to.

The Seminar consisted of the following presentations:
   - How to use surveys to identify and respond to user needs
   - The Shared service work-force planning group for public libraries
   - CUAL(Connaught-Ulster Alliance) - An introduction to the new GMIT, IT Sligo & Letterkenny IT Institutional Repository
   - Having an impact from Day One: Student Advisors in the library helping first year students adapt
   - New Professionals Day Ireland: pathways to the profession
   - Cappamore Library and Art studio, an introduction
   - Associate and Fellowship progression in the Library Association of Ireland
   - 23 Things for Libraries, getting to grips with Web 2.0

   - Linkedin for Librarians

   I was a committee member of the WRSLAI and as a result I knew the people organising the Conference/ Seminar. I encouraged a library friend from a neighbouring authority to attend also. I had met some of the delegates in the past and I recognised other faces and names. Some people I had never met. A hint for meeting people you don't know: approach a friendly-looking delegate and introduce yourself! It helped that most people worked as Librarians/ library staff and many of them in the Public library sector. We had alot in common already.
   I have read the recommended articles for Thing 12/ Tips for Networking. Here are some ideas:
www.careerealism.com
- be fearless, introduce yourself, ask the other what they do then listen
- be well read inc.current affairs and business trends, it helps in opening a conversation
- initiate a call-to-action and follow-up contact in 24 hours or soon after
- if conversation is not working, release the other
www.theguardian.com - David Lurie
 - at a networking event set yourself a goal eg.distribute or collect 20 business cards

   I took notes at the Seminar using pen and paper, I usually do this. I find taking notes useful for staying focused and this means I am more likely to remember the content. I am open to recording notes on a device eg.a tablet and have seen people do this. I still have a sense for each of the Presentations/ Speakers from the Seminar. Reading the notes I am reminded of the content. The Seminar was interesting and varied. I left that day feeling energised, I remember that!  There was a similar feeling when I attended the WRSLAI Annual Seminar 2015 in Gort Co.Galway: The Information Professional - Embracing new roles with confidence. The programme for this seminar is outlined in the R23 notes/ Thing 12.
   After a Seminar I rarely look at my notes. Writing a blogpost on the Seminar is a way to record and summarise the Seminar for me and to share it with others who may not have attended. Writing a blogpost is something I would like to do after future Seminars.

Thing 11, Reflective Practice

   I plan on doing 1 Thing per week form now (Thing 11) until Thing 23. For me making a good start at the beginning of the week helps. Is tús maith leath na hoibre/ A good start is half the work!
   I have not finished the course and today is 02/02/16! That is ok. I moved house in September last, work needs to be done to make the house homely, it is a busy time. Also I really want/ need to keep up with my other activities eg. sport and singing, to stay healthy and happy! Time too to relax and do very little, yes!
   Even though I have been busy for the past number of months I also know about procrastination! When I am not especially busy and still jobs may not get done.
   I am doing R23 on my own. I e-mailed staff in my library authority about the course last summer a few times, as far as I am aware there were no takers. I welcome the opportunity to share my experiences with others and I am interested to find out about other peoples experiences, especially in person. I enjoy reading the blogs of other R23 participants, it shows me the many perspectives and ideas that are out there. A few participants may be reading my blogs. We are sharing the course in a virtual way!
   Tip for managing time: if I would like to spend time on a R23 Thing at eg.12pm, be ready at 11.55am, The same is true for when I need to leave the house, be ready 5 mins. early. Otherwise it may be eg.12.10pm by the time I get to open R23. This is a tip I need to work on!
   Another tip for managing time is to have a deadline. Nothing like a deadline to focus the mind. The R23 Presentation Ceremony is due to take place 3 weeks from now 27/02/16. I will attend though not receive a certificate as I have not finished the course. I plan to have finished Thing 14 before the Ceremony.
   Sr.Mary, a music teacher in my secondary school said "If you want something done ask a busy woman/ man" and I reckon there is truth in this.