View from the Hill

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;

Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
      What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
      Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
      Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
      What's in a name? that which we call a rose
      By any other name would smell as sweet;
      So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
      Retain that dear perfection which he owes
      Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
      And for that name which is no part of thee
      Take all myself.

The passion that a name commands lies dormant until such time as someone acts.  SLA (Special Libraries Association) have spent a considerable amount of time, effort and money to carefully research a potential new name to reflect the values of their vast collective store of talent and skill.  This comes under the classification (there I've used a library word) of Alignment.  Kate Arnold, SLA Board Europe member is one of the Alignment Ambassadors for SLA Europe.  She is keen to encourage debate on the suggested name.

The name put forward for a deciding vote is Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals (ASKPro).  The blogs are overheating, (SLA blog), the SLA Europe discussion list has woken from a slumber.  It is good to see debate and feel that passion of others.  We pray a happy ending for all who care and have put such effort in.  A thankless task.  Or Not?  Go have your say.

For never was there a story of more woe

Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. 

- Sue Hill (and our Will!)

 

Commonality in Diversity - The Big Issues

We all face the same challenges. Who is “we” and what are the challenges? The latest, and very delicious, SHR Breakfast today brought together public and private sectors, knowledge, information and libraries. Despite the external challenges of financial constraints and ever increasing regulation, one of the biggest challenges facing our profession might be summed up in the word “perception”. Does your CEO know what you do? Shouldn’t it be your responsibility to change that? Looking at our guest list today you would perceive that the issues faced by each organisation and company would be wildly different but to our surprise, and pleasantly so, there was a lot of commonality and a lot to be learnt from each other.

In discussion, we learnt that one of the major impacting factors on knowledge and information services is the expectation to do more and do better with less – less funding, less time and less resources. Looking at your existing resources, the most valuable of all, your staff, there is a need to employ the very best. Would it surprise you to hear from employers that job applications have doubled, but the quality hasn’t? Sadly, I suspect not. We not only have to justify our services, but we have to justify ourselves in jobhunting. Simply sending a CV will not work!  

What struck me most about our fascinating round-table discussion was the passion to break down the silos, to share, to learn from each other and to cross-fertilise. How do we do this? By networking, joining together to find our voice. Without exception there were nodding heads when Sue Edgar raised the notion of the need for good leadership in business and that it is vital to get a mentor or a coach, it being critical to keep you moving. By getting a role model or mentor outside knowledge & information, you are already well on your way to encourage the move away from silos.  

And whilst we didn’t have time to answer the question “where is the future of the profession”, we did agree that we need people who have worked across all silos and that we urgently need to connect our "different" professions.   The thought of an Umbrella organisation providing services and a central voice for the many and diverse information groups to rally around was mooted and generally liked.

- Suzanne Wheatley, Recruitment Manager

Networking across government

Last Tuesday I attended a 'Getting to know you' day organised by NGLIS (the Network of Government Library and Information Specialists) and I wanted to report on some of the opinions and experiences which the speakers shared with the group.

First off the bat a very entertaining and interesting talk by James Denmead from the MoD whose time in government libraries has provided him the opportunity to become informed on subjects many and varied (from submarines to dwindling global resources), as well as amusing anecdotes as many and as varied.

As the morning went on we also saw talks from Tony Worron and Diane Murgatroyd, both of the FCO, reporting on recent changes undergone by the information department in order to meet changing organisation demands.  These very informative talks show us all that while organisational changes can be difficult and at times emotionally charged, the new challenges created can inspire a team to develop their potential, both as a collective and as individuals.

Between these two speakers came a talk from Janet Cockayne which captured the imagination and encouraged us all to always look for a challenge and not shy away from the unknown and the scary.  Janet also reminded us to think about how new skills can be transferred from one role to another and how seemingly unrelated roads along a career path can complement each other.

After lunch the group, full of friendly and familiar faces, took part in a panel discussion about skills and competencies in the government sector. This is an interesting and tricky subject which we were guided through by Alison Raisin of BIS (whose substantial knowledge of the subject was evident), me adding my two-pence worth and facilitated by Katharine Schopflin who organised the event. What we learned from this session; CPD is important throughout your career and you must be prepared to drive it yourself as well as seeking support from your manager, the importance of a head of profession or other mentor figure in career development, and much more.

A good day and a great example of a special interest group supporting its members.

- Jeremy Clarke

Start of a nu term

I sincerely offer a cheer of good luck to Glyndwr University who are offering a new Foundation Degree in Library and Information Practice to be delivered through blogs and social networking.  I must admit that I personally have not embraced the facebook/myspace culture as others have but the idea of open learning being opened up still further sounds to me like an exciting way of facilitating remote education and - with library and information in mind - utilising new technology in practice.  As long as standards of teaching are kept high, all power to them say I.

On the flip-side this got me to thinking about conversations I have had with Information Managers on the subject of recruitment and the opposing stances taken on the value of a professional qualification.  While many of our clients request a professional qualification (let's leave professional associations and accreditation out of this for a moment) to ensure job applicants have the expected standards of subject theory to build upon, others have expressed differing views. 

One legal information manager would prefer to see applicants with a strong business focus (whether this be a BSc in business or commerce, or a year's experience working in non-information role in professional services) as the commercial know-how that comes with this background is considered a better jumping-off-point to build practical experience upon than a library qualification.

Other clients have called for an MBA or a science degree ahead of an information Masters as the skills these qualifications have engendered has been viewed as more relevant to the working environment that applicants would be entering.

But that's enough from me, what do you think?

- Jeremy Clarke

Who should represent the full spectrum of information professionals?

Maybe it's time for CILIP to decide - is it still the Library Association under the skin, or does it want to represent the full spectrum of information professionals?  Doubtless other organisations will be be casting an eye.

Alison Raisin and Peter Griffiths in The Government Libraries Journal (June 09) highlight some interesting points and comment on qualification and competencies. Not just for librarians but also for Knowledge and Information management (KIM) professionals within government. It seems that Library posts within government still need a CILIP recognised qualification whereas roles that encompass Records, Knowledge and other aspects of Information Management don’t.

One interesting outcome of this is the resultant one way traffic in terns of job moves. Librarians can move on out - but KIM people can't move into library jobs. The Knowledge Council is looking to rectify this in part by encouraging KIM practitioners to recognise themselves as part of a professional community and then identify and develop skills and learn how to apply them. The departments need to develop a skills pipeline for the future in conjunction with this.

This opens out many opportunities for those of us in this field. Now is an exciting time to widen our skills and the arena in which we can apply them, when our known world appears to be shrinking as a result of efficiencies through outsourcing, increased use of Web 2.0 technologies and the credit crunch.

It is vital that someone takes up the challenge to harness these new energies and create new larger networks by interweaving the strands of the information profession. Who will do it? Who wants to? Who is farsighted enough to see the benefits for our future information generation?

It is particularly interesting that comments have continued to flow to our blog after the SHR breakfast at the beginning of July at which Professional Associations were the hot topic.  Everyone knows something needs to be done - but who is going to proactively step up and do it? - Sue Hill 

Credit Crunching

Last week saw the closing session in the recent series of Credit Crunch lunches, although there was less sandwich munching and more idea scribbling to be heard.

The topic, an old favourite, Filling in that wretched application form / application letters.  Everyone had experiences and opinions to share and as usual the session turned into free-flowing exchange of ideas, so a big thank you to all who attended.

Now the holiday season is fully upon us and the CC sessions are taking some time off too, to return later in the year.  If you have any burning topics which you would like to find out more about or subjects which you feel could produce interesting discussion, why not drop us a line at jobs@suehill.com.

For now though ‘bonnes vacances’ and good vacancy hunting.

- Jeremy Clarke

Pop up Restaurants, Pop up Museums - why not Pop up Libraries?

Why do I never have the good ideas first?

Last week I went to a pop-up bar, and have been hearing wonderful tales of pop-up restaurants.  I even contemplated having one in my house to raise funds for charity.

I belong to the Guerrilla Gardening Group who brighten up those dull bare plots on road sides, roundabouts and in Council estates with glorious flowers.  This is a cause I support with all of my heart.

Today I see that at the Musuem Association's event for emerging museum professionals(now there is another great idea) a Dragons' Den type event was won by a team whose one minute pitch entailed setting up Museums in the many vacantshops that blight our town centres.  Bringing exhibits that otherwise languish in basements straight to the eye of the public can only be a good thing. More can be read at the Museum Association website.  A brilliant idea and well done the winning team.

Now - come on Libraryland.  Let's get out there and have pop-up libraries in the vacant shop next door to our museum colleagues.  Perhaps even put the mobile library in the car park (I know some of you do already).  Sell off your excess books - raise funds.  

Friday to day so off to the pop-up cafe bar on the top the multi-story car-park in Peckham again tonight to admire the sunset while sipping a welcome Campari. Plenty of room there for some books. - Sue Hill

Umbrella brings the sun and an honour

Up at sparrows' and off to Hatfield on what a previous colleague famously called 'a big train' to exhibit the Sue Hill Recruitment services offering and to speak for my wonderful friends CDG.  A good turnout of 721 delegates - not all of whom made it to our stand, but judging by the disappearing quantities of our famous jellybeans, many did.

Conversations at the stand covered the spectrum of recruitment issues, job hunting and much about professionalism - the latter generated in no small measure by reports of the Borough Market Twelve breakfast meeting. John Feather coincidentally spoke on The Information Society: Does it need the information professions?  John is always controversial and fun so it was good to catch up with him. Lizzie Russell, one of our newest team members, was kept busy talking to prospective and existing candidates and clients as indeed was I, and I am sure Cameron Best will be busy today. 

Despite the numbers of people concerned about their jobs or lack of them the overall atmostphere was positive, showing to me the benefits of professional networking and keeping up to date with current issues.

At 2.15pm precisley I headed off to compete against Paul Sturges speaking on Why is Poo Brown?  Luckily a good number of those eager to change sectors came along to listen to me.  As each person arrived they were challenged to sit next to someone they did not know and who was not from the same sector. Within five minutes the noise was deafening. The power of networking is not to be dismissed! 

I was moved to tears at the end of my session when the lively and vibrant Maria Cotera, current President of CDG awarded me with an Honorary Fellowship of CDG and read the citation in full.  Thank you CDG.  This is an honour I am very proud to accept.  Within this very special group I feel are our future leaders which is why I support them.  We MUST invest in our future.

 - Sue Hill

The role of the information professional in the 21st century

Yesterday I attended the New Professionals Conference held by the Career Development Group and the Diversity Group. The conference was a great chance for people new to the profession to network and share ideas about the role of the information professional in the 21st century. Several of the attendees had written a paper around this topic, and a select few were invited to give a presentation on their paper and findings. 

It was fantastic to hear the speakers take on the library and information profession. These speakers were all new to the profession, and therefore had a fresh perspective on the how the industry is changing, what challenges we face in the profession, and how we can better market ourselves and the value that we bring.

The audience voted for the best speaker, and Ned Potter was voted the best speaker for his interesting discussion on the stereotypes that we in the profession are faced with, and what we can do to overcome these stereotypes. He was awarded a bottle of Sue Hill fizz and with a £100 cheque kindly donated by Sue Hill Recruitment.

- Lizzie Russell

Marketing Your Skills & Your Service

Last week I spent a very rewarding day working with a group of around 20 members of CILIP's Surrey Group.  In the morning we focused on what individuals can do to gain a promotion - a mix of presentations and facilitated workshop sessions on how to build reputation, identify our own skills and consider how to best present those when applying for promotion using application forms and interviews. 

In the afternoon session we moved onto considering how to market your service, rather than yourself, although following the same principles:

• Understand your audience(s) - users, managers and other stakeholders

• Consider their views, needs and what they value - market research

• What is your product? - how to tailor your services to meet those needs

• Craft your message to suit each audience

Feedback from the organiser of the event has been very positive, including the following comment:

"staff who attended found the day very useful. The young work experience student we sent along was so impressed she wants to find a full-time post with us!"

It is very heartening to be able to encourage new entrants into the profession to feel positive about the work we all do.  I hope the more experienced delegates also found something useful to take away from the day.