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!)

 

Uniform for the info pro?

I won't bore you with the details but I've been on holiday. You'll no doubt be delighted to know there was plenty of sunshine, good food and time to watch the world go by! Shall I stop there? Righto.

So, there were a couple of things that made me laugh whilst I was away:

1. A t-shirt for sale in Corfu Town which said "F*** Google, ask me instead"

The clothing manufacturer didn't employ the *** - I'm just safe-guarding my job by not swearing on our blog! If ever there was an item of clothing for info pros...

 

2. The obituary for Keith Waterhouse, author, journalist and playwright, in The Times (although I read it in the much more reading-by-the-pool-friendly and digestible magazine The Week). One of his famous quotes: "Should not the Society of Indexers be know as Indexers, Society of, The?”

 

I did laugh more than twice but these stuck in my mind as being bloggable once I got back to the office. Clearly I'm a geek and should get out more, but just wanted to share!

- Suzanne Wheatley

 

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 

An Archiving Answer?

I noticed this article on the BBC website recently about a new and reliable way to back up and archive digital material.  A team of researchers in Japan are confident that they have come up with a breakthrough piece of archiving technology which will still be readable well into the next Millennium.  Basically they are semiconductor memory chips made from silicon.

Now that is future proofing for you.

- Katharine Liu

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 Borough Market Twelve Meet for talks on Professional Associations

On Friday 3 July twelve librarians, information professionals – call us what you will - enjoyed a breakfast at Roast in Borough Market as part of the Sue Hill Recruitment breakfast programme.  The hot topic of the morning was ‘ Professional Bodies - Do we need them?’  The short answer was that the group were passionate about the information work they do and yes having a professional body where we can all ‘hang our hats’ really does give kudos to the profession.  However the issue is what should the professional body look like and offer its members.  It is quite clear that there is a multiplicity of choices from BIALL, SLA, Sconul, SCIP, National Council of Archives, RMS and of course CILIP  and its groups, too much choice can cause confusion to those outside the profession looking in.  Why did they all evolve? A disenchantment with other professional associations?

The debate was extremely lively and for once I found it hard to get a word in as the conversation flowed and in what seemed like a blink of an eye it was nearly 9.30am and time to head off for our respective work places.  In discussing success stories and best practice in growing membership, it was clear that having an outward facing strategy with strong CPD aspects is key and an organisation should not exist for the benefit of its officers and employees alone.  The membership should be driving through their needs and expectations of a professional body and have a true voice that is heard.  Examples of strong leadership and success were discussed and common denominators appear to be ‘ passion’, ‘energy’, 'speed of response' and good succession planning.  The group agreed that CPD, networking, having a best practice body of knowledge and advocacy are core benefits of a professional group.  However the issue of professional certification was discussed and the group concluded that ‘qualifications do not make you professional’ and that it could be argued that ‘hiding’ behind professional certification is no benchmark for how professional or relevant to a post an individual maybe.  It can certainly assure a level of competence but it is the body of work that drives through professionalism, values, competencies and skills. What next then for professional groups?  How to make the right choice?  In this economic climate members may vote with their purse. 

From the lively debate it is clear that there needs to be significant change in how professional bodies are structured, managed and financed to serve (a key word to use and is often forgotten) its members.  One can look to the US and SLA for examples of how strong and charismatic leadership is driving forward, with a passion, its offering, relevance  and CPD in abundance and value for money.  It is not yet the tolling of the death bell for professional bodies but it is quite clear that there needs to be significant change and quickly before ‘others’ prey on the disillusioned and ‘lost’ librarians.  A call to arms! 

 - Sue Edgar

Births, Deaths and Marriages plus an Anniversary

Or as my beloved and much missed Dad would have said Hatches, Matches and Dispatches.

Yesterday at an excellent SLA Europe Soirée(generously sponsored by Alacra) to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of SLA if was good to see not just familiar faces but many new ones.  A highlight (apart from the fabulousus celebration cake and the champagne) was to talk to the past and present winners of the SLA Europe Early Career Conference Award.  They had found the all expenses paid trip to America to attend the SLA Conference invigorating and life changing.  The networking ethic was reinforced at the start of their careers.   I strongly recommend that if you are eligible for this award that you apply for next year.

Regrettably yesterday also marked the demise of CiG - City Information Group.  This is a group I joined and have been a staunch member of since the day it was formed.  It has been instrumental in educating me, enlightening me, creating networks - both social and professional  - as an individual and as a business it has opened many doors and given me the opportunity to meet and talk to people outside of their office environments.  The events and seminars held over the years haveproved invaluable as an affordable method of staff CPD and training.  Not just attending to learn about how information works in the City, but also to give presentations themselves on relevanttopics.  I don't want to see it end, but it seems the time has come.  I certainly intend to offer a small sum to help ensure that the suppliers and individuals who have offered such good value events venues and services over the years do not lose out.  I have spoken to others who feel the same.  We have all gained from our membership of CiG.

AUKML also announced that it is to consider its future as a membership organisation at their AGM on Tuesday 7 July.  Again this is a group that offers the same type of benefits as SLA and CiG and that provides fantastic support to individuals as they developed their careers.

CiG will be sadly missed, but there are groups out there that we can forge alliances with.  My call to you is not to sit back and give up on your CPD, networks and memberships but to keep them alive and going and be proactive.  Now more than ever we need to support colleagues and to provide a nurturing environment for newcomers to our field.

A time to weep for the departed and to celebrate the survivors. - Sue Hill

Liberian Girl

Michael Jackon's sad, early demise this morning reminded me of the song Liberian Girl.  Many years ago in another life I met the Liberian President, also sadly no longer with us.

Today's news caused me to reflect how many times in my career I have been asked to find a Liberian.  Yes I knew they wanted a librarian, but it was so tempting to say I would get back once I had spoken to the Liberian President.  But then I would think - who I am to talk.  I often mention the Boys' Brigrade.  Not for nothing are there ontologists working on natural language searching projects.  That has to include natural language mistakes as well.

Yes, it's Friday, and the weather is warm and muggy.   Off now to find that ontologist.  I'll leave the Liberians til Monday. - Sue Hill

NGLIS Conference 2009

On Wednesday 5th June I attended the NGLIS Conference, this year's focus being the Information Landscape.  This was a very interesting and informative day which had a mixture of speakers, exhibitors and workshops.  I was lucky enough to be an exhibitor and run a workshop based on competency based interviews, which gave me a great opportunity to meet people and get chatting about recruitment and what the employment status is like in goverment departments.

The stand-out talk of the day was from Paul Whiffen, the Head of Knowledge Management at HMRC.  I don't think I have heard someone so enthusiastic about KM before.  I know there are plenty of people out there who live and breathe KM, but Paul had a way of conveying his enthusiasm that made me sit up and take more notice.  He also described KM in such a straightforward way, without dumbing it down.  His focus was on KM and how to achieve a learning organisation.  Learn from the knowledge that could improve or move your organisation, learn from the knowledge you gained from previous projects, learn from knowledge held by your workforce.

The keynote speaker was David A. Smith, Chief Knowledge Officer at the Department of Communities and Local Government.  David was looking at current threats and opportunities for those involved in information and knowledge, with the government.

Sheila Corrall - professor of Librianship & Information Management (and head of department) at Sheffield University - focussed on information literacy and how to help people to find and use information properly.

John Wright, the had of Open Source Change and Delivery Team at the FCO talked about, after the library and information service was reviewed, the Information Service Team was disbanded.  John talked about the process, the successful factors of the transformation and what was learnt from the process.

Although numbers were down on last year's conference I felt that the day was still very much a success, with all parties involved obviously putting in a lot of hard work to achieve the great results.  The fewer numbers lead to more intimate workshops and a better chance to spend time talking to people.  There were some themes that ran through the day.  Competencies are playing a bigger and bigger part in organisations, whether they are used to recruit or as a benchmark or framework for departments to work towards. It was also apparent that learning never stops.  We need to learn from the things that we do, information is an ever evolving area and we can't stand still as information professionals.

The food was great too.

So thank you to Lorna Goodey for inviting me to take part.

- Katharine Liu

Learning or working - similar issues affect us

I have just been reading with interest a new JISC report - ostensibly relating to HE information matters http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/documents/heweb2.aspx but in fact it reflects much that I encounter managing a fully diverse workforce.

I like to consider myself reasonably technically aware and competent even though the hair is grey (underneath the artifice) and my pensionable age is drawing ever nearer.  It is still a jolt to realise that across each decade of age the interest in, ability with and capability to learn and use all aspects of IT, Web 2.0 technologies included, varies widely.  The digital divide is not vastly different in those in their twenties and those in the forties. We are not yet hiring 11-15 year olds so I await their arrival with interest.

Something that struck me in a planning meeting with a public libraries client today is that access to technology varies widely from street to street, never mind social demographics.  This can result in the need for one public library branch in an authority to need to focus all their resources on computing technology for those nearby who do not have the wherewithall to have it at home and yet just across the borough the need may be for books and meeting spaces.   We need to take the findings of this report out beyond education and take note for our every day lives. 

Among the key findings nestles a statement that says 'Face to face contact with (academic) staff matters to students.'  This is good to hear, as although we are all increasingly being warned we will all work from home, there is no doubt that our best and most productive business relationships are formed through face to face contact.  This carries through to CPD and continued learning in the work place as well. - Sue Hill

#clex09