View from the Hill

Time Out

So you have just been made redundant.  What now?  Have you thought about having a gap year?  A recent survey conducted by Travelex, the foreign exchange company, conducted a survey which showed that 78% of people who have recently been made redundant have taken the decision to take time out and travel.  In fact the 30-55 age bracket are twice as likely to travel that the 18-24 year olds.

But what about skills and continuing professional development?  Well you can take the opportunity to volunteer, whether overseas or closer to home.  Freepint have produced some helpful information on how to keep your skills up and how to stay in touch with the information world. 

Whether you have taken a self-imposed time out or you had no choice in the matter, you have options.  All doesn't have to be lost.  It can be an opportunity and the advice and guidance is out there and available.  And we, being information professionals, will be able to find it.

 - Katharine Liu 

 

The Apple and The Kama Sutra

Project Gutenberg's most popular download yesterday was The Kama Sutra. Project Gutenberg's free ebooks are available on the iPhone via the Eucalyptus app. Now. But they weren't until very recently. Apple deemed the app to be inappropriate as it would give access to such "objectionable" material. The questions that arise following this, quite rightly, are around censorship. Who is making the decisions that allow applications such as The Baby Shaker but deny readers the chance to explore literature?

This article in The Telegraph made me seethe for a few minutes but then I clicked on to Project Gutenberg and found myself at peace again. It's a collection of over 28,000 free ebooks and is entirely run by volunteers. As soon as I publish this page I'll be emailing my ebook-reading friends to alert them to this great resource.

- Suzanne Wheatley

Civic Duty - or sheer pleasure?

On Saturday I had the pleasure to be awarded a Civic Award by Southwark Council in recognition of my contribution to the local community.  In a cheerful and uplifting ceremony at St Giles Church in Camberwell I gathered with a diverse cross-section of others who were also to be commended for their contributions.  We were honoured by a panoply  (a magnificent or impressive array) of Mayors of Southwark, past and present, who took turns to read out our citations.  We then processed down Camberwell Church Street to the Town Hall where we were treated to a magnificent champagne tea.

A lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon and also very humbling.  It was eye opening and at the same time touching to speak to people who give up hours of their spare time to provide services, to help or to run organisations for others and consequently change their lives.  Many of them do this in spite of their own circumstances which are often difficult.  It was good to see young people awarded as well as those traditionally thought of as having the time to volunteer.

A good reminder that many things in life wouldn't happen if it weren't for people who are prepared to give up a little (or a lot) of their own time.  Volunteering is also an excellent way to gain new skills and meet new friends.  So don't just think about it.  Do it!