#87 Professional Contacts

It’s easy in the school environment to get insular, and forget that you’re part of a much larger picture, and profession. Your local network may be able to help you with resources and advice, but it’s also a good idea to keep looking out at the big world and see what’s going on.
This can [...]

#80 Innovation

Innovation is a state of mind. Many librarians are innovative, and many are not. So what does ‘innovative’ mean?
For me, an innovative professional is one who is constantly looking at the services they provide, with a view to improving them. This might be with the use of new technologies, new ways of looking at services, [...]

#78 Pedagogy

Do you need to know what’s going on in the classroom? Do you need to know about current developments in the curriculum? Do you need to know about learning styles? Do you need to be aware of pupils with special educational needs and how to service their needs? Do you need to know how to [...]

#77 Qualifications

Many of the discussions on librarian mailing lists centre round salaries, qualifications and the connection between the two. There is no doubt that you will tend to get on better if you are fully qualified and chartered. This does not, of course, mean that you will necessarily be doing a better job.
It all really depends [...]

#76 Sell Yourself

Like the issue of publication, this is an issue that tends to split librarians. Should we yell and shout about the good things we do?
Well, yes is the simple answer. This doesn’t have to come across as a bragging exercise. There are many ways to sell yourself without making a big issue of it.
Some activities [...]

#66 CILIP CPD

CILIP are often accused of non-representation in the school library community. They take £17 off my pay every month, and I still can’t figure out why, other than the fact that I can continue to call myself ‘chartered’. My wife pays £30 a year for the same privilege as a teacher. Something doesn’t add up. [...]

#61 Google Alerts For CPD

If you have a Google account (or something similar, they usually offer the same facilities), you can setup an alert on any topic that takes your fancy.
In Google, it works this way. Once you’ve logged in, click on ‘Settings’. Click on the ‘Accounts’ tab.
From there, choose ‘Google Account Settings’ and choose ‘Alerts’ from the list.
After [...]

#60 RSS For CPD

Another good way to gather information is to set up RSS feeds which will keep you updated about the library world with minimal effort. A previous post went into detail about setting up RSS Feeds.
Select your sources, and the information will come to you. Simple, easy to use and a great tool.
Some suggestions for CPD [...]

#59 Professional Research

Many librarians might claim that they don’t have time for this sort of thing.
However, if you make the time for it, it may save you a lot of time and effort in the long run, and will certainly enhance your professionalism and career prospects. It doesn’t need to take up much of your time (perhaps [...]

#58 Mailing Lists And Web Groups

Mailing lists and web groups are a brilliant way of keeping in touch with other professionals. When you sign up to a mailing list or group, you are usually given option about how you are updated. You can usually be emailed instantly when someone puts up a message, choose to be emailed at regular intervals [...]