Found this http://youtu.be/x-9FaJPhFxQ it was uploaded in 2008, what would the figures be now? Just how dependent are we now on technology to live our daily lives. At the moment I've got the pc running, an external hardrive hooked up, my satellite tv recording programs, my smart phone lying by my side, a usb stick plugged in, a kindle beside my bed and I'm not a technolgy geek, in the gadget sense.
It's made me think about those 'when we were kids' posts, back in the days before the mobile phone, the modern pc and the games console. I used to remember the phone numbers of friends and family, when a red phone box was a life saver - now I know 2 numbers and the rest are stored on my smart phone, accessed at the touch of a button of flick of my thumb.To read, I picked up a book, magazine or newspaper, now I plug in a device, flick a switch and have constant news updates. To write to my friends was the only way of communicating long distance, now I text, use social media or email. So, technolgy has changed the way I work, socialise and communicate in 2011.....so what will be added to my collection of social gadgetry over the next few years.
For now, I'm going to turn off my pc, pick up a book and listen to the tick tock of my clock.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Find of the Week (12)
It's been a while since I added a 'find of the week'. Due to restructuring at work and preparing to move house my time to blog has been limited. However, I did find this little gem the other day.
So, how do you go to bed? Is it pj's, shorts, old t-shirt, nightie, naked?This piece from the Omaha Herald, reprinted in the local newspaper,tells the tale of an old maid and her bedtime routine.
So, how do you go to bed? Is it pj's, shorts, old t-shirt, nightie, naked?This piece from the Omaha Herald, reprinted in the local newspaper,tells the tale of an old maid and her bedtime routine.
Monday, 6 June 2011
New Job
First came the restructure, second came a very long job profile and third came the interview last Wednesday. The interview was in two parts, a PowerPoint on "my vision for my section of Arts & Heritage over the next 3 years" and then some good questions on increasing access to collections, team working, promotion of service and improving access and provision of reference services. I enjoyed delivering the PowerPoint, I concentrated on:
Increasing engagement with the community
Improving awareness and access to collections
A Partnership apprach
So instead of Information Services Librarian its now Local History and Reference Librarian.
Increasing engagement with the community
Improving awareness and access to collections
A Partnership apprach
So instead of Information Services Librarian its now Local History and Reference Librarian.
Friday, 7 January 2011
2011 - January
The working year began today. I've spent the past fortnight eating, drinking, reading and playing the occasional game of Guess Who.
I opened outlook at 8.52 am, I thought people would be too busy over the holidays to send enquires, I couldn't have been more wrong. I was amazed not only by the amount of enquires but by the complexity of them. Thankfully the fight against the ever increasing inbox is now being fought jointly by me and my new secret weapon - Isabel the newly appointed Information Services Assistant. I'm not alone anymore.
The first project for this year is based on intergenerational learning and is funded by Museums and Galleries Scotland. 'Climbing Tress - The Census' will focus on working with Primary 5-7 pupils and older members of the community, we will be developing and delivering workshops to be used during school visits, a census pack for all local primary schools with links to the Curriculum for Excellence. The project will give children an understanding of what the census is and how it has developed since the 1840's. We will be bring the census to life by using local maps, valuation rolls, photographs and the census records of key local figures. The project will culminate in an open day during Scottish Local History week, which will include an exhibition within Dumbarton Library, family information sessions on Scotland's People and Ancestry, ensuring all generations of the family work together to search the resources for information on their family histories.
It's also another year of change, development and opportunity, the service is being restructured and the local studies/history section is now placed within the new Arts & Heritage department. The opportunities this presents are fantastic, to work with our very skilled and dedicated arts and museums team is fantastic.
I opened outlook at 8.52 am, I thought people would be too busy over the holidays to send enquires, I couldn't have been more wrong. I was amazed not only by the amount of enquires but by the complexity of them. Thankfully the fight against the ever increasing inbox is now being fought jointly by me and my new secret weapon - Isabel the newly appointed Information Services Assistant. I'm not alone anymore.
The first project for this year is based on intergenerational learning and is funded by Museums and Galleries Scotland. 'Climbing Tress - The Census' will focus on working with Primary 5-7 pupils and older members of the community, we will be developing and delivering workshops to be used during school visits, a census pack for all local primary schools with links to the Curriculum for Excellence. The project will give children an understanding of what the census is and how it has developed since the 1840's. We will be bring the census to life by using local maps, valuation rolls, photographs and the census records of key local figures. The project will culminate in an open day during Scottish Local History week, which will include an exhibition within Dumbarton Library, family information sessions on Scotland's People and Ancestry, ensuring all generations of the family work together to search the resources for information on their family histories.
It's also another year of change, development and opportunity, the service is being restructured and the local studies/history section is now placed within the new Arts & Heritage department. The opportunities this presents are fantastic, to work with our very skilled and dedicated arts and museums team is fantastic.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Enquiry List
I mentioned in my last blog post – ‘every day I make someone smile’. Yes, I probably do, but it’s not down to telling them a good joke or offering them a chocolate, it’s about helping them find the answer to an enquiry. Like anyone in an information role I work through steps to ensure I can answer as accurately as possible. I ensure that I ask the right questions, use the right resources and have the tenacity to find the answer. I make the best use of the resources available to me and I am constantly sourcing additonal information to improve the service that I deliver.
The list below is a selection of some of the enquires I received this week in the local studies department;
The list below is a selection of some of the enquires I received this week in the local studies department;
- American author emailing to find out when he can come in to collect digital copies of archive photographs of the local football teams
- TV researcher from a new family history programme following up earlier emails about local printing and dying industry – what examples of archives/photographs can we send for final selection
- Where can I find plan/map of Dumbarton cemetery?
- American lady enquiring about a Scottish Long Clock – just bought the old clock and the label of the back has a few words leading the enquirer to Dumbarton
- Local walking group wanting to know if I present local history talks over the winter period
- Do we hold copies of local newspapers for 1884 in particular July to October.
- Another local authority contacting us on usage of certain archive photographs that we hold for a new exhibition, looking at reproduction costs / copyright
- Information on a boat built by Denny the ‘Sir Walter Scott’ what information do we hold on its build. Also looking for a copy of the book ‘William Denny Shipbuilder’, he could source a copy for £250.00. (I could send him an inter-library loan for under a tenner. Or show him online where he could buy it for under twenty).
- Man brought in an old bottle he fished out of the River Leven can we tell him anything about the local dairy company name engraved on the bottle.
- Someone wondering why their great grandmother was born in the local Poor House.
- Gentleman from New Zeland looking for information on the Nobles of Ardmore and Ardkinglass’ covering both the Kenny and Geils families. Including local maps and photographs where possible.
- Council Legal Department asking for ownership details from valuation rolls from 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.
- Library Centenary Year – mug shots in local paper, staff want copies for archive and personal use.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Inadequate - chartership
Do we all get a feeling of inadequacy at times, unless we happen to be Yoda?
I’ve realised that it’s now 12 months since I started my Chartership journey and I still feel rather perplexed by the whole process.
I’ve perused CILIP’s Chartership webpage, read the example submission, joined the JISC mailing lists, attended the portfolio building course, collated the information from personal to professional, included the wider context, dissected my service and filled several folders full of potential evidence. [remembering to breathe in and out]
Then when I think I’ve got the 1,000 words, the contents page devised and the evidence ear marked for final submission, I get that overpowering feeling that it’s just not good enough.
When I look at some of the exciting young librarians on Twitter, the work they do everyday to promote library and information services is fantastic. I often think that what I do doesn’t measure up….I’m not an advocate like Jo Alcock, Ian Clark , Bethan Ruddock and others.
I’m just the Local Studies Librarian for the fourth smallest local authority in Scotland. Nonetheless every day:
I can make someone smile, a genuine eye smile.
I make it easier for people to locate information.
I find that piece of information they have been searching years to find.
I can help find the last piece of someone’s puzzle.
I help people become familiar with their heritage.
I can correct someone’s assumptions.
I can listen to someone tell me a little about themselves, just because I’m there.
I find things every day that make we want to cry.
I find things every day that make we want to smile.
I can spend days on just one enquiry, relate that to a statistic.
I can teach people to locate information for themselves.
I make researchers jobs easier.
I geek my job.
If you found the above list rudimentary then I’m sorry but at times it’s the simple things that matter. If you want to read the in-depth version then I’ll post you the 2, A4 folders full of reflections over the past year. I could have typed out all the facets of my job but I’m afraid my job description is rather long.
I think these are the things I’ve found frustrating not being able to mention during Chartership, the passion as individuals we hold for our jobs. I adore what I do, yes it’s an operational post, I have great colleagues [not quite yoda's yet!] who are great strategic thinkers, who have more time and energy to spend on the strategy but I think you need the ying and yang in all organisations to bring out the best in everyone.
So, hopefully come October I’ll put my submission for Chartership in the post and hope that the information I’ve included passes the board. Yes, getting the nod does matter, I’ve spent a long time getting the post-grad and writing the Chartership portfolio.
I’ve realised that it’s now 12 months since I started my Chartership journey and I still feel rather perplexed by the whole process.
I’ve perused CILIP’s Chartership webpage, read the example submission, joined the JISC mailing lists, attended the portfolio building course, collated the information from personal to professional, included the wider context, dissected my service and filled several folders full of potential evidence. [remembering to breathe in and out]
Then when I think I’ve got the 1,000 words, the contents page devised and the evidence ear marked for final submission, I get that overpowering feeling that it’s just not good enough.
When I look at some of the exciting young librarians on Twitter, the work they do everyday to promote library and information services is fantastic. I often think that what I do doesn’t measure up….I’m not an advocate like Jo Alcock, Ian Clark , Bethan Ruddock and others.
I’m just the Local Studies Librarian for the fourth smallest local authority in Scotland. Nonetheless every day:
I can make someone smile, a genuine eye smile.
I make it easier for people to locate information.
I find that piece of information they have been searching years to find.
I can help find the last piece of someone’s puzzle.
I help people become familiar with their heritage.
I can correct someone’s assumptions.
I can listen to someone tell me a little about themselves, just because I’m there.
I find things every day that make we want to cry.
I find things every day that make we want to smile.
I can spend days on just one enquiry, relate that to a statistic.
I can teach people to locate information for themselves.
I make researchers jobs easier.
I geek my job.
If you found the above list rudimentary then I’m sorry but at times it’s the simple things that matter. If you want to read the in-depth version then I’ll post you the 2, A4 folders full of reflections over the past year. I could have typed out all the facets of my job but I’m afraid my job description is rather long.
I think these are the things I’ve found frustrating not being able to mention during Chartership, the passion as individuals we hold for our jobs. I adore what I do, yes it’s an operational post, I have great colleagues [not quite yoda's yet!] who are great strategic thinkers, who have more time and energy to spend on the strategy but I think you need the ying and yang in all organisations to bring out the best in everyone.
So, hopefully come October I’ll put my submission for Chartership in the post and hope that the information I’ve included passes the board. Yes, getting the nod does matter, I’ve spent a long time getting the post-grad and writing the Chartership portfolio.
Monday, 2 August 2010
Find of the Week (11)
I’ve spent a fair bit of time over the past week researching the 1/9th [Dumbartonshire] Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders during the First World War. It’s been fascinating and harrowing. The enquirers were very specific about the information they required, which meant a fair bit of in-depth reading and hunting through the archives. In Dumbarton we hold a number of archives on the Battalion and each piece was read in detail this looking for information on the battalion during May 1915, when they were fighting in Ypres, Belgium.
The information I’ve found has given me an insight into the war experiences of these men during the First World War. I’ve had the opportunity to read the detailed muster roll of the men enlisting, many lying about their age to join under the guise of being 18 years old. I identified one young man who signed up at fourteen and never came back. I sat wondering how many of these men [boys] didn’t return home to Dumbarton and the surrounding areas. When you sit looking at a document hand written in 1914 it humbles you, how quickly these young men signed up and were sent to the front.
The 1/9th were involved in the second battle of Ypres, May,1915 a hard fought battle with heavy artillery fire and the use of chlorine gas by the Germans. To read more on the accounts of the battle follow these links –
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres2.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Ypres
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dccfarr/summary.htm
http://www.argylls.co.uk/
The most poignant accounts I found whilst searching the archives weren't the official minute books and documents but letters printed in the local newspaper. Ordinary soldiers and ranking officers writing from the front line. I want to share some of the testimonies [those not censored during the war] I’ve been reading that describe the fighting in Ypres in May 1915.
Victim of Gas Attack:
“I am suffering from the effects of asphyxiating gas. Fortunately I managed to fight the gas determinedly. We were not long in bed (2a.m. Monday) when I was warned to get ready, and looking out of the little cave I could see a dense fog or mist all round. It seemed hopeless to escape from the effects. I had not a respirator, so took the end of my blanket and filled it with clay and, closing my nose, breathed though the blanket and clay. All around there was a prefect storm of shells and shrapnel. The gas came from the shells, and you could see them explode and emit a great browney-grey cloud. Imagine me squatting in a little hole in the ground fighting for life”
Dumbartonshire Territorial Rank: Private:
“I am still in the land of the living. We are still in the trenches. We have never been out of them since we came up a month ago. We have had a terrible time of it this week, but it seems to be quieting down again. I must have born under a very lucky star to have come out of the big battle, which lasted for five days, starting last Saturday morning. The shells were falling round us like hail, and we had to cross in the thick of them to support the 80th brigade, who were lying on our left. We have lost very heavily.”
Dumbartonshire Territorial Rank: Lance Corporal:
“We had to cross an open field to get to the trenches. When crossing it the fun began. The Germans sent over shrapnel “zipbangs” and “Jack Johnsons”[heavy artillery shells] such as never was seen since the war began. We got orders to lie down in an old trench about 12 noo. At that time we had an officer killed and several men wounded.”
Dumbartonshire Territorial Rank: Sergeant
“It is the first big fight the territorial’s have taken part in. There were 45 in the platoon when we made the charge and only three reached the trench, the others being knocked out on the way. We were mowed down like hay. Our colonel was killed and as far as I know nearly all our lieutenants were wounded or killed.”
There is a war memorial in Ypres the Menin Gate ,where amongst the names are those from the 1/9th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders who fell in May 1915.
The information I’ve found has given me an insight into the war experiences of these men during the First World War. I’ve had the opportunity to read the detailed muster roll of the men enlisting, many lying about their age to join under the guise of being 18 years old. I identified one young man who signed up at fourteen and never came back. I sat wondering how many of these men [boys] didn’t return home to Dumbarton and the surrounding areas. When you sit looking at a document hand written in 1914 it humbles you, how quickly these young men signed up and were sent to the front.
The 1/9th were involved in the second battle of Ypres, May,1915 a hard fought battle with heavy artillery fire and the use of chlorine gas by the Germans. To read more on the accounts of the battle follow these links –
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres2.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Ypres
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dccfarr/summary.htm
http://www.argylls.co.uk/
The most poignant accounts I found whilst searching the archives weren't the official minute books and documents but letters printed in the local newspaper. Ordinary soldiers and ranking officers writing from the front line. I want to share some of the testimonies [those not censored during the war] I’ve been reading that describe the fighting in Ypres in May 1915.
Victim of Gas Attack:
“I am suffering from the effects of asphyxiating gas. Fortunately I managed to fight the gas determinedly. We were not long in bed (2a.m. Monday) when I was warned to get ready, and looking out of the little cave I could see a dense fog or mist all round. It seemed hopeless to escape from the effects. I had not a respirator, so took the end of my blanket and filled it with clay and, closing my nose, breathed though the blanket and clay. All around there was a prefect storm of shells and shrapnel. The gas came from the shells, and you could see them explode and emit a great browney-grey cloud. Imagine me squatting in a little hole in the ground fighting for life”
Dumbartonshire Territorial Rank: Private:
“I am still in the land of the living. We are still in the trenches. We have never been out of them since we came up a month ago. We have had a terrible time of it this week, but it seems to be quieting down again. I must have born under a very lucky star to have come out of the big battle, which lasted for five days, starting last Saturday morning. The shells were falling round us like hail, and we had to cross in the thick of them to support the 80th brigade, who were lying on our left. We have lost very heavily.”
Dumbartonshire Territorial Rank: Lance Corporal:
“We had to cross an open field to get to the trenches. When crossing it the fun began. The Germans sent over shrapnel “zipbangs” and “Jack Johnsons”[heavy artillery shells] such as never was seen since the war began. We got orders to lie down in an old trench about 12 noo. At that time we had an officer killed and several men wounded.”
Dumbartonshire Territorial Rank: Sergeant
“It is the first big fight the territorial’s have taken part in. There were 45 in the platoon when we made the charge and only three reached the trench, the others being knocked out on the way. We were mowed down like hay. Our colonel was killed and as far as I know nearly all our lieutenants were wounded or killed.”
There is a war memorial in Ypres the Menin Gate ,where amongst the names are those from the 1/9th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders who fell in May 1915.
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