Editorial…It may be heading towards the long hot days of summer, butyour CDG Committee are already thinking towards theautumn. Once the certification event in July is past, there isthe fundraising pub quiz in September and an evening talk byAntony Brewerton planned for 20th November (see datespage for more details. We hope to see you at a future eventas there really is something for everyone.

There is also plenty in this issue to read while you’re lying onthe beach/sitting outside your office on lunchbreak with anumber of top tips for certification / chartership and articles onvisits and committee meetings.

Katrina Sked

2

4

Committee member profile -Catherine McLaren

6

Committee meetings - viewsfrom a new member -Lauren Goodchild

7

Dates for your diary 8

The Career Development Group isa special interest group of CILIP,

The Chartered Institute of Library &Information Professionals.

Registered Charity Number313014.

Central IssuesThe Newsletter of the

Career Development GroupWest Midlands Division

Summer 2007

CDG visit to Aston University -James Bisset

Top tips for Certification /Chartership from CDGmembers

Contents….

Keep up to date withCDG events

The Career Development Group has set up

CDGBulletin a national monthly mail out which

will bring news of events, visits and items of

interest to our members. If you want to

subscribe to this please contact

Bethan Carter - bethan.carter@rsm.ac.uk

CDG West Midlands visit to Aston University Library & Information Services

27th February 2007

I was one of two staff from the University of the West of England and some 20+ other

attendees who came from across the country ( some hailing from as far north as

Edinburgh ) to attend this day long event. I was also the soft touch who was persuaded to

write a short piece for the West Midland ’ s Career Development Group newsletter!

The day was advertised as being “ much more than a brief library tour” and had been

organised by Georgina Hardy to highlight some of the recent developments made within

Aston University Library & Information Services. It also provided an arena within which we

were able to network with fellow professionals and discuss some of the recent

developments both at Aston and elsewhere affecting information professionals from varying

sectors.

The day itself was well organised, with an initial introduction clearly illustrating the

organisational structure, context and direction Aston University ’ s Library and Information

Services had taken and were continuing to take. For a newly qualified librarian having only

recently entered the academic sector it was useful to see that other institutions face

comparable pressures to service provision ( and similar areas students want improved, eg:

computer access ) .

The day continued with a look at how the Library & Information Services team conduct

virtual tours of the library for new student intakes. Classes are run for approximately 30

students at a time with a virtual tour of the library being created using PixAround™ 3D

imaging software : this provides students with a 360 p̊anoramic and interactive view of

each floor of the library displaying where key resources ( eg photocopiers, printers,

information desks ) are located.

Whilst most people were impressed with the simplicity of this tool and the ease with which

information could be communicated to large numbers of students, it was clear how the

appropriateness of initiatives like this are always dependent upon the service in which they

are used and the audience to whom they are directed. There was some discussion on the

practicality of making tools such as these available via a Virtual Learning Environment

( V LE ) so that where audiences are too large or small to organise and timetable,

self-contained presentations can be conducted instead.

This theme was later picked up on during a split session looking at the Information

Tutorials developed by the Library and Information Services team. I was very interested

to see these tutorials ( a vailable at http://www.aston.ac.uk/lis/infoskills/index.htm ) and

must admit to taking inspiration for work I am becoming involved Skills in myself. One

problem that had arisen, and which received some intense discussion amongst

attendees, was the difficulties faced in making these accessible to all students over 2

different VLEs used at the University. One route that had not been considered was the

possible introduction of a library ‘ area ’ within the VLE, rather than as a module on

which students had to be pro-actively enrolled. This was especially problematic as it is

considered key to the development of these types of resources to keep design

consistent with the ‘ l ibrary brand ’ .

Other presentations during the day looked at a recent review of the service points in the

library, it being interesting to see how changes were investigated, planned and initiated

so as to create minimum disruption to service provision, and a split session looking at

either some of the resources available to cater for those with additional needs or at the

processes involved in identifying and making available digitised documents for students

within the current copyright infrastructure. This presentation was very interesting and,

although it only lightly touched upon a complex issue in preparation for an upcoming

event, it did initiate much discussion.

Having recently embarked upon the road to Chartership, this event was promoted as

being especially useful to those of us wishing to broaden our “ professional knowledge

and understanding of the wider professional context ” . The well put together itinerary

certainly did allow for and encourage discussion between attendees during the

presentations and during time put aside for directed discussion. This aspect of the day

was well planned for and, together with attendees from a variety of information

backgrounds, helped to make all the discussions very open, lively and informative. With

several attendees from commercial, charity and school libraries as well as from the

higher education sector it was interesting to hear not only how some of the initiatives

demonstrated affected differing service sectors, but also the differences in how

decisions on the implementation of new technologies and processes are made between

sectors.

James Bisset University of the West of England

Librarian ( Newly Qualified) ( Law, E-learning )

NetVibes ( www.netvibes.com ) pulls together

RSS and other webfeeds into a personalised

page. Once you log in, you can set it up for your

webmail inbox to sit next to the news headlines,

weather, favourite bookmarks, podcasts and

search engines. Be warned though - once you

start, it's a bit addictive!

Frances Hall

Candidate Support Officer

In the last newsletter we asked you to email in your “ top tips ” for certification /

chartership etc… Here are the replies received. If you have a new “ tip ” not covered

here email it to wmcdgppo@hotmail.co.uk and we’ l l include it in the next newsletter!

Have a blog! It's free, easy and

great for keeping track of what you

have done and gives you space to

keep reflective writing to submit as

evidence later. It's taggable,

searchable and it can be accessed

from anywhere.

Katharine Widdows

Science Information Assistant

University of Warwick

Contribute to a professional Wiki,

such as InfoTeach

http://www.infoteach.org/ Don't

forget to print out your own

contribution for your portfolio as

soon as you've added it, though -

it may be updated by someone

else later!

Georgina Hardy

Aston University

Get yourself a good mentor with a sense of

humour!

Claudia McKelvey, Hertfordshire Libraries

Get involved with other

professionals - Join the local

CDG committee, go to a

conference such as Umbrella or

on the CDG Study Tour.

Judith Smith

Hereford Cathedral

Although I have a mentor who

is a great help and offers very

professional advice, there are

several of us in the West

Midlands who have formed a

chartership group to meet up

and offer support and advice

to each other. It is also a net-

working opportunity and good

for showing Professional

development.

Sue Caldicott

Library Services Manager

Sandwell Clinical Library

( F or more information on this,

contact Sue at

Sue.Caldicott@swbh.nhs.uk )

Have as many people as possible read through your submission.

Take advantage of your library networks ( and colleagues'

networks ) to get an informed but impartial opinion from other

librarians.

Jane Faux, Liaison Librarian

Newman College of Higher Education

Although I had a mentor when completing my submission for

ACLIP, I did find it useful to have someone else read through my

Personal Statement before I submitted. Being a little removed

from the process, they were able to offer some suggestions as to

areas that needed clarifying and text that was superfluous.

Val Scott, ACLIP, Information Coordinator, Aston University.

In the second of our CDG committee profiles, Catherine McLaren, ourtreasurer tells us about herself.

I have worked in the NHS for the last 4 years in a number of different information

and library roles. I started out after leaving university temping as a library assistant

in Sandwell Hospital library before getting an Information Officer post in what was

the Birmingham and the Black Country WDC ( W orkforce Development

Confederation ) . While I was here I supported staff in their information needs and

worked on projects to improve the knowledge management processes of the

organisation. The WDC when through a number of organisational changes and

became part of the Birmingham and the Black Country Strategic Health Authority.

It was while I was at the SHA that I became involved in CDG committee and after

about 6 months took on the Treasurer role. The group is a good place to keep up

with what is happening in other areas of the library and information world as we all

come from different sectors.

While at the SHA I had the opportunity to go on secondment as a clinical librarian

to George Eliot Hospital library, I than went on to get the permanent post. So I

spend my time support clinical staff with their information needs. This can be

through finding and evaluating and appraising information for them or teaching

them how to find and appraise information for themselves.

Catherine McLaren

Clinical Librarian, George Eliot Hospital

Give your career that star quality!The CDG West Midlands committee is currently on the lookout for new

committee members. It ’ s great fun to be involved with such a friendly

committee and it looks brilliant as part of a Certification/Chartership/

Revalidation application.

For more information email: Georgina Hardy ( Chair ) -

g.c.hardy@aston.ac.uk Or come along to our next committee meeting ( see

“ D ates for your diary ” page for the next date ) .

Committee meetings - views from a new member

Having been a member of the Career Development Group since joining

CILIP, this year I decided it was a good time to become more involved.

Having attended a chartership course, I found out about the next West

Midlands committee meeting, and decided to go along.

The meetings are held at Birmingham Central Library. I arrived after a

day at work, not sure what to expect. This was my first visit to this library,

and the greatest challenge was tracking down the room in which the meeting

was happening. Thankfully, there were plenty of helpful staff around to direct

me on my way.

When I arrived, I found a very friendly group of people, who all made me feel

really welcome. Since it was my first meeting, they all made sure that things

were explained to me, and made me feel included throughout.

There was a lot to discuss, from National Council to courses and

events to be planned for the future. It looks like there ’ s going to be plenty to

keep us busy.

It seems the committee are always happy to have new members, and

people can take on as much as they feel they want to. I ’ m hoping to get

more involved in the future, and I ’ m hoping it will be fun to be a part of the

group in this way.

Lauren Goodchild

Information Officer, CUREE.

? ! Get your thinking caps on ! ?Yes the CDG West Midlands Quiz is back for its 3rd year!The date is Wednesday 19th September, venue is again theBright House Pub, Birmingham. As well as being great fun itraises money for CDG International projects. Look out on theemail lists for more information in the coming months.

Dates for your diaryYour “cut out and keep” guide to what’s happening in the Midlands with CDG over the

next few months.

Your guide to Certification

Thursday 12 th July 2007

Either 9.15 a.m. start and 12.30 p.m. finish OR 1.30 p.m. start and 4.45 p.m. finish.

Birmingham Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ.

£5 ( refreshments provided mid-morning/mid-afternoon ) . A payment form will be sent at

the time of booking.

A half day course for library and information staff who are interested in, or working towards,

CILIP ’ s Certification qualification for paraprofessional staff. Speakers will include Michael

Martin from CILIP ’ s Qualifications and Professional Development department, and Val

Scott from Aston University, a successful ACLIP candidate.

To book please contact Frances Hall, West Midlands Candidate Support Officer:

Tel 01902 321965, Email: wmrlo@yahoo.co.uk - Deadline for bookings: 5th July 2007……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Wednesday 19th September

West Midlands committee meeting.

Bright House Pub, Hill Street, Birmingham.

6-8pm

Observers welcome, come along and find out what committee does and maybe even get

involved! ( then stay on for the quiz! - see below)

For more details contact: Georgina Hardy ( Chair ) - g.c.hardy@aston.ac.uk……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Wednesday 19th September

Fundraising Quiz in aid of International Projects

Bright House Pub, Hill Street, Birmingham.

8 p.m. - 9.30/10 p.m.

£10 per team of 4 or 5 or come along on your own for £2.50 and we ’ l l find you a team! .

There will be the usual mixture of rounds with something for everyone and prizes will be

awarded for first, last and most unusual team name!

To register your team, or for more information contact:

Katrina Sked, Press and Publicity Officer on wmcdgppo@hotmail.co.uk……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Tuesday 20th November - time and location t.b.c.

Evening workshop by Antony Brewerton, University of Warwick on the subject of mentoring

- Look out for more details in the next newsletter or on the email lists.