Think 14: Augmented Reality

I downloaded the Layar app on my phone  a while ago and have used it a couple to times to access various ad campaigns and competitions.

I remember going a HEA event where DCU were presenting on how they were using AR in their library, but that is about the extent of my knowledge of AR.

After the HEA event I did talk to a couple of our more techy members of staff about doing something that the students could use out on School Placement, virutal teaching packs possibly and while there was initial enthusiasm, nothing came of it.

 I still think it could be a good idea - especially now that so many students seem to have smart phones, though I am always wary that we could be excluding the few that don't have access to the internet at home or have smart phones.

I have put together a very, very simple layar test page here I will definitely be playing around with this one a bit when I have more time - but I am up against the clock trying to finish all my things by Sunday night! This was a fun thing, except that I could not do it in work at lunchtime because I could absolute not get Layar to work on my PC!

Thing 13: Professional Organisations

I have been a member of the Library Association of Ireland for many years, probably from when I got my very first contract position, the librarian here where I work advises everybody to join a professional organisation, whether they are qualified or not, or, have a 'professional' position or not.

When I was studying for the postgraduate diploma in library and information studies via Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen I also joined CILIP as a student member, at the time I was planning to return to the UK due to family circumstances and thought it would look good on the CV, and also as I was studying at the time membership gives you access to many library journals, as it happened I didn't need to decamp, but I have kept up my membership.

Last year I started looking into becoming an Associate of the LAI, but I really just haven't had the time to follow through on it yet! Initially I thought you had to hold a professional post to attain associateship, but once you are a member in good standing I think you can apply at any point in your career.

Thing 12: Conferences

I have been to my fair share of conferences, seminars and workshops over the fifteen years I have worked in the library. When I first started going, I used to squirrel myself away in a corner and not talk to anyone, or if there was anyone from my library there as well I used to stick to them like a limpet!

Networking pretty much terrified me, walking up and talking to complete strangers who I felt knew so much more than me was enough to put me off going in the first place!

The librarian would say to me that I needed to be more confident and to get out of my comfort zone, which I already knew, but found difficult to do.

After attending a couple of events I realised I was seeing a few of the same faces there, and as I got more experience working in the library I began to relax and realise that I did know stuff and could also speak about it!

At the same time I was managing our journals collection and going to Swets events and AGI meetings and getting to know more and more librarians.

So I decided that whenever I went to a conference/seminar/workshop I would make it my business to introduce myself to at least one person that I hadn't met before and spend time talking to them, about them and, about me and what we all do. Don't get me wrong, I still find that difficult to do, but I have met lots of lovely, knowledgeable people that way, that perhaps I would never have met!

I am very lucky in where I work as we are actively encouraged to attend events relevant to our position/department or area of expertise. I now manage the library Reception Desk and User Services so anything I attend is geared towards that, the most recent course I attended was: Innovation Day at Maynooth University: New Spaces and New Models for Frontline Services.  which was held in October 2015. This was a really fun day - during the morning we had some lightning talks which gave an overview of frontline service provision, and in the afternoon we held a World Cafe - I had never heard of this before but it is a great way to get people to mix and mingle and bounce ideas off of one another other.

I always try to take notes and write them up or put them in some sort of order as quickly as possible otherwise I just forget everything! We did set up a CPD blog a few years ago, but it was very hard to get people to post to it as it wasn't a requirement of attending the course.

I used to tweet from  events I went to as well, but I found I ended up missing so much because I was too busy tweeting - most events have a dedicated tweeter now anyway so I just do a hashtag search later to find out what people were most interested in and I also check out the videos or powerpoints when they are posted online.

Thing 11: Reflective Practice

We all lead such busy lives that sometimes it is difficult to just stop - take a breath and think about things. I've noticed over the last number of years that I do my best reflective thinking on the bus to and from work. It is the one time of day when I can just stare out of the window and think about the day ahead or the day just gone.

I have occasionally come up with some of my best ideas sitting on the bus! When I do, or if I find a solution to an issue or problem, I usually note it down in Google Keep on my phone (the humble notebook and pencil is gone -alas!). My bus journeys (four a day) are like taking a walk - I can just tune out of everything around me, and deal with what is in my head!.

In all honesty I am not a very good time manager, but I do try to be! I have an ongoing work list - this gets topped up and crossed off as the case may be, and more importantly it is flexible! I spend most of Friday afternoon, working through the things that didn't get finished - putting off to the next week the least important of them.

I believe we all do a measure of reflective practice without even know we are doing it.

Thing 10: Live Streaming

I have been using Periscope since it first came out, when I say 'using' I actually mean watching stuff! I haven't as yet live streamed anything. I have watched a Neil Diamond concert - not really a fan - but
it was streamed by one of his team and they must have used a decent camera because there was none of the usual shaking! I followed another periscoper who had attached his camera to a helmet while some really big waves  - fascinating!

I have also used Google Handouts - with family only. The cameras on my devices are very unforgiving...

I have watched various live streamed library events and conferences - it is a really good way to be involved if you can't be there - especially with funding so difficult to come by.

Thing 9: Video

I tried to download Jing, but as I am working on Thing 9 during my lunch break in work today, I don't have the admin rights to do so. I have used Screencast-O-Matic instead and this is what I came up with, for a ten minute job, it's not too bad!!


Again, because I am doing this in work, I have kept it to a  fairly simple video on how to to create a Storify, there is no sound or captions on it, that will be for another day! It's a bit shaky, but I think if I had a bit more practice it would be fine - and also - need a plan of action before starting!

However, Screencast-O-Matic is really easy and straightforward to use. I can see it being very useful in producing library management systems training videos - shorts ones on how to issue a book, how to find a student address or email - how to pay a fine on the system for new staff and  much easier to produce and use a written manual!

Thing 8 Curation Tools

There is only a couple of weeks left to catch up with all the things so I had better get a move on if I want that certificate!

Having written about Flipboard and Storify for Thing 8 on the Rudaí23 blog, I'm  not going to go into much detail here, except to say that I signed up to Pinterest, but haven't really had time to explore it properly! I'm a bit of a stick in the mud, when I find something I like I usually stick with it, and I like Flipboard. I find it very easy to use, especially on my phone, I usually flip through it on the bus on way home from work (thanks for the free wifi Dublin bus!).

I had never used Storify before writing the post for Rudaí23, but I had heard of it, mainly through Twitter. I think it is a fantastic tool for bringing information together in one place, and disseminating it all with one link, I think a Storify can be far more engaging than a single tweet or post.