A friend sent me a link to a wiki for collecting Library stories, specifically your route into librarianship, and where that sprang from, so I thought I would try to catalogue (did you see what I did there?) my roots and route, although it feels like archaeology it was so long ago.
The wiki is here: http://libraryroutesproject.wikkii.com/wiki/Main_Page
I wanted to be a fighter pilot when I was about 10 or 11, but my Dad - he was a Chief Tech in the RAF - informed me that I couldn't because I was a girl. Somewhat taken aback, I shelved any plans for a career until secondary school, when I planned to be a Medical Technician as I liked science, particularly biology and chemistry. Just as I was starting the Sixth form, to do English, French and Biology A levels, we moved house as Dad had been posted to another RAF base. I had to go to a girls' school (that is another story!!) and we had to fight to keep my A level choices because one didn't mix arts and sciences, apparently. This meant I had to do my English exams separate from everyone else as they clashed with Biology. During this time I was helping out in the school library with my friend Siobhan and Mrs Calverley the English teacher. I really liked it; I was a timid child, you know, I wanted to run away and join the Library. I decided on this basis to try for a Librarianship degree rather than doing an HND in Medical Lab Technology or whatever. I didn't get great grades, as I hated the school, but I got interviews and offers from Newcastle and Brighton, and the grades were enough for Brighton. It wasn't a bad degree, not too many lectures ;-) and it was 40% French as the degree was Librarianship with Modern Languages. I managed to pass, and the rest is history, more or less. I worked for a firm of management consultants in St James' in London for 3 years, then went and worked in the voluntary sector - not as a librarian - for a while, including doing community theatre. I came back to librarianship when I got tired of not having any money, luckily at the time it still paid better than the voluntary sector. I think it still does, if you're lucky. I've been involved in both the British and Scottish law librarians' membership organisations, which I would recommend, whatever field you work in, as it's a great way to gain committee experience - you aren't supposed to enjoy it! It's been fascinating to see how the profession and our professional environment has changed, and it is still changing, which is what keeps me going.
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Friday, 2 October 2009
Connections
One of things I like about the interWeb is the random connections that can be made from websites and blogs. One of my favourites is Dave Snowden's blog. He founded Cognitive Edge, which is interesting in itself, professionally speaking, as it grew from the storytelling side of knowledge management - what they do is on their website www.cognitive-edge.com - but his blog often takes me to places I might never find. Yesterday, it led, via http://gapingvoid.com/ , to the Wooster Group's website, http://www.thewoostergroup.org/, good to know they are still going, and a Bristol artist Mr Jago, whose work I really like http://www.mrjago.com/ so that was a good discovery along the by ways of the Web.
His blog is listed (actually so far it's the only one) in my linkyloos
His blog is listed (actually so far it's the only one) in my linkyloos
Fridays
It feels as though this has been a long week, and to crown it I have taken the plunge and started a blog. This may be the only entry, as I am bad enough at loooking at personal e-mails, but hey, it's got to be worth a try.
As a law librarian, I often ponder the weirdness of legal publishers, but nothing can convince me that the law is updated once a quarter. I ponder it more at the end of each quarter, when I am inundated with them. I must have had about 20 in the last three days. Why, then, do updates for looseleaf works (big folders with pages you can take out and put in to update, to the uninitiated) always come out at the end of a financial quarter? Could it be to give the publishers a regular income - sharp intake of breath - or is that just me being cynical? Surely not??
The season of mists (if not mellow fruitfulness - I do like a bit of Keats) is upon us up here in Scotland, so tidying the garden at the weekend may not be an option, darn it. I need a machete to get to the shed. I will have to reorganise the bonsai for their winter quarters though, whether it is wet or dry, so that the more tender amongst them are protected from the frost. Bonsai are an easy way of keeping in touch with the seasons, as you have to plan ahead if you live in a temperate climate.
It's nearly the weekend - hurray!
As a law librarian, I often ponder the weirdness of legal publishers, but nothing can convince me that the law is updated once a quarter. I ponder it more at the end of each quarter, when I am inundated with them. I must have had about 20 in the last three days. Why, then, do updates for looseleaf works (big folders with pages you can take out and put in to update, to the uninitiated) always come out at the end of a financial quarter? Could it be to give the publishers a regular income - sharp intake of breath - or is that just me being cynical? Surely not??
The season of mists (if not mellow fruitfulness - I do like a bit of Keats) is upon us up here in Scotland, so tidying the garden at the weekend may not be an option, darn it. I need a machete to get to the shed. I will have to reorganise the bonsai for their winter quarters though, whether it is wet or dry, so that the more tender amongst them are protected from the frost. Bonsai are an easy way of keeping in touch with the seasons, as you have to plan ahead if you live in a temperate climate.
It's nearly the weekend - hurray!
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