Volunteering at the Hurstville City Library

I’ve been doing some time volunteering at my local public library while I’m studying for my Diploma of Library Studies at TAFE. It’s been great for me to get into a library and get a feel for the day to day activities, get a bit of experience to fill in a thin resume, and to set a path for my future career. Lots of library students and prospective library students give time to the volunteer program for the same reasons, and lots of local community members join the program too. I came to hear about the volunteering program from a staff member who I met at the Unmeash Unconference last year. I received a lot of good advice at Unmeash 2012  and was able to turn some of it into action.

At the induction session I attended last year, reasons for joining the volunteer program ranged from improving English conversation skills, assisting with special community language programs within the library, meeting people after moving to a new area, and giving time to something meaningful in the community. The volunteers wear different coloured name tags if they have a particular expertise, such as computing skills, or if they speak a community language (or if they are library students).

I’ve learned many things in the program that perhaps should have been obvious. I quickly changed over to much more supportive shoes. I sought out clothes with pockets to carry small things with me. I realised that not everyone understood the differences between graphic novels and manga, and I can now predict which sections need the most frequent shelf tidying. In the time I’ve been there I have received training in assisting patrons with technical questions, such as downloading ebooks from the library catalogue, and have assisted staff to present the beginner computer classes which just happen to coincide with my regular shift. As I especially enjoy this, I am already thinking how I can use my time studying to gain more formal training in providing training.

But apart from all that, one of the main things I enjoy is working with the other volunteers. Hurstville City Council actively fosters volunteers in many areas, and the library is part of a library/museum/gallery group. They work hard to make sure that the volunteers are shown appreciation through morning teas and activities that give us the time to get to know each other and the staff.  It’s pleasant to get to know the other volunteers that are there on the same day as me, and to meet up with others volunteering at different locations and hear about their experiences. Plus, I get to keep an eye on new releases and never have to make a special trip to return my books.

If you are a library student, or even thinking about studying in the future, perhaps there are volunteering opportunities near you.  Seek them out, for fun and function.

Event Recap: Social Media in Libraries

Last Thursday Mylee Joseph, Project Leader, Innovation Project at the State Library of New South Wales, gave a fantastic talk at Customs House for a City of Sydney event about social media in libraries.

Mylee talked about the three opportunities for libraries with social media: discovery, engagement and collecting.

One of the attendees, Joachim Cohen, has put together a Storify of the event, which is well worth checking out. Mylee will also make her presentation available on Slideshare.

Below are just a few highlights from my notes:

Engagement

Commander Chris Hadfield's use of Twitter when he was on the International Space Station was historical in many ways. There were some great moments of engagement, such as William Shatner tweeting to ask if he was really in space, not to mention his version of Space Oddity, which had 22,630 retweets.

He also used reddit successfully. But Mylee emphasised that libraries shouldn't try to get into everything. Instead, choose a platform that suitable for the material you want to share, and is something your target audience uses.

For example, Google Hangouts can be great for author events, especially if they're in a different time zone. The interview can be held live on air and recorded for later viewing on YouTube.

Collection

Social media is ephemeral, so libraries have a place in keeping this record for future generations.

The Vatican archived Pope Benedict XVI's tweets, showing the importance of this record. The archived tweets can be seen alongside the Twitter feed of current Pope Francis' tweets.

There were 500,000 tweets about last week's #spill. Collecting so much information can be difficult, but could be useful to researchers.

Discovery

Flickr's The Commons is a way for cultural institutions to make their collections discoverable: the State Library has 1795 images, with well over 7.73 million views and 8933 people connected as contacts.

The Historypin app is being used heavily by the State Library as a way of allowing people to view historical photos of places where they are.

Creating or updating Wikipedia entries using the State Libraries holdings is a great way of sharing information about significant people or events. Two examples are an article on the Aboriginal Australian World War I soldier Douglas Grant, and an article on the recent DIY rainbow crossing movement in Sydney.

More Engagement

The State Library has had much success with Pinterest- their most popular board is HSC: Researching beyond Google.

Mylee advised libraries to be careful with what they repin- try to find the original source (and consider asking the original artists if you can pin their work).

When asked about the people needed, Mylee emphasised the need for a team-based approach. The marketing team are good at promoting events, but there also has to be people listening and (quickly) responding to questions and comments. At the State Library there is a 'coalition' of people authorised to respond via Twitter on behalf of their section.

Amy Croft
@amyecroft

Many Faces of Library Cards

What will become of library cards in the future? 

With so many functions moving online, my cards are slowly turning into a handy way to store the member number for when I log in. Unfortunately, I still have to remember my PIN for each of them the usual way.

I need my library cards when I'm checking out a physical resource, of course. I have eight cards of my own at the moment, and carry a couple for my children too. They were very pleased when they were finally allowed to get their own cards. I was less pleased as each has been lost and replaced at least once, and now all the library cards reside with me. My TAFE student card doubles as my library card, and is the only one with my photo (not shown - no one likes their own photo ID). This card can act as ID when I want to visit another library, such as UTS, so it has a double duty. My Rockdale library card is duplicated on my phone through the Card Star app, so I can present that to the desk when borrowing, and never get caught short. The Hurstville City Library card stores credit to use the printers etc at the library, as does my student card.

My various customer loyalty cards are bright colours, and have slick branding. Looking over the images on my library cards, I have to say, they are mixed. To me their function is more important than their form, but we all recognise the power of branding. In Library Week many public libraries have events for young children and encourage their parents to get a library card for the child. The card is a prompt for parents to borrow and share books with children, and is a tangible link to the issuing library.

I love my big fat roll of library cards, and plan on adding a couple of new ones to it in the near future, as I identify libraries that hold different items or collections I am interested in. I'm intrigued by their design and how they fit with the branding strategy of each institution. Maybe I can find a purple one.....

Lauren Castan

How Many Library Staff Does it Take to Change a (Research Data Sharing) Light Bulb?

This bad joke play will resonate with readers who have been involved in the various Australian National Data Service (ANDS) funded projects. These projects were established to raise awareness of data issues (management, secure storage and preservation and sharing options) within the national research sector. Data sharing could reduce duplication of research cost and effort, and enable re-use of data for new purposes. Research Data Australia (RDA) was created in the hope it would become a register of Australian research activity, to facilitate data sharing and enhance national and international collaborative research opportunities.

The University of Western Sydney secured funding for 3 projects which were a collaborative effort between various Library and University units. It was an extremely rewarding experience and further strengthened already strong working relationships between the teams, especially when planning the rollout of business as usual post funding across the University.

Some of the major project achievements for UWS were:

• Greater awareness and take-up of data management, storage and sharing options among the research community.

• 100 records to date in Research Data Australia showcasing UWS research and researchers via descriptions of their data.

• Working committees to address ongoing data issues and ensure business as usual  rollout for the ‘wins’ of the projects.

• Expanded capacity for data storage (working and archival) and supporting metadata through the Research Data Repository project.

• Creation of new technology to enable the transfer of data descriptions from some technical instruments into our data description tool for uploading to Research Data Australia.

This all sounds quite dry, but it was actually very exciting (and often frustrating). The first researcher interview and the first UWS collection appearing in RDA were initial highlights, then came the thrill of hitting 100 records. But it was not all smooth sailing. Denison, Kethers and McPhee (2007) report on a study conducted in 2006 about e-research and related issues, specifically discussing implications for libraries. Sadly six years on, the key issues identified as roadblocks to the use of available infrastructure are still the same. Although I’m hopeful the ANDS funding has enabled research institutions to chip away at old beliefs and start researchers on the journey of considering sharing data as a matter of course.

If you would like to learn more about our ANDS funded and related data projects, the UWS eResearch blog may interest you.

So, how many Library staff does it take to change a (research data sharing) light bulb?

A: Many, or just one, but the owner of the research data has to want to change (share). And this remains the greatest obstacle to data sharing for the foreseeable future.

And finally, a quick plug for the Research Librarian’s Google Group. This group discusses research related issues is open to anyone with an interest in that area.

Reference

Denison, T., Kethers, S., & McPhee, N. (2007). Managing the soft issues in e-research: a role for libraries? Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 38(1), 1-14

Susan Robbins is the Research Services Coordinator at the University of Western Sydney Library

s.robbins@uws.edu.au

Goonellabah Library Saved

In early May this year, Lismore City Council announced the closure of Goonellabah Library as part of it's budget cuts for 2013-14. But last night, after an impassioned plea from our own executive director Sue McKerracher and along with a petition with almost 1000 signatures, Lismore City coucillors opted to keep the library open with reduced hours. 

Had Goonellabah Library closed, it would have been the first NSW library in more than 15 years to shut its doors without a new library opening to take its place. This would have made a huge impact on the community who rely on  the library to serve its large retired community and help boost its high levels of disadvantage and low literacy levels. So for the second time this year ALIA stepped up to help the community protect a valued asset. 

We in library world know how important public libraries are to the communities they serve, especially those regional areas and are grateful to all those who have lent their support and signatures to this effort. 

Don't Judge a Librarian by its Cover

A customer is approaching the information desk. I am available, as are my colleagues. Who will the person choose to approach? In the slow times of exam periods or late shifts, I often stand wondering why the customer didn’t approach me first. I was definitely sporting the mandatory “I am the happiest person in the world” smile, so really, they should have picked me. But they didn’t. So how do I cope with such rejection? I can either push my colleagues out of the way, or I can solve my problem like a true librarian. So off I went to do some research.

I was in luck. Really, it was fate, serendipity, or maybe just plain old coincidence. An advance view of First Impressions and the Reference Encounter: The Influence of Affect and Clothing on Librarian Approachability was available through The Journal of Academic Librarianship. It was twelve pages, so I skimmed. I only needed the conclusions and I did not have time to waste. My career and my self-esteem depended on me being the most popular person at the reference desk.

So what did I learn?

1.       Smiling consistently increases approachability. But I was already smiling like I’d won gold at the Olympics so moving on…

2.       Don’t look down. Especially if you’re a woman. Unless you are young and looking at a book. Oh the confusion. I’m young, must go find a book. But I’m also a woman, so should I just hold the book up to eye level? Yes, that could work!

3.       Wear a name tag. Especially if you are young. Hmmm, I wonder if I make my name tag bigger, will that help?

4.       Formal clothing – a must for men and older people, and a definite no for women and younger people. Well this is cause for celebration. I’m kicking off my heels and stepping into my Cons. And as for that pencil skirt. It can go to Vinnies. I’ll stick with my jeans.

5.       Last lesson – even clothing colour matters. If you are a woman, don’t wear red. This is funny because red is supposed to enhance attractiveness. So evidently, if you’re pretty, you’re up the creek without a paddle. Ok, off to the shops to stock up on white and blue t-shirts.

So where does all this leave me? I’m smiling, I am reading a book BUT not looking down. I’ve got my name tag on and looking like I’m going to the movies. I’m all set to be inundated with pleas for assistance.

PROBLEM. I’m 25. Told I look around 18. I have been asked if I’m a student on many occasions. I’ve also been asked “Can I speak to someone more senior?” – even when that senior person will give the exact response that I did. Usually, they’re not even more senior, just older. So now I’m standing in my casual wear looking even younger. I just don’t get this research, but how can you argue with evidence?

It’s easy – I’ll argue with the arrogance of youth.

So I think I’ll continue dressing like I’m going to a job interview. Let’s face it, appearance matters. But more than looking approachable, I want people to trust that I know what I am taking about. I’ll wear my jeans on Fridays, and see if I notice a difference.

Dimity Flanagan is an Information Services Librarian at UNSW Library

Monday Meme

Opera House projection at Vivid Sydney 2012

This 20 questions meme comes via Connie "courtesy of Jackie who got it from Fi". (It's from last Monday - is that cheating?)

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Should've gone to bed a bit earlier last night...

2. What shirt are you wearing?
A little black turtleneck from SES. With a cardigan. From SES.

3. Do you label yourself?
Librarian.

4. What does your watch look like?
Forgot my watch today, so it looked an awful lot like my wrist. (I also realised how much I rely on it, even though I usually have my phone with me.)

5. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Internetting. Should have been sleeping.

6. Last furry thing you touched?
Two cats (not mine - I'm housesitting at the moment).

7. Favourite age you have been so far?
34. Hopefully this Thursday I'll start saying 35 is the best :)

8. What is your current desktop picture?
A photo I took at Vivid last year (above). Kicking myself I didn't go this year, although I did see the Doctor Who projection on Customs House from Circular Quay station.

9. If you had to choose between $1,000,000 or to be able to fly what would it be?
Can I not have teleportation? Ok, flying then :)

10. The last song you listened to?
*Checks phone* Song 2, Blur.

11. What time of day were you born?
Don't know, but I think early morning. There's a spoon somewhere I could check.

12. Where did you live in 1987?
Chipping Norton, a suburb in Sydney's south west.

13. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Try again if I have enough money, hoping I'll get two.

14. Would you move for the person you loved?
I think so.

15. Name three things that you have on you at all times?
My phone, a pair of earphones or headphones, my Fitbit (trying to make sure I do 10,000 steps each day).

16. What’s your favourite town/city?
Berlin - thought it was incredible when I visited in 2004.  Always planned to go back and am finally going this September!

17. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
Sandwich and a coffee for lunch.

18. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
When I was living overseas I sent a bunch of letters to my grandparents - they were the only people I couldn't email or text.

19. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear?
A dress. For me that's pretty fancy.

20. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
No - all good at the moment (touch wood).

Amy Croft
@amyecroft