UnMeash3 Unconference Wrap-up

Rob and Connie opening UnMeash3

Unconferences are all about sharing ideas and experiences. What you know, what you’ve seen and heard, what you want to know, what you’ve tried, what worked and what didn’t work. With all participants contributing their experience and expertise, new knowledge and proven tricks of the trade, asking questions and giving advice it all adds up to a day of cooperation and learning. The UnMeash unconference (held earlier this year on Saturday 5 July) is a great example of information professionals from Sydney (and beyond) doing it for themselves, and the results are always interesting.

This unconference is in its sixth year, the third year under the UnMeash moniker, and the second year at the very generous UNSW Library. The day starts with everyone suggesting topics for discussion, and then voting their preferences from the whole list, to determine the morning sessions. If popular sessions conflict, then they might be run twice. If the session you have chosen to attend doesn’t grab you, then you are encouraged to leave it to join another discussion.

First up were sessions on Useful Online Utilities, New Technology, and Innovative Information Services. Everyone divides into groups which move to the area for each discussion, then dive right in. While it’s often difficult to decide on a session, by using the hashtag #UnMeash3 or following @unmeash3 each group can get some idea of what other groups discussed and share their own information. The afternoon sessions included Digital Resources for Kids, Gaming to Promote Libraries, and the Repurposed Library. The sessions I attended provided me with plenty of ideas, information, and resources to note down and explore later. 

Not every session is a huge success. Sometimes the weight of numbers generated by interest in a single session means that other discussions might not get going. Sometimes the topic of greatest interest to you doesn’t get any votes at the start of the day and isn’t included. Occasionally a session may be dominated by participants who have little experience and loads of questions, and end up a little unsatisfying. My experience has been that no time is wasted, and the unanswered questions prompt me to search out answers later, through other avenues. 

Plus, there’s always plenty of time at UnMeash for informal chatting over morning tea, afternoon tea, and lunch at The White House. This is the time for finding out where people work, what they are doing that’s interesting, what they are planning for their career, their news and views. These connections are also an important part of the event.

With thanks to the ALIA NSW Library Techs, ALIA Sydney, and ALIA NSW New Grads who joined forces to organise the event, under the very capable leadership of Rob and Connie, I look forward to UnMeash4 in 2015.

-Lauren Castan

Blog Every Day in June Day 26 : The Unmeash Three Unconference

Saturday 5^th July will see the ALIA Library Professionals Unmeash Three Unconference at the UNSW Library. 

This will be the second year that the Unmeash Unconference has been at UNSW Library which offers an amazing Library location with lots of spaces for breakout sessions and a wonderful lunch location at the Whitehouse on campus.

Unmeash Three is hosted by three ALIA groups: ALIA NSW Library Technicians, ALIA Sydney and ALIA NSW New Grads. This is the sixth unconference that I have organised; the first four were run on behalf of ALIA NSW LT Group at the Australian Catholic University, North Sydney. In 2012 I was joined by Connie Ross and we coined the name Unmeash as a portmanteau of unleashing of ideas, the unconference, and the mesh idea of a network and the meshing of ideas and mashing of applications.

Unconferences are a fantastic opportunity to network and collaboratively learn from each other. They are empowering as everyone is encouraged to provide input and as they are participant-driven it’s those who attend who set the agenda for the day and choose the topics we discuss. It’s a gift economy where everyone gives. The other thing I reckon is that because we are all Library people, we are all speaking the same ‘language’ and although we all come from different Libraries and different roles we understand the work environment we all come from.

Unconferences are extraordinarily democratic – and a bit chaotic! But in a good way! Everyone is asked to submit their topics they’d like to discuss and contribute to and then on the day we choose the top topics to be discussed and then we break out into four breakout sessions to discuss and contribute to the discussions on those topics. People can choose to go to which ever topic they are passionate about (or interested in) and then we return for a coffee or tea and a bite to eat. Then off on another breakout session before lunch.

Because we get people coming from school Libraries, university Libraries, TAFE Libraries, public Libraries and from every level across the profession we get a kaleidoscope of views and insights into common problems and areas of interest.

On a rough count, over the year’s we have had something like over 150 participants who have been to at least one unconference – many have been more than once and at least 15 or so people have been to every one of the unconferences I’ve organised! Everyone enjoys the day and are empowered and energised by the experience. Here are two quotes from last year’s unconference: “I feel reenergised after attending – a similar feeling to attending big conferences, but for a fraction of the price” and “it reignites your original reasons for getting into the industry leaving you motivated and positive” 

So, don’t miss this year’s Unmeash Three! Register today at http://unmeash3.wordpress.com 

- Rob Thomson

Blog Every Day in June Day 4: Why my job feels like online dating

Last October I started a new job as an Outreach Librarian. I’d previously been a Reference Librarian which is a bit like being the coolest, most attractive person in the club. You stand there and people fall at your feet with desperation, begging for your attention. Being an Outreach Librarian is a completely different ball game. Instead, you’re the awkward, lonely girl behind the computer trawling academics’ profile pages, trying to decide who looks friendly.

Unfortunately, there’s no easy option of “send a wink”. It’s more old school: phone or email. The calling option can bring on cold sweats – let’s face it, rejection hurts more when an actual voice is involved. Some people also hate being put on the spot, ready to blurt out a “sorry, I’m just really busy right now” before I’ve even gotten to my second sentence.

Taking a tip from all those online dating articles out there, I go for the quantity approach. Devise a delightful email (with a few personalised touches) and send it out to half the school. Surely, there are some academics out there looking to procrastinate. I really wish the Library had let me Photoshop my profile picture, or let me hold a wine glass. I’m battling against a load of unfair boring stereotypes here.

So having lined up a few “dates”, I go into over preparation mode. What to wear? Cardigan – too generic, figure hugging dress – too librarian after hours, jeans – too student lost in the building. Settling on some power dressing – channelling a bit of Hillary and ‘lean in” Sandberg, now I can focus all my energy on freaking out about potential awkward silences.

Armed with a notebook, pen and my best winning smile, I am ready for battle. [Cue Rocky music]

Like most dates, it’s never as bad as you imagine (well except for that one time he shows you photos of a weekend hunting trip after you mention you’re a vegan….). There’s that awkward beginning, but once they realise you are going to talk to them about more than books, the look of panic fades from their eyes. In fact, when you mention that you can help confirm that they really are amazing (measure their research impact) and make them even more famous (help them with their online profiles), they stop looking at the door.

Okay, I’m overselling. Yes, I’ve struck gold with the “I’d love to see you again” but I’ve also received a “Can you give me your card because I’ll probably forget your name”. You win some, you lose some.

Some days you wonder if all the effort and rejection is worth it. But you just need one good date to lift your spirits. Besides, nobody can say that perseverance and initiative aren’t worth developing. Sure, I get jealous of those other librarians who are constantly fielding phone calls (oh to be the contact for Arts and Social Sciences!), but the adage is “no struggle, no progress” right? And really, there’s nothing in life a bit of Chumbawamba can’t fix.

-Dimity Flanagan

 Outreach Librarian (Business), UNSW