"A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again."
Librarians tend to be aware of the importance of these lines by Pope. We may not know a lot about the subjects we deal with but we do know that there is a lot to know. That's one reason why we tend to be cynical about about tools such as Wikipedia. It's not that it is wrong, it's just that it is a very shallow draught.
This applies especially to subjects such as medicine and law. It could be dangerous (or at least expensive) to become intoxicated by a shallow understanding of these subjects. As a result librarians tend to be wary about providing this information. On the other hand there is clearly an obligation on public libraries to provide users with access to good quality sources of information. Citizens have a right to the information they need to make informed decisions.
In an article in Legal Information Management in 2007 (1) I pointed out that that although there is no shortage of on-line legal information resources it can still be difficult for many people to get access to the information they need through public libraries. This is the topic that will be addressed by the SINTO training day Sources of legal information and advice for a general reference library. Librarians from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University will be providing a guide to sources of information with a focus on free and on-line resources. The day will begin with an introduction to the English legal system so that delegates can understand the context and will finish with a presentation from the Sheffield Law Centre about legal advice services. The day will also be useful to librarians in academic and other specialist libraries who want a general introduction to the subject. More information can be fond here.
Reference librarians in public libraries have always needed to be generalists but they do need to have specialist knowlege as well. This SINTO course will enable them to drink deep from the Pierian spring.
1. Clayton, C. Too much information... nor any drop to drink. Legal Information Management 7(2007) pp101-103 Link
Monday, 15 February 2010
Friday, 12 February 2010
Training in Leeds
A few years ago there existed a group called the Consortium which was organised by Sally Gibbs, then of Leeds Metropolitan University. It organised training events for library staff. Sally left Leeds Met and the Consortium ceased to operate.
I am keen to resurect the Consortium under the aegis of SINTO. The idea is that librarians in Leeds should get together and plan training events which would then be administered by SINTO. What I need from Leeds librarians is:
I am keen to resurect the Consortium under the aegis of SINTO. The idea is that librarians in Leeds should get together and plan training events which would then be administered by SINTO. What I need from Leeds librarians is:
- Ideas for events to meet the needs of librarians in Leeds
- Help with providing venues
- Help in identifying speakers, especially local experts
SINTO would book the rooms and speakers, circulate publicity and take the bookings.
I have written to my contacts at Leeds University, Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds Public Libraries and am looking forward to their response. If there is anyone else in the Leeds area who would like to get involved, get in touch.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Grading of SINTO staff
I have always used the SINTO Blog to write about maters of general professional interest or for news of what SINTO is doing. This blog is on a personal issue but does raise issues that will be of concern to SINTO members.
SINTO is an independent body set up and run by its members. It is administered by Sheffield City Council, and the SINTO staff - myself as Director and the SINTO Assistant - are employed by SCC. However all the costs of SINTO, including staff costs, are covered by the income raised by SINTO from subscriptions, donations and charges for events.
Last year SCC carried out a Pay and Grading review (later renamed the Equal Pay Review). This proposed that the grades of the SINTO Director and SINTO Assistant should be reduced. I am facing a reduction of c£1,500 pa and the Assistant post 0f c£910 pa (FTE).
So far I have regarded this as an internal matter. I have discussed it with the SINTO Executive Board and have been preparing an appeal against the regrading. However the review process has been delayed and I feel that the issue should be brought to the attention of SINTO members. To explain my position I am reproducing the text of an e-mail I have sent to Cllr Sylvia Dunkerly who is the SCC cabinet member with responsibility for libraries.
Dear Sylvia
I should apologise for the timing of my lobbying you over the Pay and Gradings review. Yesterday's evening at the Central Library was a celebration of the library service and your speech was very well received. However I do not apologise for what I said and I believe that this is an urgent issue that Sheffield City Council needs to deal with and that members should be aware of how staff feel.I believe that the review has become a debacle. My anger is mainly because of the delays in the appeal procedure. I am of course aggrieved by the decision to downgrade my post as SINTO Director and the post of SINTO Assistant. SINTO as you know is an independent organisation administered by Sheffield City Council. It is self-funding and the income I generate covers all our costs including staff costs. There will be no cost saving to SCC from the downgrading. The Council claims that the downgrading is not to save costs but reflects the duties and responsibilities of the post. I reject this argument and do not believe that the Council has any evidence to justify this decision. In my post as Director of SINTO, which I have held for 12 years, I am directly responsible to our member organisations - library and information services throughout the region. If I did not provide the level of service that these organisations require I would have been dismissed from my post by the SINTO Executive or the libraries would have withdrawn from SINTO membership. They are clearly satisfied with my performance at the salary that was originally decided by SINTO. What grounds does the Council have for overturning the decision of the SINTO members?
Having said that, I accept that the Council was entitled to go through this process and make a decision as long as it enabled an equitable review process. We were promised in a letter of 19th November 2009 that a review meeting "will be arranged and the date confirmed to you in writing within 4 weeks of the final date for receipt of all Appeal Request Forms. This will be in January 2010". It is now February. No further correspondence has been received about the reviews. The latest update on the SCC intranet is dated 7 December.Justice delayed is justice denied. My strong sense of grievance about the original decision has been exacerbated by the delay in holding the appeal meetings. The inability of the Council to organise the process on time undermines my confidence in its fairness. As I said to you yesterday, if I ran SINTO as badly as Sheffield City Council is running the Pay and Grading review I would expect to be sacked!
SINTO is an independent body set up and run by its members. It is administered by Sheffield City Council, and the SINTO staff - myself as Director and the SINTO Assistant - are employed by SCC. However all the costs of SINTO, including staff costs, are covered by the income raised by SINTO from subscriptions, donations and charges for events.
Last year SCC carried out a Pay and Grading review (later renamed the Equal Pay Review). This proposed that the grades of the SINTO Director and SINTO Assistant should be reduced. I am facing a reduction of c£1,500 pa and the Assistant post 0f c£910 pa (FTE).
So far I have regarded this as an internal matter. I have discussed it with the SINTO Executive Board and have been preparing an appeal against the regrading. However the review process has been delayed and I feel that the issue should be brought to the attention of SINTO members. To explain my position I am reproducing the text of an e-mail I have sent to Cllr Sylvia Dunkerly who is the SCC cabinet member with responsibility for libraries.
Dear Sylvia
I should apologise for the timing of my lobbying you over the Pay and Gradings review. Yesterday's evening at the Central Library was a celebration of the library service and your speech was very well received. However I do not apologise for what I said and I believe that this is an urgent issue that Sheffield City Council needs to deal with and that members should be aware of how staff feel.I believe that the review has become a debacle. My anger is mainly because of the delays in the appeal procedure. I am of course aggrieved by the decision to downgrade my post as SINTO Director and the post of SINTO Assistant. SINTO as you know is an independent organisation administered by Sheffield City Council. It is self-funding and the income I generate covers all our costs including staff costs. There will be no cost saving to SCC from the downgrading. The Council claims that the downgrading is not to save costs but reflects the duties and responsibilities of the post. I reject this argument and do not believe that the Council has any evidence to justify this decision. In my post as Director of SINTO, which I have held for 12 years, I am directly responsible to our member organisations - library and information services throughout the region. If I did not provide the level of service that these organisations require I would have been dismissed from my post by the SINTO Executive or the libraries would have withdrawn from SINTO membership. They are clearly satisfied with my performance at the salary that was originally decided by SINTO. What grounds does the Council have for overturning the decision of the SINTO members?
Having said that, I accept that the Council was entitled to go through this process and make a decision as long as it enabled an equitable review process. We were promised in a letter of 19th November 2009 that a review meeting "will be arranged and the date confirmed to you in writing within 4 weeks of the final date for receipt of all Appeal Request Forms. This will be in January 2010". It is now February. No further correspondence has been received about the reviews. The latest update on the SCC intranet is dated 7 December.Justice delayed is justice denied. My strong sense of grievance about the original decision has been exacerbated by the delay in holding the appeal meetings. The inability of the Council to organise the process on time undermines my confidence in its fairness. As I said to you yesterday, if I ran SINTO as badly as Sheffield City Council is running the Pay and Grading review I would expect to be sacked!
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Potentially dangerous waffle
Bob Usherwood (Chair of SINTO, but writing in a personal capacity) has given his views of the Empower, Inform, Enrich report in a letter to Library & Information Update (Jan/Feb 2010 p29).
Bob was not impressed. Describing it as potentially dangerour waffle he says "For the product of a government that advocates 'evidence based policy' the collection of 'essays'... contains precious little by way of evidence". Asking if the professional librarians involved might now regret that they contributed to this report he warns that "... there is a fear that they reflect a profession that no longer challenges the establishment and is afraid to argue against the conventional wisdom".
He points out that past research using contingent valuation and social auditing has demonstrated the value of libraries to individuals and communities, but that the government has ignored this work, allowing those such as Cllr Foulkes to argue that the only people who support libraries are those with a direct self interest.
Bob was not impressed. Describing it as potentially dangerour waffle he says "For the product of a government that advocates 'evidence based policy' the collection of 'essays'... contains precious little by way of evidence". Asking if the professional librarians involved might now regret that they contributed to this report he warns that "... there is a fear that they reflect a profession that no longer challenges the establishment and is afraid to argue against the conventional wisdom".
He points out that past research using contingent valuation and social auditing has demonstrated the value of libraries to individuals and communities, but that the government has ignored this work, allowing those such as Cllr Foulkes to argue that the only people who support libraries are those with a direct self interest.
Bob then makes a strong defence of the statutory basis of the library service.
We may get a policy statement from Margaret Hodge "in the spring". No doubt it will form a central plank of Gordon Brown's election manifesto (insert sarcasm mark here). It is probable that the battle ground for the future of public libraries will be at local rather than national level as local authorities seek to implement cuts. Evidence of the value of libraries to their communities will be a central weapon and the ability of professional librarians to articulate their arguments to the likes of Cllr Foulkes will be critical.
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Career progression for library assistants
I received an interesting and I suspect typical query this week. A library assistant in a local college wanted some advice on how to progress their career in librarianship. Steve has several years experience in various libraries and last year he obtained an NVQ3 in Information & Library Services. He was now wondering about his next step. Should he take a distance learning degree in librarianship with Northumbria or Aberystwyth Universities, or should he go for CILIP Certification (ACLIP) followed by Chartered membership (MCLIP)? Anyone with two years experience of library and information work can submit a portfolio for ACLIP and then with a further two years experience you can apply for Chartered status.
I issued a health warning that I was in no way qualified to give career advice but was happy to share some ideas with him. I pointed out that the ACLIP route was designed with people like him in mind and provided a logical route to accredit the knowledge and skills he had built up and provide a pathway to gaining professional qualifications. A distance learning degree was a step up to another level but would teach him a body of professional knowledge and give him a degree level qualification which could help when seeking jobs in the future.
I suspect that the key factors in his decision will be cost, time and the amount of commitment to formal study he is able to give. It may also depend on whether Steve sees his career as a steady progression through different levels of the profession or if he wants to jump to a new career path. In either case I wish him well.
One strong piece of advice I did give was to consider CILIP membership. CILIP provides a wide range of information, advice and support to anyone who wants to progress their career in librarianship. It a 'chicken and egg' situation - if you don't see yourself as having a library career then you are unlikely to think about the 'professional association', but you then miss out on the support that CILIP can provide (at a price, but nothing is for nothing!) There is a perception among some people that CILIP is a club for the established members of the profession and does not support 'new professionals'. This came out recently when CILIP advertised for librarians to join the project board to run a major consultation exercise. CILIP said it was looking for people with considerable experience of running projects and some people objected that this meant that younger members of the profession were excluded. CILIP President Biddy Fisher (who until recently ran the learning centres at Sheffield Hallam University) defended this, saying that the consultation exercise would welcome input from everyone but the project board must consist of people who could show that they could run projects. (SINTO is planning to get Biddy to give a talk to SINTO in which she will explore the contribution of new and old professionals).
What do other SINTO members think? Would you have given Steve the same advice? Are there any other routes Steve could follow? Have you had a similar experience? Let me know and I will share them with him.
I issued a health warning that I was in no way qualified to give career advice but was happy to share some ideas with him. I pointed out that the ACLIP route was designed with people like him in mind and provided a logical route to accredit the knowledge and skills he had built up and provide a pathway to gaining professional qualifications. A distance learning degree was a step up to another level but would teach him a body of professional knowledge and give him a degree level qualification which could help when seeking jobs in the future.
I suspect that the key factors in his decision will be cost, time and the amount of commitment to formal study he is able to give. It may also depend on whether Steve sees his career as a steady progression through different levels of the profession or if he wants to jump to a new career path. In either case I wish him well.
One strong piece of advice I did give was to consider CILIP membership. CILIP provides a wide range of information, advice and support to anyone who wants to progress their career in librarianship. It a 'chicken and egg' situation - if you don't see yourself as having a library career then you are unlikely to think about the 'professional association', but you then miss out on the support that CILIP can provide (at a price, but nothing is for nothing!) There is a perception among some people that CILIP is a club for the established members of the profession and does not support 'new professionals'. This came out recently when CILIP advertised for librarians to join the project board to run a major consultation exercise. CILIP said it was looking for people with considerable experience of running projects and some people objected that this meant that younger members of the profession were excluded. CILIP President Biddy Fisher (who until recently ran the learning centres at Sheffield Hallam University) defended this, saying that the consultation exercise would welcome input from everyone but the project board must consist of people who could show that they could run projects. (SINTO is planning to get Biddy to give a talk to SINTO in which she will explore the contribution of new and old professionals).
What do other SINTO members think? Would you have given Steve the same advice? Are there any other routes Steve could follow? Have you had a similar experience? Let me know and I will share them with him.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Change is the law of life.
The Managing Change seminar that we were planning to run last year and then had to postpone has now been rescheduled. It will be held on Wednesday 24th March 2010. This is a repeat of the blog posted last year.
Change is the law of life". This quote by JF Kennedy was used by Camila Alire, President of ALA, to introduce her talk to SINTO last year. Whether it is taking advantage of new opportunities or responding to cuts, all organisations have to deal with change, and deal with it in a positive manner.I don't suppose that one could find many information managers today who are not expecting some sort of change, for better or for worse, in their organisation. To help them SINTO is putting on a seminar on the topic of change management.Managing Change is a seminar presented by Peter Lumley, Personnel and Training Consultant, who has led several workshops on the Next Generation management development programme. Change Management is a structured and systematic approach to achieving a sustainable change in human behaviour within an organisation. (Copyright © 2007 Realising Change)There are three different aspects to change management: adapting to change, controlling change and effecting change. This seminar covers all three aspects. It is aimed at staff who are being affected by change, are having to manage change and who are, or will be, leading change. It will look at how we plan, initiate, realize, control and finally stabilize change within our organisations.The objective of the course is to provide an introduction to the principles and processes of managing change and to apply them to some of the changes faced by delegates.This course is offered at the special low price of £70 to SINTO members (£100 non-members). This is an opportunity to provide yourself and your organisation with the skills needed in a changing world.For a booking fom go to the SINTO website or email Sintoenquiry@shu.ac.uk
Change is the law of life". This quote by JF Kennedy was used by Camila Alire, President of ALA, to introduce her talk to SINTO last year. Whether it is taking advantage of new opportunities or responding to cuts, all organisations have to deal with change, and deal with it in a positive manner.I don't suppose that one could find many information managers today who are not expecting some sort of change, for better or for worse, in their organisation. To help them SINTO is putting on a seminar on the topic of change management.Managing Change is a seminar presented by Peter Lumley, Personnel and Training Consultant, who has led several workshops on the Next Generation management development programme. Change Management is a structured and systematic approach to achieving a sustainable change in human behaviour within an organisation. (Copyright © 2007 Realising Change)There are three different aspects to change management: adapting to change, controlling change and effecting change. This seminar covers all three aspects. It is aimed at staff who are being affected by change, are having to manage change and who are, or will be, leading change. It will look at how we plan, initiate, realize, control and finally stabilize change within our organisations.The objective of the course is to provide an introduction to the principles and processes of managing change and to apply them to some of the changes faced by delegates.This course is offered at the special low price of £70 to SINTO members (£100 non-members). This is an opportunity to provide yourself and your organisation with the skills needed in a changing world.For a booking fom go to the SINTO website or email Sintoenquiry@shu.ac.uk
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Empower, Inform, Enrich 3
CILIP is asking for input for its response to the DCMS Modernisation Review - Empower, Inform, Enrich. An online questionnaire is available at http://tinyurl.com/yefdxql until Tuesday 12th January 2010.
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