Thing 2: Investigate other blogs

Exploring other blogs in the run up to beginning cpd23 has been immensely helpful and reassuring. There is such a diverse bunch of library folk taking part with many of the same apprehensions as my own but with better blog names! I had been using the delicious site to investigate blogs from UK, 2012, HE some of which have duly been added to my Google Reader.  These have been so intriguing and entertaining even at this early stage I have found myself on the alphabetical list clicking at random sure to strike gold.

I am by all accounts quite a quiet person (sort of), not just in unfamiliar crowds but often in my core circles of friends too. It’s not that I am overwhelmingly introvert or shy I just prefer to listen. In this scenario however I listen then contribute (hopefully something of relevance), I am yet to really transfer this to online social networks.

In a real social situation, even if quiet, you’re there! You have form! Your physical presence demands attention even if you’re not the centre of it. Although I’m not particularly anxious to comment on people’s blogs it hasn’t been something I “do”. Until now! Comments needn’t be a daunting debate generator, I’m sure people just appreciate that someone’s read their blog and is willing to say good job, keep it up!

Lots of exclamation marks in that one.

Thing 1 - Blogging

I first heard about cpd23 in a presentation from Helen Murphy at a CILIP New Professionals Conference back in 2011. I recently looked back on my notes of this event where I wrote this seems like an interesting project I should look into this (or something along those lines). Well it’s almost a year later and the looking has just been done. Like many things that came out of that conference cpd23 struck me as being useful, but not yet. I was at the time, 8 months into a 3 year graduate traineeship and with all the projects I was due to be involved in this fell by the wayside.

Blogging fell into another category entirely. No thanks! I felt (like many I’ve recently discovered) unsure I would have anything interesting worth contributing and I absolutely abhor vanity blogging. Ever a creature of contradiction I’m sure at times I will fall into the trap but it will never be my intention. So why bother?

I now feel that I have cause to blog that previously didn’t exist or was hidden from my view. The first reason is to develop self reflection skills for when I begin chartership. At UWE we are supposed to keep a log of staff development activities, since the removal of the use of the journal function on our VLE I tend to complete mine weeks after the event and struggle to remember what I got out of it, so this could be the new tool I use.

The second and more immediate reason is for my dissertation. I hope the topic when finalised will be of interest to new professionals and I as I seek information from you folk blogging a summary of findings and where I am in the process will hopefully maintain that interest and engagement. Completing cpd23 alongside my dissertation should give me the kick up the rear I’m likely to need to get writing.

I’ve gone on long enough. It was all a bit blurgh but Thing 1, done!