Monday 27 June 2011

Am I late? Things 1 & 2

Thing 1: completed. It just took me ages to decide which website to create my blog with. I follow blogs hosted by Wordpress and Blogger, so I first thought I’d try something else, and set my sights on Tumblr. I created my blog on Tumblr, wrote the first article, but then could not figure out whether non- registered-Tumblr-users could comment! I did not see the point of people having to register on Tumblr just to comment on my humble creation, so I deleted my Tumblr blog and decided to go somewhere else… Next step was Posterous: I did not like the design. Then Blogger: did you know you need a Google account to use Blogger? Google is already the search engine I use most, and my smartphone operates with Android… I didn’t want to go all-Google! So next I had a look at Wordpress. But Wordpress has you downloading their software… I thought: “Is there no dead simple, no-strings-attached platforms to create blogs out there, just like old times?” I have a friend whose blog is hosted by OverBlog, so I started creating mine with them. But I gave up because it looked too technical for me… Finally, I went back to Blogger. And I have to say, I am very happy with it!!!

Thing 2: in progress. I started with my colleague Anne’s blog: Information musings. It was easy to comment on, because I know her and she’s so nice!
Then I read a blog I had noticed a few weeks ago, because I know the author works in Newcastle too: louiselib. A quick look at random at some other blogs: Nouveau librarian and Adventures of a Welsh Librarian, on which I did not comment either. I did comment on Digressions of a Sponge for Knowledge, the blog of an American library student who was discussing the “information professional” title for librarians and on Snippets. That is all so far, but I do intend to have a look and comment on more! (especially if it is raining at the week-end!!)

Sunday 26 June 2011

Curious

I am a curious librarian: sometimes curious as in "odd", but mostly curious as in "keen to learn about things". Learning things motivates me: it can be fun, it can be boring, it can be interesting or passable, sometimes useful, sometimes less, but it always makes my brain feel like it is there for a purpose. And that feels good!!
More seriously, I am at a point in my young career where I feel a professional development course is most welcome to make me go forward, help me evolve and find my place in the world of British libraries.

So I am doing cpd23 to learn, literally, about Things. And no less than 23! I have heard of other "23 things" courses before, so the big question is: why 23?!

I have had a blog before: when I arrived in the UK, it was the best way to share my experiences with my friends and family in France. I have a Facebook account, a Twitter account, I use an RSS feed reader... I am curious to see what else is in store for us and to read about other people's thoughts and progress!