Thing 1 and Thing 2; thing 2 and thing 1 they can find anything, anything under the sun….
Ok, couldn’t stop myself from thinking of the Cat in the Hat when I wrote that. But let me start before I digress. I am a new blogger and not entirely convinced that I’ll have something to say. So pardon me while I self-consciously count the number of times I use the word “I” until I get the hang of this.
My participation in cdp23 things course is motivated by my need for professional and personal development. I’ve worked in one type of library or another for the past 23 years. After 13 more or less comfortable years, I’ve realized the last decade provided wave upon wave of ‘adapt or die’ challenges for me. Right now I’m in a hospital library. Our healthcare network has recently ramped up its social media profile. Until now Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were blocked in my workplace. As of this month Everything. Has. Changed.
My favorite power point slide carries a quote about change from W. E. Deming: Change is not necessary. Survival is optional.’ I’m opting for survival and that means that Change and I are about to become fast friends.
My professional goal then is to learn how these tools work by using them.
My personal goal is to squelch my fear of change.
After the course is over, for example, I’d like to make a Facebook page similar the one at Intermountain Primary Children’s Medical Center.
My plan entails using the tools and dumping the fear because I’m about halfway through my career already (she noted optimistically) and need to stay prepared for what comes next. Don’t misunderstand me. I am really quite happy with my career as it stands. I started out as a cataloger/reference librarian in a small college library where I assumed my entire work life would be spent. Had eight happy years there and one not so happy year that resulted in my switching to a hospital setting. Considering my lifelong fear of hospitals, this was quite a feat. But seven happy years followed by seven not so happy years later, here I stand. And always at my back I hear time’s winged chariot hurrying near. Yes, forces outside of my control could change my plans for a productive career followed by a pleasant retirement. So, I'm investing in lifelong learning.
From this program I am mostly looking forward to things 2 (branding); 6 (organizing); 11 (getting involved); 14 (careers) and 15 (job application/interviews). It will be wonderful to beef up the skills set with the other weeks, but I am especially looking forward to the career oriented stuff. This blog will likely last for the length of the course.That should be enough since I'm pretty private by nature. My professional "techie" needs will be met by then.
Every year my brother – he’s in IT – gives me a techie sort of gift: a Dell Jukebox (early MP3 player); an iPod; a laptop; a Nook; sound advice, etc. My view is that he believes that proximity to technology alone will guarantee literacy.
He could be mistaken.
We will see if his gifts and this course will bolster my literacy.
Time will tell.
