Next up: Sally Walker of Orkney Libraries, who won CILIP's Scotland Library & Info Profession 2017. #CILIPConf18
First day of first librarian job: looking out at the space, thinking "what do I do?" Can definitely relate.
Library conferences can actually really help with this, even if they seem scary!
Became Orkney Library children's librarian 4 years ago. Small team faced with scary cuts, but really innovative workers and great Twitter!
20 inhabited islands - get to do visits for schools and intergenerational sessions in care homes and HomeStart Orkney - helping struggling families.
Bookbug sessions - small kids groups with songs and storytelling and free books and activities.
Introduced Minecraft and Lego and Code Club in the library - hard to scrape the money to buy equipment. Fortnightly club. Display the things they've made in a case by the desk which draws a lot of interest. Teenagers also come to play Minecraft (loudly) - they built the library!
Found a volunteer computing graduate to help run code club as none of the staff knew how. Got microbits to loan out for free.
Run lots of events for kids - teddy sleepover (a lot of work!), Summer reading challenge, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, treasure hunts...
Loads of school tours - show them the 3D printer, rolling stacks (which they love!), seeing the mobile library, the archive. Visiting schools to do assemblies and see school libraries.
Work with teenagers who've signed up to a babysitter's course about reading to children, choosing books etc.
Winning the award meant she made time to reflect on her job, which she hadn't made time to do. Realised she was always busy, always planning things to do. Can't do everything!
Realised how important it is to be a voice for libraries and really champion them and speak out against cuts.
Really struggled with public speaking in the past, but after winning the award agreed to do some conferences and really enjoyed it.
If you are somewhere where you don't feel you can shine and be innovative, move somewhere else! Thanks, Sally Walker, @OrkneyLibrary#CILIPConf18
Last #CILIPConf18 session! I have nearly made it. Sue Lacey-Bryant, Health Education England on AI our digital future.
85% of 16-75 year olds have a smartphone. More for 18-24 year olds. It is a digital future. Linklaters using chatbots to cover directional enquiries, freeing up time for the professionals.
Topol review - preparing the healthcare workforce to deliver the digital future - independent report for secretary of state for health care.
#CILIPConf18: learning and information literacy - chaired by Rosie Jones, director of Library Services, Open University. With Sarah Lacey, consultant and trainer, Ruth Carlyle, Health Education England, & Jacqueline Geekie, Aberdeenshire libraries.
SP: there have been huge tsunamis of change in school education - changes to curriculum on literacy, numeracy, IT, KS3 English. Move away from independent learning.
SP: libraries were not mentioned in previous curriculum. Now there are 2 proper mentions, but they relate to English depts at KS3 reading for pleasure, not anywhere else.
Last keynote of #CILIPConf18 - Guy Daines' Grexit. Retiring CILIP head of policy.
As a "policy wonk", conferences and reports are meat and drink. But most reports are never seen again.
Follett report - 1990 - HE institution libs unable to cope with growing numbers. Over 100 new building projects were funded. Special funding for technology and cross-institutional projects.
#CILIPConf18 professional registration cafe. Not just for librarians! All info pros. Showing you have a reliable skill set, a shortcut to having to justify it to future employers.
But also get more awareness of where you sit in the profession, share best practice, learn from others areas and people, become a better reflective professional.
What you did. What went well, what didn't, what you would do differently next time. Reflection is a key part of improving.