An analysis of every video posted by high-subscriber channels in the first week of 2019 finds that children’s content – as well as content featuring children – received more views than other videos
Source: Pew Research Center
Work
Beautiful Libraries Around the World Every Booklover Should Visit (Video)
” Take a look at some of these truly stunning libraries from around the world. They aren’t the only beautiful libraries you can see across the globe, but they certainly should be on any bibliophile’s bucket list. “
Source: Travel+Leisure
How To Promote a Library Event on a Small Budget
Effectively managing the budget of the library is an important and continuous task. Any strategies to help promote library services, raise awareness for libraries and attract library visitors at a low cost are enticing for libraries to review and potentially implement. Egor Gerashchenko, chief of Marketing & Development Department, Central Library System of Moscow Region
It’s Library Orientation time ….
Season Opener: Library Orientation for PostGrad students doing Social Sciences. Covered the “basics:” Library Services & Facilities, Introducing our new OneSearch web discovery layer etc. Shared my “library stories” with the audience. Hoping that our students would try out the new search engine over Google Scholar 🙂
Tips for social media committees in academic libraries
It’s summer, a time of year for academic librarians to reflect, assess and revamp. For this librarian, it is a time to reflect on social media activities, both successes and failures, that have become an essential way the academic library connects with its students.
Source: Tips for social media committees in academic libraries
Instagram: the new way to connect with students
After it became clear that Instagram was making gains in social media with their students, Saskatchewan Polytech began efforts to reinvigorate their dwindling Instagram presence as a way to further student engagement. Read how they have embraced trends and technologies to reach students where they socialize.
Hiring for Libraries – Princh.com
“Watch for potential staff in unexpected places: phone stores, hospitality, theater, airline attendants, and anywhere else that prepares people to deliver great service in a changing landscape. ” – excerpt from article.
What the Library means to me? – Princh.com
Imho:
“It’s a place to discover new knowledge whether reinforcing an existing one or a completely new and uncharted area that could make a difference in your life. It also provides the opportunity to network with peers and attend community programs. Making new friends as well as re-igniting old ones”
5 things I’ve learned that enriched my experience
I read an interesting article on “Libraries have a People Problem” written by Jill Hurst-Wahl. I do agree with her opinions and her suggestions on job swapping/rotation as well as doing the same thingy for long periods. I felt the need to move out of my comfort zone – to learn more about myself and others, to expand my horizon, to broaden my thinking and to share and acquire knowledge in my work area and to seek new challenges.
Throughout my 20 years in the library field, I have had the opportunity to work within my country Singapore and then move to the Graduate Research Library located in the Middle East. After working there (Middle East) for nine years, I decided to come home again.
What I’ve learnt?
- Do different things in the library at various places: I’ve started as a Reference Librarian, moved to Access and Digital Services, expanded my portfolio to include Electronic Resources Management, Web Discovery Layer and User Experience Studies. I’m now an Assistant Director at a local university. I was fortunate to be given opportunities to learn and grow in different roles. It has helped me to gain new insights in the library field. They say, the more you learn, the more you realized that there are a lot more than you didn’t know. Well, that’s true. As I move along, I noted how many things have changed, and libraries cannot remain stagnant. Change is imminent and is always happening. If we don’t do anything about it, we will be left behind.
- Learn to lead (even though you may not have the official title given to you). Take initiatives to resolve work issues rather than let them exacerbate. Speak up for yourself and others. Speak the truth. Help others.
- Get out of your comfort zone: Learn new things; Be adventurous and take risks.
- Be ready to accept criticism: keep an open mind to feedback and constructive criticism. Block out the negative ones. If you cannot accept the fact that we have shortcomings, then we would not be able to grow. We are imperfect creatures. One of the best things to do is to accept our weaknesses; deal with it and improve on our strengths.
- Stay abreast of new trends. Use the ready resources to read up on current patterns in the field. Network with fellow professionals. Share your knowledge.
These are the five main ones amongst others. I am sure you will have yours. Do share them.
Expat Life Survival Guide 1: Doing research
I recalled the ‘euphoria’ of landing the job – as an expat librarian in the Middle -East. I remembered sharing this with my wife, and she reminded me that it was kind of long overdue – apparently, she had wanted us to move abroad after getting married. Well, better late than never.
Back to the topic. Before making the BIG move, do your research, extensively. My wife even got on board to find more information about the place, the people, the climate, etc. Know what are the dos and don’ts of the area, the cultural aspect of the region – this includes social and work culture. Take note of the climate as well. (Get ready those skin cream if needed). It would also be worthwhile to know specific administrative rules, policies, and procedures: such as applying for the driving license, buying a car, registering kids to local/international schools, making that doctor’s appointment for health check-ups, etc. The information obtained will help you and your family prepare your mindset so that you and your family won’t come in ‘blindly’ and get a ‘rude shock.’
Don’t forget to reach out and network to those who had been there and done that. For me, I was fortunate to re-connect with a friend who was working in the region at that time. I conducted an informal ‘reference interview’ with the person. It was a fruitful session. There were surprising answers to questions which I thought are quite straightforward. One of the most important lessons that I learned was to ensure that before you sign on that dotted line, make sure that these 3 things (among others) are covered for you and your family: medical coverage, housing or housing allowance, and your children’s education.
Here’s a quick list of information sources that I’ve used:
- Human expertise
- Books esp “How to” guides
- Magazines / Journals
- Travel Guides
- Social Media such as Blogs, Twitters, Facebook
- Websites – Governmental websites
- Newspapers
Rain D Librarian 