Monthly Archives: January 2023

CPDWL Standing Committee Member Highlight: Alan Brine

“This is How We Do It: One Professional Development Activity in the Lives of Librarians from Around the World” is a new series from the IFLA Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section to highlight our standing committee members, who they are and what they do!

In this post, we highlight Alan Brine, co-chair of CPDWL!

 

Why are you a standing committee member of CPDWL and what are you working on for CPDWL Section at the moment? 
Alan: I joined the CPDWL to bring the work I am doing with my professional association in development and learning to a wider audience and to also make connections between IFLA and the association to a wider audience. This benefits everyone by sharing things globally. Currently I co-chair, work on the SCs guidelines for CPD in a post-Covid world; manage the newsletter, work with other SCs on forthcoming projects and on a satellite for next year’s WLIC.
What is one advice you have for new librarians interested in getting involved in IFLA or in their library associations for professional development? 
Alan: Whether IFLA or your national association members are looking for help with projects. Do not hesitate to get in touch. You will be welcomed.

CPDWL Standing Committee Member Highlight: Ivana Todorovic

“This is How We Do It: One Professional Development Activity in the Lives of Librarians from Around the World” is a new series from the IFLA Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section to highlight our standing committee members, who they are and what they do!

In this post, we highlight Ivana Todorovic, CPDWL standing committee member!

Why are you a standing committee member of CPDWL and what are you working on for CPDWL Section at the moment? 
Ivana:My interest in ongoing professional development as a part of my professional activities led me to become involved in the CPDWL section as a standing committee member. Thanks to my position on the CPDWL standing committee, I get the chance to learn a lot about the latest PD initiatives globally and network with dedicated professionals. I participate in the CPD Guidelines working group, which is revising the Guidelines for high-quality CPD in an online setting. I am currently translating the poster that was displayed at WLIC in Dublin into Serbian. I am confident that the fundamental principles of high-quality online learning discussed in the poster will assist library and information professionals in Serbia in developing and broadening their current scope of practice.
What is one advice you have for new librarians interested in getting involved in IFLA or in their library associations for professional development? 
Ivana: I would strongly advise new librarians to join a group that is most compatible with their interests. They should be ready to participate actively in order to expand their horizons and advance their careers.

Presenting the e-book “Beyond Virtual and Hybrid Programs: How Libraries Recreated a Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic” by The REFORMA Northeast Chapter Leadership Institute

By Loida Garcia-Febo, CPDWL Advisor, International Library Consultant

The COVID-19 Pandemic ushered in new ways of providing library services. Libraries around the world continue to innovate to serve communities deeply impacted by the pandemic. On this blog post, I am sharing information about a new e-book featuring eleven of these new services hoping it is useful to many libraries worldwide. The e-book was developed by the Northeast Chapter of REFORMA, The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.

The REFORMA Northeast Chapter Leadership Institute announced the publication of the eBook “Beyond Virtual and Hybrid Programs: How Libraries Recreated a Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic” edited by Adriana Blancarte-Hayward, Manuel Figueroa and Fred Gitner, with original cover art designed by Ariana Rivera Goldberg. The RNE Leadership Institute is Chaired by Mary Marques.

“Librarians around the world were challenged during the hard months of the pandemic on how to provide library services and resources to patrons of all ages. We had to experiment, create, and adapt! We navigated from in-person and face-to-face meetings to the anonymity of the virtual world. We put in practice our creativity and delivered services to our community.”

“Beyond Virtual and Hybrid Programs” includes eleven programs created during the global health emergency of the pandemic:

  • Smoking Ballerinas and Red-Hot Bolsheviks: Making the Artwork of Frances Lichten
  • Accessible Prof Talks
  • YA Comics Chat
  • The Class
  • Virtual Tech Tuesdays
  • Santa Rosa Zine Fest
  • Queens Memory COVID-19 Project
  • Write Now! A Writer’s Collective
  • Library and Student Support Services Virtual Summer Bridge Program
  • We Need to Talk: Conversations About Racism for a More Resilient Las Vegas
  • Senior Art During the Pandemic by Evelyn Ray

This project was developed by the REFORMA Northeast Chapter Leadership Institute with support from the REFORMA National Grant 2022.

To download the free PDF copy of this eBook and to access the webinar recording session of the eBook launch presentation, visit https://tinyurl.com/BeyondVirtualandHybridPrograms.

Thank you on behalf of the REFORMA Northeast Chapter Leadership Institute Team!

 

REFORMA Northeast Chapter represents the following states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The chapter advocates for the improvement of library and information services for Spanish speakers and people of Hispanic/Latino origin in the six-state area at the local, regional, and national levels.

REFORMA Established in 1971 as an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), REFORMA has actively sought to promote the development of library collections to include Spanish language and Latino oriented materials; the recruitment of more bilingual and bicultural library professionals and support staff; the development of library services and programs that meet the needs of the Latino community; the establishment of a national information and support network among individuals who share our goals; the education of the U.S. Latino population in regards to the availability and types of library services; and lobbying efforts to preserve existing library resources centers serving the interest of Latinos.

International Library Dialogues as an Effective Tool of Professional Development and Exchange

On December 23, 2022, M. Rudomino All Russia State Library for Foreign Literature (LFL) and the Russian Library Association Section on International Cooperation (RLA SIC) held a round table devoted to the world libraries’ collaboration in the framework of the LFL project “International Library Dialogues”. More then 40 library specialists from 20 Russian regions took part in this hybrid event.

IFLA CPDWL SC member (2017-2021) and current Advisory Group member Svetlana GOROKHOVA moderated the meeting and delivered a presentation on the US-Russia Library Dialogue, CPDWL SC member Daria BELIAKOVA presented Rudomino Award for the best international library project and acted as a key discussant. IFLA SET Chair Albyna KRYMSKAYA moderated the hybrid brainstorm of the second part of the meeting.

The meeting was divided into two parts. During the first one the participants analyzed the work of two oldest and most elaborated dialogues – German-Russian Library Dialogue and US-Russia Library Dialogue, trying to single out characteristic features of the dialogue as a specific form of professional communication.

German-Russian Dialogue is primarily devoted to the issues of book collections looted during the World War II and goes back to the 1990-ies. During the years of its existence the Dialogue involved about 500 specialists from Germany and Russian regions, aiming at collecting data on looted collections and generating joint projects allowing to restore their original state in hybrid formats.

US-Russia Dialogue was launched in 2016 and since then developed into a dynamic professional space producing new forms of communication centered around the issues of libraries working with their communities. 5 meetings of the Dialogue took place in the USA, Russia and online, covering such burning issues as libraries supporting their communities during the pandemic and role of the libraries in the achieving the UN sustainable development goals. About 200 specialists from the USA and Russia took part in the work of the Dialogue enhancing competencies related to better understanding of the communities our libraries serve.

The second part was built as a brainstorm of offline and online participants in order to group the characteristic features, suggest ways of further development of the project including new types of dialogues and possible themes for discussion.

Based on the results of the discussion LFL Rudomino Academy and RLA SIC plan to develop a training course for CIS and Russian libraries on how to initiate, launch and realize Library Dialogues in their professional communities.

At the end of the meeting the second round of the Rudomino Award for the best international library project was presented to further stimulate the international activities of the Russian libraries.

Recording in Russian is available here: видеозапись круглого стола.

We would be glad to provide additional information if needed.

Written by Svetlana GOROKHOVA

Singapore Management University Libraries hosts ‘A Day in the Life’ Programme

Recently, Bryan Leow, Associate Librarian, Law from Singapore Management University Libraries (“SMU Libraries”) hosted participants in the ‘A Day in the Life’ Programme (“the Programme”) from other Singapore university libraries.

About the ‘A Day in the Life’ Programme

The Programme was developed in 2013 by an executive planning team comprised of representatives from Nanyang Technological University Libraries (“NTU Libraries”), National University of Singapore Libraries (“NUS Libraries”) and Singapore Management University Libraries (“SMU Libraries”). The draft terms of reference also note that the Programme was “a collaborative staff development programme for Singapore Universities library staff which promotes broad understanding of academic library environments, open sharing of good practices, and connecting with colleagues across libraries”.

To this end, the Programme aims to:

  • Provide opportunities for staff to have exposure to the operations and management of other academic libraries in a short, condensed, practical and simple way;
  • Provide networking opportunities for those staff so that they can keep in touch with each other for subsequent follow-up and collaboration; and
  • Provide opportunities for the staff of host organisations in gaining experience and confidence to plan and present about their own library to visitors, i.e., the programme will be delivered (as much as practicable) not by Heads of Departments/Divisions but by the staff working in those units.

The Programme’s intended audience are professional library staff (or equivalent), with a preference for staff with no prior experience working in an academic library; as well as those who have worked in a particular library for a long time and would benefit from being exposed to another academic library.

The Programme takes place twice a year. During each run, three nominated institutions act as ‘host’ institutions. Each host institution puts together their own programme that typically provides and overview of their library, core functions of the library highlighting services and functional departments and provide networking opportunities. Participants get to spend a full day at each host institution (3-day programme) and the Programme is open to one participant per academic institution (maximum of seven participants per run). Each participant is required to prepare a brief reflective report which is submitted to the executive planning team and annually submitted to the University Librarians of participating institutions. Some participants also share their experiences using various platforms such as staff meetings or writing.

Back on Track and in their Own Words

This year, following a hiatus of the Programme during the COVID pandemic, SMU Libraries, together with The Ngee Ann Kongsi Library, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT Library) and NUS Libraries hosted the Programme in November 2022. As a recent hire, Bryan was nominated as the SMU Libraries participant. He also put together the SMU programme which involved presentations, sharing of best practices, demonstration of tools and applications used for work, tours, and an important Reflection segment at the end of the day, which was facilitated by Rajen Munoo, Head, Learning and Engagement.

Wearing his IFLA, Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning (“CPDWL”) Section Member hat, Rajen asked participants to pen their thoughts to the following question: Why is it important to have continuing professional development activities?

Below are some of their thoughts in their own words:

Participant 1: “It is important to stay relevant as the world keeps changing…Important to exchange knowledge, be open to ideas, learn from the others”

Participant 2: “It is important for us to have professional development activities as they give us a chance to learn about what other institutions are working on, how we can collaborate, network and do better. It gives us an opportunity and open our mind and think creatively.”

Participant 3: “The library/academic scene is changing rapidly e.g., moving into electronic resources, more interdisciplinary learning. Development is needed to stay relevant and to keep up to date with the latest changes.”

Participant 4: “Share ideas with others. Share how challenges were resolved. Students and staff need continually changes, and so…library must keep up with the times.”

Participant 5: “No professional is an island. Like, research, the professional work also should be made open to grow and contribute to the society (library) as one.”

Participant 6: “Staying relevant is crucial as technology evolves – information is readily available in just one click. Professional development programmes allow us to connect with other librarians or experts where we can continue to learn.”

Participant 7: “Teaching and learning are always evolving, so is technology continually improving and adapting to the changes and in response to the needs of faculty and students. Hence, the library and librarians must always engage in exploring new avenues of thought, learning from one another so that all SG libraries are not left behind in this digital innovative age.”

Participant 8: “It is as simple as for personal self-development and remain relevant not just for the present state but also future. It allows us to collaborate and share greater knowledge with one another to deliver greater value to our stakeholders. A win win situation.”

Bryan too, noted that, “This Programme was very useful for me to better understand how other university libraries work, and to get a sense of the challenges they also face. I was also glad to get to know more people within the different universities, which would definitely come in handy for future collaborations between university libraries.”

From the reflections above, keywords such as change rapidly, sharing, collaboration, evolving, knowledge, staying relevant, digital innovation, how libraries work, keeping up with the times and more. Participant 5’s comment, is worth re-reading. As new professionals, it is important to start thinking about career paths and planning and having the relevant skills and competencies in hybrid working environments is essential as part of the digital transformation taking place in all libraries.

A Day in the Life Programme is an example of a CPDWL activity that has been a successful collaboration amongst university libraries in Singapore and is a simple model that can be adopted quickly by others.

Written by

  • Bryan Leow, Associate Librarian, Law, SMU Libraries
  • Rajen Munoo, Head Learning and Engagement, SMU Libraries

With inputs from the SMU Libraries programme participants:

  • Ms Jeyalakshmi Sambasivam, Senior Assistant Manager (NTU Libraries);
  • Ms Suhasini d/o Rajendran, Associate Librarian (Singapore University of Social Sciences Library);
  • Ms Stephanie Ow Tsin Li, Librarian (National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University (NIE NTU), Singapore;
  • Mr Muhammad Ridzwan bin Hussain, Senior Associate (Singapore University of Technology and Design Library);
  • Mr Allan Mones Quito, Senior Manager, Technology (SIT Library);
  • Ms Wendy Thun, Librarian (NUS Libraries);
  • Ms Poonam Lalwani, Curator (NUS Libraries) and
  • Ms Gladys Toh Mei Jun, Research Assistant (NUS Libraries).