Professional directory

Made a start on building a professional blog directory.
Pop across and see what you think, add yourself if you wish, or feel free to modify.
I was tempted to add a few disclaimers, but choose to leave as is.

No links have been added to the main wiki page, as the list appears to be getting quite long, but should be easy enough to find. Thought I would post here for comment prior to posting to LIS-WMnet.

Course evaluation

Apologies but the blog doesn't appear to like tables - just scroll down a bit to view objectives.

1) How well does this course meet your expectations / learning objectives?

Very well. I think the course is very relevant to my current work.

2) What are the difficulties encountered in accessing the course materials on the Internet at your workplace which have NOT been reported before?

I didn't encounter any specific problems in accessing any of the materials.

3) Did you need to seek the permission of your trust IT before you accessed certain course materials on the Internet?

No

4) Do the readings meet the learning objectives of each topic?

Yes and I have since recommended some of them to my colleagues.

5) What is the average amount of time you spent on the course each day?

This was very variable dependant on work patterns and load. The start of the course was more labour intensive, but became routine towards the end.

I tried to set aside 30mins for keeping up to date and replying and an hour of reading and trials.

6) How do you find the interaction among participants of the course?

I found everyone to be very supportive, with some good feedback. Thank you!

7) Will you continue blogging and/or reading RSS after the course?

As per my last post yes, though can't promise anyone will want to read it.

Action planning for the next 3 months:

Objectives	Targets	Deadlines
Disseminate course knowledge	Provide course summary at staff meeting, assist colleagues with queries and ideas, develop current awareness training package and guide.	End of Aug
Improve collaborative practice	Work with Clare Powell to develop resources for community based users e.g. online journal club (blog/wiki), specialised resources.	End Sept
SASHA wiki	Encourage development of the sasha website to incorporate Web 2.0 practice rather than maintaining wiki as a surrogate website e.g. Make recommended subject resources open to screened editing.	Initial proposals end of July
Personal CPD	Maintain professional blog and RSS monitoring. Hopefully help develop a local professional directory.	On going - Professional directory end of July
Improve user record functionality	Link Library elf to catalogue & market.	In process
Free training staff time	Develop e-learning packages starting with Library induction podcast as outlined in personal assignment.	Beginning Sept
Develop library blog	Encourage user interaction by weekly updates, more open content relevant to users.	Ongoing

This list isn't exhaustive of what projects I would like to develop, but represents those that I have already committed to.

There is always one you miss

Must have over-looked this assignment. Ironically enough after my last post it's the one on blogs.

On a personal level what makes a blog is the relevance of the content. I also appreciate ones that are short and to the point with appropriate linkage. To me they are something to be skimmed for interest with the option to go back and read the full text at a later date when more convenient.

Although it is not something I have used specifically on this course, the friends list (or blogroll) is a handy feature to develop links and promote discussions. For preference I look for a blog capable of syndicating feeds rather than multiple sites to visit. The ability to have comments emailed is essential to ensure a prompt reply to any issues raised.

Tags can be a mixed blessing, but for reference content it is a must, so the blog can be easily searched at a later date.

For libraries blogs are an excellent method of dissemination of information. They can be used as current awareness tools, promote professional discussions and share ideas, develop journal clubs for dispersed communities. They can be used as test-beds for ideas and allow user feedback and promote a greater sense of customer involvement in the running of the library. The potential can be considerable if the correct training and marketing is in place to support any proposal.

At the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, the blog has been integrated as part of the Health Library website to deliver current library news. It is my hope to help develop this further in promoting user feedback and discussion within the blog, by developing a current awareness training course and encouraging users to syndicate to the blog as part of the course.

Ponderous blog

I was just having a re-read and checking that I am up to date with everything. I noticed that my poor blog has been neglected for a while through other distractions. It made me wonder whether or not I will keep it up after the course.

Hopefully I will.

It think it has been beneficial in keeping up to date with other projects in the region and get some feedback from other colleagues in the field. I have found it a good source of information. Just curious to everyone else's intent?

Is there a professional blog directory for the region? Is this something worth considering? How many of the previous attendees now maintain their blogs or was the course a different format?

Intute informs update

Just received this email with regards to an earlier query.

Thanks for your enquiry. While Intute Informs is primarily intended for use in the Higher and Further education sectors, we have had interest from several NHS organisations.

As you probably know, we are currently coming to the end of our project to transfer Informs to Intute. Having contacted JISC who fund us, our current position is that we are happy to register NHS users, as public institutions, during the interim period of the project. Indeed we already have several NHS users. However, part of the project plan is to look at sustainable business models for the future of Informs, which will involve us looking at all potential user groups outside HE and FE. Therefore, this situation is subject to change when we have finalised our plans, and all NHS users have been made aware of this.

I’m sorry I can’t be more definite about future non-HE/FE use at this stage but am keen to make sure that all potential NHS are aware that there may be some changes as the project progresses. In the meantime they are welcome to request an Informs registration at:

http://www.informs.intute.ac.uk/register.html