Rudaí23: A Free Online course starting September 2017

We are thrilled to announce that we are running another free online 23 Things course, starting in September 2017 . This is our second time running this course, and we are very excited to tell you about all the new things that we are including in this one.

Rudaí (translates from the Irish as ‘thing’) 23  is based on the 23 Things learning programme designed in 2010 by librarian Helene Blowers for the staff of the Charlotte Mecklenburg library, North Carolina. Our programme is designed to introduce professionals working in an information/library environment to new web tools and apps currently being used to promote libraries and enhance library service-provision worldwide. We will also introduce tools and apps used for  collaborating, networking and sharing your work.

This course is for anyone working in the information profession that might be looking for opportunities in continuing professional development, exploring the world of apps and web tools, networking online with like-minded professional and developing your online professional profile.

The program consists of 23 modules which will be delivered free and online via our website.  Participants can choose which modules to complete and earn up to 5 digital open badges:

Visual Communicator, Online Networker, Critical Thinker, Engaged Professional and CPD Champion.

The course will cover current issues and trends in the information profession as well as the use of web technology to promote your library and network with your peers.

Participants must complete a series of simple tasks such as learning how to use different presentation software like PowToon, or maybe you would like to know more about collaboration tools such as Basecamp. Learning includes reflecting so we ask you to write an online blog post about your experiences which in turn lets you earn the relevant badges.

This course, including the open digital badges that you earn,  is certified by the Library Association of Ireland and can be used in  your CPD portfolio.

We would encourage anyone interested in doing this course to speak to your employer about allowing time to complete it. Online learning is a valuable part of continuing professional development and can be a viable alternative to attending conferences or training if distance or financial constraints are impeding factors for you.

Please download the brochure attached to this blogpost which contains information on the time required to do the course as well as information on the module content.

Click here to download the brochure: Rudai 23 2017

Registration for Rudaí 23 will open on the 28th of August and the first module will begin on the 9th of September.

For more information email westernlibraries@gmail.com and follow us on twitter @rudaí23 @wrslai to receive updates and don’t forget the hashtags #rudaí23 #23things.

libwest 16 seminar round up part two

Digital skills straddled the lunch break, with Connell Cunningham from NUI Galway’s James hardiman Library at the microphone to start the afternoon, talking about the Hardiman’s new MakerSpace. The MakerSpace is a new addition to NUI Galway’s James Hardiman Library, and includes facilities including design software, Arduinos and Raspberry Pi’s, and three very busy 3D printers. Cunningham noted the importance of partnerships as the way forward, with collaboration with European organizations and the creation of a Maker Society to help run the space in the pipeline

The afternoon then moved on to three talks touching on archives.

Noting that a substantial amount of his work ultimately revolves around outreach, NUI Galway’s Barry Houlihan presented on a suite of exhibitions that have been brought to the James Hardiman complex after the construction of a new building brought about new possibilities – and challenges. Innovative displays have included costumes from the Abbey Theatre as part of an exhibition celebrating the digitization of the Abbey Theatre archives; and a digital exhibition that was part of a Yeats and the West programme for the poet’s recent 150th birthday. Creating an experience out of an exhibition was one of Houlihan’s key points, as was the importance of reaching out to both local and national media.

Evelyn McAuley, promotion and outreach archivist at the University of Limerick, followed, talking about strategies she has undertaken in promoting archival literacy in the context of displays. McAuley noted that she pays attention to information literacy standards, of abilities to find, access, interpret and utilise information, in part due to a lack of archival literacy standards to the present time. A key strategy has been in varying levels of interaction of the displays, with multimedia reflections, for instance, incorporated along with traditional display cases in displays for the recent celebrations of the 1916 Rising.

Anne O’Byrne, Head Librarian at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, took the podium next, with a talk about the “Rotunda Birth of a Nation” 1916 exhibit. Rotunda Birth of a Nation focused on five key medical women with direct connections to Rotunda. The process of creating the exhibition was highly complex, involving key personnel including a historian as curatorial advisor, PR consultants, designers and an actress. Caution is a virtue, O’Byrne noted, as paperwork can tend to balloon, as can costs including security and transport costs.

An afternoon coffee break was followed by two speakers touching on CPD. Siobhan McGuiness presented an engaging treatise on how and why we don’t retain information that we read. McGuiness warned against letting social media become a total waste of time; a complicated version of staring at cat memes! McGuiness shared ways of changing social media monitoring behaviours, including ways of integrating learning by social media into daily routines.

GMIT’s Mary Murray rounded out the event with an update on the Rudai 23 online CPD project, an online course designed for information professionals that focused on Web 2.0 tools. This year’s WRSLAI event marks roughly a year after the launch of Rudai 23, and its success has been remarkable. Mary noted the usefulness of the reflective posts that were integrated into the programme, as well as some of the specific Web 2.0 tools that she found of particular value in completing the programme.

In the words of a Tweet from the Library Association of Ireland, the programme was “a lovely journey from pre-school to professional development.” Congratulations to all on a day full of high-quality, enlightening talks and conversations.

This round up was brought to you by Kris Meen.

 

The Information Professional – Embracing New Roles and Technologies With Confidence

It’s here! We have a finalised list of speakers for our upcoming seminar on the 22nd of June. The venue is confirmed as Gort Public Library, Queen Street, Gort. Lunch will be provided in the Lady Gregory Hotel.

Gort Library is busy celebrating Yeat’s 150th Anniversary and we will have the pleasure of enjoying a beautiful exhibition of hand-painted silk scarves by artist Renata Hochmanova. The scarves are inspired by the imagery of Yeat’s poetry.

The title of our seminar this year is

The Information Professional – Embracing New Roles and Technologies With Confidence.

We will be exploring the ever-changing information profession with speakers giving us insight into their experience of tendering for a library job, setting up as a freelance librarian, working as a special librarian in the pharmaceutical industry and what that entails.

We will be tackling new roles that are now expected of information professionals such as public speaking, leadership and management, and new technologies such as cloud computing.

For those of you who are involved in the Decade of Commemorations celebrations, we will be hearing about a very interesting digital exhibition from the University of Limerick. Take a look here for more information.

We will also hear about what’s involved in attaining a Charter-ship from CILIP  and there will be an opportunity to assess our own Continuing Professional Development progress to date through CILIP’s new self assessment program.

And lastly – some very exciting news! Due to the positive response and large number of requests made by attendees at our Seminar in 2014 we will be launching our very own online 23 Things Course called Rudaí 23.  Head over to the Rudaí 23 blog for more details. We will be giving you all the details about how to sign up on the day.

Here is the schedule for the day. The link to our registration form is at the bottom. 

09.30 – 09.45 Registration
09.45 – 10.00 Introduction and welcome by our Chair Anne Callanan

10.00 – 10.20 The Launch of Rudaí 23: A 23 Things Collaboration
Niamh O’Donovan, Galway County Libraries

10.20 – 10.45 Digitisation & Creation: Developing a World War 1 Digital Exhibition
Sinéad Keogh, Librarian, University of Limerick

10.45 – 11.00 Quality Blogging From Maynooth Library
Bernadette Gardiner & Emma Boyce, Maynooth University Library, Maynooth University

11.00 – 11.15 Q&A
11.15 – 11.45 Tea/Coffee, networking & opportunity to view an exhibition of hand-painted silk scarves by Renata Hochmanova, inspired by the imagery of Yeats’ poetry

11.45 – 12.15 The Cilip Chartership Programme
Elizabeth Keane, Senior Library Assistant, Westside library

12.10 – 12.30 Going Solo: Irish Tendering Process & Becoming a Freelance Librarian
Stephanie Ronan, Librarian, Marine Institute

12.30 – 12.45 Celebrating Yeats 2015, the South Galway Connection
Sr. de Lourdes Fahy, Mercy Order, Gort

12.45 – 13.00 Q&A
13.00 – 14.15 Lunch at The Lady Gregory Hotel

14.15 – 14.45 Google Chromebooks for Professional Development
Paul McEvory, Baker Security & Networks

14.45 – 15.05 Toastmasters, on Becoming a Confident Public Speaker
Cora Gunter, Executive Librarian, Westside Library

15.05 – 15.20 The Professional Progression of a Subject Librarian- Suzanne Rushe, Limerick Institute of Technology.

15.20 – 15.40 The Role of a Pharmaceutical Librarian
Sarah Lyons, Parmaceutical Librarian.

15.30 – 15.45 Q&A
15.45 – 16.00 Feedback questionnaire & seminar close

Click here to fill in the registration form.

Looking forward to a great day!

CUAL- A New Connaught-Ulster Alliance Research Resource

Bernie Lally is Deputy Librarian, Readers Services, in GMIT Library.

She will speak at our seminar on Monday about the new Connaught-Ulster Alliance research repository.

The online repository called ‘Cual’, was developed by the libraries in GMIT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT. It hosts extensive research material from staff and students in the three colleges, such as journal articles, theses, monographs, books, book chapters and conference papers.

Bernie will give us an overview of the development of the repository and the progress made with it so far.