I officially had a mentor when I completed my Certification and I found it extremely useful. Everyone else I talked to about Libraries at that point had mainly been colleagues that I work with so it was refreshing to get perspectives from someone 'outside' the organisation. I found there were many things that I took for granted and just assumed that was what everyone did so it was intereting to sehow other Libraries worked. With only ever workin in one Library setting I don't have much experience so having a mentor helped me see Libraries from other viewpoints.
I don't think I would have been able to complete Certification and learn about the process of reflective practice without my mentor. She was constantly reminding me of the need to be reflective rather than just descriptive as I tended to do. She was full of praise when I completed and made me feel like a worthy Library professional which is always good to make you feel more confident in what you are doing.
Unofficial mentors I have had along my journey have included mostly people who I have worked with. There was one special lady who helped me when I started in the Library and showed me the ropes. She had such a passion and enthusiasm for libraries and it really rubbed off on me. Sadly she died a couple of years ago after a battle with Cancer but I will never forget her.
There has also been my assessor for when I completed my NVQ. She was incredibly supportful and helpful and it was through her encouragement that I decided to join CILIP and have a go at Certification. Recently she has also provided a reference for me for the application foy my PostGraduate course and was as encouraging as ever.
I would like to think that one day I will have the opportunity to become a mentor and be able to support and encourage others in return. We do have a lot of work experience students so I do play an active role in telling them about Library work and showing them the ropes.
Showing posts with label NVQ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NVQ. Show all posts
Monday, 8 August 2011
Thing 10 - My experience in Libraries so far...and what is round the corner
I have always loved Libraries but never really thought of working in one until I saw my current role advertised. I didn't really know what the full extent of working in a Library would entail but I loved visiting them and borrowing books and thought it would be a lovely environment to work in after my previous disappointing experience working in a call centre. I applied for the job as a Library and Learning Resource Centre Assistant and was so excited then I got to the interview and saw how many applicants there were and thought that was it, as I had no experience I didn't stand a chance. Amazingly I did get the job and have been working in this role now for almost six years!
A lot has changed during that time. When I started here we all did a bit of working in the main Library and spent some time working in the LRCs and did a bit of everything to do with processing stock and all of the other 'workroom' duties involved in running a Library. A few years ago however we changed so that we are a lot more responsible for different areas and take ownership and the service has greatly improved. I am now responsible for the day to day running of OARC LRC (Outdoor Activities and Recreation Centre). This is basically the Learning Resource Centre for Sports and Public Services. I liaise with the departmentsla staff and what resources they require, update displays and promote resources and run inductions on the resources available to students of those subjects. I still work in the Main Library and get to work in some of the other LRCs as well so the job never gets boring! I am also responsible for journal management, so I order new journals and process renewals, ensure the stock is up to date, tidy and weed old stock out. I also produce circulation reports, process stock, create displays for the Library, help select stock and promote it and I am currently working on a project to see how QR codes can be used in a Library setting.
After working in my role for a couple of years I completed an NVQ level 2 in Library and Information Services. It was interesting to look at the Library World from a theoretical viewpoint and I got to meet people from other Libraries and talk about how different libraries from different sectors work. Once I completed this I then decided that I wanted to be more involved and take my career further so I decided to start work on Certification. I found a mentor who was really helpful and managed to get through Certification quite quickly. It was interesting to reflect on what training I had undertaken and looking at what I needed to do in the future.
I have then had a bit of a break as I was off work on maternity leave and spent a year not thinking about Library's at all!
I have now been back into the swing of things since February and I have decided I am ready to take the next step. I have been offered a place on the PostGraduate Diploma course at Northumbria University and looking forward to the new challenge. Where I will go after that, who know? I really love where I work so I don't really want to leave anytime soon. My ideal job would be to work up to a senior level within the Library here although vacancies don't seem to come up very often!
A lot has changed during that time. When I started here we all did a bit of working in the main Library and spent some time working in the LRCs and did a bit of everything to do with processing stock and all of the other 'workroom' duties involved in running a Library. A few years ago however we changed so that we are a lot more responsible for different areas and take ownership and the service has greatly improved. I am now responsible for the day to day running of OARC LRC (Outdoor Activities and Recreation Centre). This is basically the Learning Resource Centre for Sports and Public Services. I liaise with the departmentsla staff and what resources they require, update displays and promote resources and run inductions on the resources available to students of those subjects. I still work in the Main Library and get to work in some of the other LRCs as well so the job never gets boring! I am also responsible for journal management, so I order new journals and process renewals, ensure the stock is up to date, tidy and weed old stock out. I also produce circulation reports, process stock, create displays for the Library, help select stock and promote it and I am currently working on a project to see how QR codes can be used in a Library setting.
After working in my role for a couple of years I completed an NVQ level 2 in Library and Information Services. It was interesting to look at the Library World from a theoretical viewpoint and I got to meet people from other Libraries and talk about how different libraries from different sectors work. Once I completed this I then decided that I wanted to be more involved and take my career further so I decided to start work on Certification. I found a mentor who was really helpful and managed to get through Certification quite quickly. It was interesting to reflect on what training I had undertaken and looking at what I needed to do in the future.
I have then had a bit of a break as I was off work on maternity leave and spent a year not thinking about Library's at all!
I have now been back into the swing of things since February and I have decided I am ready to take the next step. I have been offered a place on the PostGraduate Diploma course at Northumbria University and looking forward to the new challenge. Where I will go after that, who know? I really love where I work so I don't really want to leave anytime soon. My ideal job would be to work up to a senior level within the Library here although vacancies don't seem to come up very often!
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