Turning New Professionals “upside-down”

New Professionals from all over the world drawn together to share their latest research and projects, discussing trends in Library and Information Science and enjoying three days of networking and fun. This can only mean one thing: We are at Bobcatsss once again! This year, the symposium by New Professionals for New Professionals extended its usual boundaries taking its participants to Asia Minor. Ankara with its islamic culture added some oriental touch to the Bobcatsss experience. The conference program, too, broke new ground by introcuding the pecha-kucha format and expanding the range of workshops. NPSIG crossed the Bosphorus to continue its series of Bobcatsss workshops, starting in Italy four years ago, with stopovers in Hungary and The Netherlands.

20 participants

…with various backgrounds got involved in our workshop “Tailor-made and weather-proof – Building and maintaining New Professionals groups as an important part of early career development”. Teased by two short presentations, they got to think about this topic from specific points of view in the interactive part of the workshop session.

NPSIG workshop participants

2 theses

…laid the ground from both a theoretical and a practical perspective. They had been finished recently and were related to the topic of the workshop. NPSIG activist Veronica Angell Bergli skyped in from Norway to introduce network theories such as Six Degrees of Separation and Communities of Practice and to explain the requirements of a well-functioning network.

NPSIG Convenor Sebastian Wilke outlined the many different forms of initiatives by new librarians around the world and explored four key dimensions in the existence of a New Professionals group: the level of structure, the effects of online and on-site, the direction of activities and, ultimately, short-term activism versus long-term goals.

See the presentation slides for more details:

1 question

…was asked to the workshop participants: “How might you design communication in a national New Professionals group?”. Based on the input of the two theses, their personal experience and driven by group dynamics, they developed various answers.

3 methods

…of brainstorming were applied to ensure a wide range of answers and encourage the participants to think out of the box. Besides the usual goal of brainstorming the ideal solution, we added a negative and a crazy approach. By turning the question upside down, the negative approach provides an unusual view on the question and helps getting focussed on what you really want. On the other hand, the crazy approach creates ideas without limits and lets you overcome the boundaries of reality.

brainstorming: ideal, negative, crazy

5 results

…  were produced with the 3 methods by 5 different groups of 3 to 5 people. Each group had 15 min time to work together on a solution and present that to the other groups in 1 min short presentations (click on the group pictures to see the recorded presentations on youtube).

presentation group 4

results group 4

presentation group 2

results group 2

presentation group 3

results group 3

presentation group 1

results group 1

presentation group 5

results group 5

2 conclusions

… were drawn at the end of the workshop that reflected the results of all groups despite their different brainstorming approaches: We need both online and on-site engagement with each other to make communication work. Also, New Professionals rely on the support by their profession – a good atmosphere in general and time / permission by the employer in particular – to make things happen.

22

…will be the number of the next Bobcatsss symposium in Barcelona in January 2014. We are already looking forward to this!

further resources: workshop abstract | youtube playlist | facebook photo album | pinterest board

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© Dierk Eichel, Sebastian Wilke

欢迎参加IFLAcamp²!

时间：2013年8月15-16日
地点：新加坡管理大学李嘉诚纪念图书馆
（Li Ka Shing Library, Singapore Management University）
限定人数：100人

继2012年第一次IFLAcamp成功举办之后，国际图联（IFLA）新近专业工作者特别兴趣小组（New Professionals Special Interest Group）与国际图联亚太部（Asia and Oceania Section）一同欢迎您前来参加IFLAcamp²，暨2013年世界图书馆和信息大会（WLIC2013）的unconference会议。

IFLAcamp² 是一次采用了unconference模式的卫星会议，共为期两天。它为特别的议题和小组讨论提供了充足的空间。这次会议采用了参会者驱动会议的模式，这将保证参会者积极的参与，并尽可能的包括所有人们感兴趣的题目。

IFLAcamp² 是由国际图联新近专业工作者特别兴趣小组与国际图联亚太部共同主办的。

IFLAcamp² 将在2013年8月15-16日举行。

IFLAcamp² 将会在新加坡管理大学的李嘉诚纪念图书馆举行。这座图书馆位于新加坡的中心，因而我们不仅将进行两天日程紧密的unconference会议，而且我们还将有机会探索这座激动人心的大城市，并且品尝当地的美食。

IFLAcamp² 采用了barcamp的概念。我们鼓励每位参会者都提出感兴趣的话题，并且积极参与到讨论中。每天早上，所有参会者共同决定当天的日程。

请你们通过以下方式让我们知道你们想要在IFLAcamp²中讨论的话题：

1. Twitter: @npsig #iflacamp
2. Facebook 页面
3. e-mail: npsig.ifla@gmail.com
4. 或者请直接在这个页面留言

IFLAcamp² 将会使用英语作为官方语言。

Bienvenue à l’IFLAcamp²!

15-16 Août 2013
Bibliothèque Li Ka Shing
Université de Management de Singapour
Singapour
100 participants

Faisant suite au premier IFLAcamp de 2012, le Groupe d’intérêt spécial des Nouveaux professionnels et la Section Asie et Océanie vous invite au IFLAcamp², une conférence satellite du Congrès annuel de l’IFLA 2013 destinée aux nouveaux professionnels ainsi qu’à ceux en exercice depuis longue date.

Quoi: l’IFLAcamp² est un rassemblement satellite de deux jours. Sur le mode d’une conférence participative, il propose des espaces pour des sessions ad-hoc et des groupes de discussion. L’approche participative permet une implication de tous les participants autour de sujets variés.

Qui: l’IFLAcamp² est un événement conjoint du Groupe d’intérêt spécial des Nouveaux professionnels et de la Section Asie et Océanie.

Quand: l’IFLAcamp² aura lieu les 15 et 16 août 2013.

Où: Nous nous rassemblerons au sein de la bibliothèque Li Ka Shing de l’Université de Management de Singapour. Situés au cœur de Singapour, nous ne passerons pas seulement deux jours intensifs de conférence, mais aurons aussi la chance d’explorer cette métropole captivante et de tenter de nouvelles expériences gustatives.

Thèmes de l’IFLAcamp²

Reprenant le concept du Barcamp, chaque participant de l’IFLAcamp² sera encouragé à proposer sur place des sujets et à s’impliquer activement lors des sessions. Un programme sera établi chaque matin avec l’ensemble des participants.

N’hésitez pas à nous communiquer dès maintenant les sujets que vous souhaiteriez voir être abordés au cours de l’IFLAcamp² :

• Sur Twitter : @npsig #iflacamp
• Sur notre page Facebook
• Par email : npsig.ifla@gmail.com
• Ou en laissant un commentaire sous cet article

La langue officielle de l’IFLAcamp² sera l’anglais.

Free IFLA/ALA webinar, April 16: “New Librarians Global Connection: best practices, models and recommendations”

For the second consecutive year, IFLA Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning and IFLA New Professionals Special Interest Group are partnering with the American Library Association to present a series of free quarterly webinars on issues of interest to new librarians, library associations and library schools, library-decision makers, and all library workers. This is a great opportunity for membership participation via new worldwide online programming.

Following our tradition of excellence, this year our keynote speakers for each of our quarterly sessions come from different regions of the world. They include IFLA Incoming President, Sinikka Sipilä, and the President of the Library Association of Singapore, Gene Tan. Below, the date and time of the next webinar. Save the date!

April 16, 2013
9:00 a.m. CDT
10:00 a.m. EDT
4:00 p.m. CET
10:00 p.m. Singapore

World Clock

Virtual meeting room

Webinar length is one hour.

Speakers:

Keynote by Sinikka Sipilä, IFLA President Elect and Secretary General of the Finnish Library Association. Keynote topics: Strong libraries for equal and innovative societies, advocacy, how IFLA works and how to join.

Susanne Riedel, former President of the German Library Association for Library Professionals, Head of Support Team Publication Services at the Electronic Services Department, Bielefeld University. Topics include professional development, intergenerational librarianship, mentoring, librarians and change.

Kate Byrne, Outreach Team Leader, University of New South Wales and Program Coordinator of International Librarians Network, Australia.

The #newlibgc webinars are archived, therefore you can join them, ask questions and participate in conversations with international colleagues live, or you can listen to them later, anywhere at any time, such as the January webinar with Keynote by Gene Tan, President of the Library Association of Singapore and Director of the National Library of Singapore.

Questions and requests for information:
Loida Garcia-Febo
Series Coordinator
loidagarciafebo@gmail.com

WLIC2013 workshop proposals dissected

workshop proposals for ”New Librarians Global Connection: best practices, models and recommendations”

Great news everyone, we received 10 proposals for the WLIC2013 session “New Librarians Global Connection: best practices, models and recommendations” from all over the world and from a lot of IFLA First Timers.

WLIC2013 workshop proposals by country

WLIC2013 workshop proposals IFLA First Timer

WLIC2013 workshop proposals by topic

We are currently in the process of evaluating the workshop proposals and will inform you in the first week of March. So stay tuned.

This session is organized by the New Professionals Special Interest Group together with the Continuing Professionals Development and Workplace Learning Section of IFLA.

See you in Singapore.

#newlibgc #wlic2013

IFLAdial follow-up

Back in August 2012, the IFLAdial Working Group kicked off at the WLIC in Helsinki with the main purpose of looking at improving communications within IFLA. Based on feedback by IFLA activists around the world via various social media channels, mailing lists, and an online survey, several recommendations have been compiled in an extensive report for IFLA’s Professionals Committee and Governing Board to be discussed at their latest meetings in December.

Meanwhile, the report has been put online on the website of IFLA Division IV [pdf file] for the public, an online version can be found in our blog. As the Professional Committee continues to engage with the suggestions and concerns raised in the report (such as in this recent post about conferencing tools), everyone is encouraged to send further feedback on the whole topic of communications within IFLA!

IFLADIAL Working Group Report on IFLA Communications

IFLADIAL Working Group Report on IFLA Communications to IFLA Professional Committee Meeting

1 Purpose of paper

This paper looks at issues of communication with IFLA, as identified by members and activists, and suggests areas for improvement.

2 Background

The issue of communication within IFLA was highly discussed during the WLIC in Helsinki.

During several business meetings with IFLA representatives, it became clear that many IFLA Officers and activists are not quite satisfied with the current practices; an active interest in strengthening the flow of information and communication was expressed.

As a result of one of these discussions during the Division IV Leadership Brief, led by Division Chair Anna Maria Tammaro on August 12, the IFLADIAL Working Group was established to investigate concerns related to IFLA communication issues and to develop proposals for the PC to consider at its meeting in December 2012. The Working Group met face to face on August 14 to develop a work strategy and establish a consultation mechanism.

3 Consultation

On August 28 the IFLADIAL group posted an opening statement in English and Spanish inviting participation to contribute to web-based discussions using different channels, including IFLA-L and comments on several IFLA blogs, all linked through the use of a shared hashtag (#ifladial). The opening statement on IFLA-L and blogposts generated very few, but nevertheless very interesting responses.

A short online survey available in English in Spanish, was also set up and advertised.

25 replies (14 in English and 11 in Spanish) were received by September 16, with a good geographical spread, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, New Caledonia, Norway, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, USA and UK.

45% of the respondents to the online survey were IFLA Officers / SC Members / SIG Conveners. Although not all respondents addressed all the questions, the answers were quite similar, hence symptomatic of generalised concerns. A further 20 people participated on the #ifladial tweetchats which took place on September 1 and Saturday 8 September. The same five key questions on the online survey were posted on twitter to generate discussion:

• Q1. What do you think about the way that IFLA communicates with its activists?
• Q2. What do you think about the way that IFLA communicates with its members?
• Q3. What do you think about the way that IFLA communicates with the general public?
• Q4. What do you think about the way that IFLA uses social media? (blogs, twitter, etc)
• Q5. What suggestions do you have to improve communications within IFLA?

Storify was used to keep a record of the 1st tweetchat, 2nd tweetchat and the general ifladial archive including tweets and blog posts.