Just a quick note because i forgot to mention that i have also lined up some training/cpd activities for the coming months, which i am looking forward to attending. The first is a meeting/debate about an information project that has been carried out by researchers involved with our organisations, looking at the changing roles of e-information professionals. This is something that i clearly have an interest in (perhaps coming under this title myself) so it should be really interesting to hear what their research has thrown up - and to comment on it if i am in a position to do so. Obviously, being newly qualified and all I can’t really compare my role with many years ago, but even over the course of my education, roles and technologies etc. have changed dramatically.
Without seeming a bit stupid, I often wonder what it must have been like before the days of einformation, databases, computers and the wonders of the internet. For practically all of my adult life these things have been easily used and accessible. In fact, even in high school we used computers (although nothing like what is used today). I can even remember my first computer lesson… using Microsoft Word 6 or something (maybe even 4?). And the teacher told me if i shook the mouse when the little hour glass was showing, it would make the sand fall through faster and make things happen quicker. And I believed him. Hmmm.
But, it really must be so different for people who initially trained many years ago, and it just makes me wonder if such radical changes will occur between now and when I am an older and more experienced information professional.
Sorry, that was a bit of a diversion… back to the main point - so the roles of e-information jobs are changing. I’ll write a bit about what is discussed at the meeting after i have attended. It will also be nice to be involved in some real research again (albeit, only discussing it!)
The other courses that I have signed up for are two in my area, one on records management and one on metadata. Both look quite interesting, and I will have to take plenty notes and do a write up or something that can be included as part of my portfolio. There was also another training event that I was interested in attending about information literacy - but i missed out on that one coz i was too slow (i think that it has been and gone!). One of the presenters was someone whose research i had used a lot in my dissertation, it would have been nice to have met him. He works at a university where i spent some time on placement, but at that time i had not been involved with his work and therefore had not met with him.
So, i’ll have a good few events to look forward to over the coming months, and something to report back on as well. Have a nice weekend!
