Part 3: Learn and Re-Learn
Being in the Library profession for over 16 years now, I have learnt a lot many things not only as a Librarian but as an individual. There are no yardsticks for any interaction per se in the libraries. As all of us would believe, libraries are places where people come to interact with books and other people. And exactly those 'other people' can be their friends, seniors, juniors, faculties, non-teaching staff and ofcourse 'WE the library staff'. Given the notion that a Librarian has to keep himself / herself occupied in a cabin and just supervise the staff has to be kept out of focus for the time-being. Imagine yourself having over 1000 friends and connections on FB and LinkedIn respectively but not more than ten souls recognize you in your campus. Bad isn't it?
Shed that inhibition, go out and talk with staff, faculties and students. People are comfortable when we interact and not only supervise. And mind you this 'Soft Skills Training' has to be on the job! There are no particular skill sets to be developed.
I remember being part of a newspaper collection drive in our college and the student group was creating superb paper made bags sitting in the Reading Room. I just could not resist myself from learning. That bunch of young kids were so happy to teach me and I too made a paper bag. Some time later, these students taught us to solve a Rubik's Cube (which I am yet to learn to a 'T').
On other days, students leave their circuit boards in the library because they are sure that our library is a safe place to store their belongings. There have been so many instances where students still keep their mobile phones with us before going to the examination hall. Its just that they believe in us a bit more than anything else.
I am sure any of my students reading this would definitely agree to this fact.
These are petty instances but they have been with me and have nurtured my belief as an individual.
Some essential learning to be done before taking that dive into the ocean...
The first one which I would recommend to each one is - Learn to write and maintain a blog. Use any platform - Blogger or Wordpress. But all libraries must have their own blog. Its the first social media module. The beauty of any blog is that we do not have to learn coding. Its all in-built. You just select a theme for your blog, name it, add sufficient content relevant to your institute library and publish it. Simple, isn't it?
The second is since practically all of us are on the FB, then why not our Library. Get that FB page carved and publicize it.
Get these two things moving if you are still doing "Work from Home" or have some time off in the library. I am sure you will bless me once you see people following your FB page. Be where your users are. Belong to their community (generation). Social Media is a boon after all!
With these two up and running, learn (all by yourself) or with the help of your IT person how to set up DSpace. I am thankful to our IT persons - Mr. Sachin Sawant and Mr. Johnson Pen for the extreme help and guidance for our Institute Repository hosted on DSpace.
All those who are familiar with the AICTE Approval Process Handbook for Engineering Colleges, I am sure an "Institute Repository" is essential.
Now coming to the actual training courses which will show up in your LinkedIn profile and add pages to your personal file.
1) RDMLA Course by Elsevier
2) Copyright for Librarians and Educators by Coursera
3) Research Data Management by Coursera
4) ALCTS Online Course Grant offered by ALA
5) Any Archival Management Course
Cite as:
Bhange, C. (2021). Learn and Re-Learn [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8545264270197918391/619779207828748416
