Monday 16 November 2015

Bush telegraph


Collaboration tools - the idea that a team can use a central tool or software to assist in the development of a project or program of events has to be viewed positively.  How many meetings have we all attended with people rushing in with bits of paper, copybooks, amended notes or post-it markers (I'm guilty of the post-it) and still not having an up-to-date account of the projects progress.  Frustrating for sure, unprofessional? Yes.

I've used Google Drive for the past few months while working with the team developing this Rudai23 course and have found it so simple and easy to use. The hard bit for me was to remember to log into it on a daily basis as I'm not working full time.  I've a little toddler plus family business that distracts me from engaging with computers and living in the Wild West means sometimes the internet connection isn't what it should be.

I'm going to use this post to cover Collaboration tools and also a reflective practice topic for the RudaĆ­23 course as I'm feeling pressure to catch up and hopefully finish.  Hats off to all involved as it was difficult to pull it together and the interest in the course really showed how relevant the topics are in todays Information Society.

Since starting the course and taking my first few steps into the online world with the addition of blogging and experiencing all different kinds of media I've realised that many of us out there really don't have the skills to fully engage with todays world.  I'm not too bad in the sense that I've had experience online, use Facebook for family and use online elements for work etc. but imagine all those people who visit our libraries and information centres who haven't any skills or awareness of the vast amount of media streams, websites and ways to access funding for students and business.  Support networks that are available for businesses.  Government departments that have put all their data, applications and news online. Literacy and the lack of digital literacy is a growing problem and one that I think people don't fully comprehend. I see our role as librarians and information professionals gaining more importance if only those in authority could see its' value.  I see a huge role for libraries throughout the world assisting those who don't have access or skills to engage with society but I also see libraries and librarians highlighting the issues and problems on a national scale.

I've mentioned Advocacy in a previous post and feel very strongly about the importance of it in relation to our profession.  As local authorities and governments look to close libraries and not hire librarians I would ask them to look at the network they are demolishing. For example, Galway library service has over 29 branches spread across the entire county plus a mobile and a schools van to service hard to reach locations, nursing homes and our schools that help educate the next generation. Each of these libraries is staffed by a person who has unique knowledge to the area, who knows the supports groups, the heritage groups, the literacy tutors and the public health nurse on a personal level.  These librarians are part of a community and are the positive face of local authority.  This positive element could be utilised by supporting the libraries with information provision, departments hosting events within the community in a library setting and also allowing feedback through the libraries to local authorities on what their policies and projects are doing to communities.  In reality how often do we as citizens engage with local authorities or government departments?  This network would support and engage the community very effectively.

Let's use collaboration tools, social media, libraries and networks to build a new 'bush telegraph' within our communities and assist each other in up-skilling and accessing the information society.

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