A colleague and I are gathering data on succession planning in the library. We invite you to respond to our survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XGHZGG3, and share with us your voice regarding succession planning at your library. We will share the results with you once our project is completed.
Thank you,
Angiah Davis
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Angiah Davis, MSLIS
Reference Librarian, Information & Research Services
Robert W. Woodruff Library - Atlanta University Center
111 James P. Brawley Drive, SW - Atlanta, GA 30314
404.978.2087 | adavis@auctr.edu | www.auctr.edu |
Sunday, January 30, 2011
What is your time worth?
In the last week, I've received 3 requests to teach or train people in various things. Basically, they want me to teach them what they should know 1) to do a particular job for which they don't want to hire someone or 2)to do the job for which they were hired, but clearly do not have the skills (or to teach someone they hired who is clearly undertrained). Oh, and did I mention for FREE?
I've been thinking about this long and hard -- for a variety of reasons, as one of my goals for this year is to evaluate my career path. A PhD has been on my list for a while, but there are other things there, too. This year, I am trying weigh each request against the benefits (including good deeds + karma). I'm not trying to oversell myself, but I get asked to do quite a bit: this week alone, 6 requests: 1 panel discussion, 1 workshop/keynote, 1 paid technology consultation, and the 3 requests for help/training...and still working out the details of the art commission (and still writing a book).
The training is by far the biggest timesuck with the minimal payout and in all honesty, I feel that people and organizations need to face the consequences of their hiring decisions. Didn't want to pay for the person who truly has the skills for the job? You're going to have to pay one way or another -- pay for training or pay for salary.
I certainly have taken advantage of training (both free and paid). I enjoy teaching and training; I do paid training (either through my day job) or as a consultant for Lyrasis. I also do workshops and guest lectures, though those are not at the same level. I do try to give back to the world when I can. I blog and tweet opportunities and I try to practice "share what you know".
However, actual training is not something that generally falls under 1 hour -- or even 2! Even if the time on the schedule is just 1 hour, I can guarantee you that I've spent waaaaay more than 1 hour putting together a lesson plan, pulling together resources, and then following up/review to ensure that my student(s) have concepts and/or materials. I continuously work on developing or maintaining my expertise: reading (almost) daily, networking with like minded individuals, attending workshops and webinars, testing software -- 99% which comes out of "my time". My time I could be doing art, eating lunch, going to the movies with my niece and nephew, or just soaking up the sunshine and listening to the birds. I'm not complaining because the payout usually justifies the work -- and I just can't work for free.
I don't mind answering questions, sharing my resources, or doing a guest presentations/lectures for a class or group; but if you want me to actual teach you how to do something, the payout better be worth it...and if that makes me a bad _____, then so be it, because my time IS worth something.
So what is your time worth? Do you make the best use of your time?
I've been thinking about this long and hard -- for a variety of reasons, as one of my goals for this year is to evaluate my career path. A PhD has been on my list for a while, but there are other things there, too. This year, I am trying weigh each request against the benefits (including good deeds + karma). I'm not trying to oversell myself, but I get asked to do quite a bit: this week alone, 6 requests: 1 panel discussion, 1 workshop/keynote, 1 paid technology consultation, and the 3 requests for help/training...and still working out the details of the art commission (and still writing a book).
The training is by far the biggest timesuck with the minimal payout and in all honesty, I feel that people and organizations need to face the consequences of their hiring decisions. Didn't want to pay for the person who truly has the skills for the job? You're going to have to pay one way or another -- pay for training or pay for salary.
I certainly have taken advantage of training (both free and paid). I enjoy teaching and training; I do paid training (either through my day job) or as a consultant for Lyrasis. I also do workshops and guest lectures, though those are not at the same level. I do try to give back to the world when I can. I blog and tweet opportunities and I try to practice "share what you know".
However, actual training is not something that generally falls under 1 hour -- or even 2! Even if the time on the schedule is just 1 hour, I can guarantee you that I've spent waaaaay more than 1 hour putting together a lesson plan, pulling together resources, and then following up/review to ensure that my student(s) have concepts and/or materials. I continuously work on developing or maintaining my expertise: reading (almost) daily, networking with like minded individuals, attending workshops and webinars, testing software -- 99% which comes out of "my time". My time I could be doing art, eating lunch, going to the movies with my niece and nephew, or just soaking up the sunshine and listening to the birds. I'm not complaining because the payout usually justifies the work -- and I just can't work for free.
I don't mind answering questions, sharing my resources, or doing a guest presentations/lectures for a class or group; but if you want me to actual teach you how to do something, the payout better be worth it...and if that makes me a bad _____, then so be it, because my time IS worth something.
So what is your time worth? Do you make the best use of your time?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
My art & photographs (and a facebook page!)
A little bit of self PR
My paintings & photographs as well as art news
http://www.facebook.com/robinfayarts/
Visiting my page and "liking" it will mean you will receive new art & photos through your facebook news stream. No need to friend me or share your personal info with me ;-) (unless you just want to!)
This is all done through FBML and CSS which I will share soon. ;-)
My paintings & photographs as well as art news
http://www.facebook.com/robinfayarts/
Visiting my page and "liking" it will mean you will receive new art & photos through your facebook news stream. No need to friend me or share your personal info with me ;-) (unless you just want to!)
This is all done through FBML and CSS which I will share soon. ;-)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Lyrasis member news
For those who might be interested:
(snip)
Changes that will directly benefit members include:
New Member Advisory/Interest Groups to enable members to contribute to the development of LYRASIS programs and services;
The creation of the Ideas & Insights Series to allow members to share their knowledge and experience with other professionals in the field;
Broadened Professional Development and Consulting services to support member Web Scale readiness; and A series of discussions hosted in partnership with OCLC on the topic of “Moving Library Cooperation to Web Scale."
LYRASIS has also updated its website and streamlined its processes to offer more ease of use and time efficiency to members.
--------
More info at
www.lyrasis.org
(snip)
Changes that will directly benefit members include:
New Member Advisory/Interest Groups to enable members to contribute to the development of LYRASIS programs and services;
The creation of the Ideas & Insights Series to allow members to share their knowledge and experience with other professionals in the field;
Broadened Professional Development and Consulting services to support member Web Scale readiness; and A series of discussions hosted in partnership with OCLC on the topic of “Moving Library Cooperation to Web Scale."
LYRASIS has also updated its website and streamlined its processes to offer more ease of use and time efficiency to members.
--------
More info at
www.lyrasis.org
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Seeking peer reviewers, school media literacy
the U.S. Department of Education 2011 Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Call for Peer Reviewers
February 4, 2011 as the deadline for receiving resumes of potential reviewers. The announcement is available here,
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/lsl/lslpeers2011.doc
February 4, 2011 as the deadline for receiving resumes of potential reviewers. The announcement is available here,
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/lsl/lslpeers2011.doc
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