A tasty morsel..

Just a quick post about NLS4, as today is a very busy one for me.  Also I really want to get my head around some of the ideas presented, and let them sink in.  First up, it was absolutely wonderful.  Great conference, great presentations, great social networking, great food!

If I could sum up what I have taken away with me in two words it would be proactive participation.  This theme was evident in nearly all of the presentations, and really spoke to me.  I have applied to be part of an eporfolios study at QUT in Brisbane, so that is my first step! 

I also got to meet some fellow bloggers who I had been reading and communicating with!  Thanks to Librarian Idol , Connecting Librarian  and Better than Cheesecake ie Andrew, Michelle and Susanne for graciously sharing your passion so freely.  Also to the Shanachie boys for once again sharing the importance of  telling stories and keeping stories and making the stories count.

It is hard to articulate just how amazing it was for me to be part of the NLS4 and to just soak up the enthusiam, joy and hope for the future that new grads bring to the industry.  I am very proud to be a part of that, and I hope my zeal and enthusiasm never wane.

There is hope wherever you look

http://www.flickr.com/photos/buecherwurm/2555677834/

I was struck by this photo I found on Flickr, entitled 'There is hope wherever you look'.  The photographer had written a haiku underneath the photo: 

                                                      In friendly waters...

                                                      Caressed by a tender light..

                                                      Hope and love unfold...

                                                               by Ines Langs 2008

The beautiful photo reminded me that there is always something to look forward to, and not to give up hope.

So, thinking along these lines I thought about the things I have to look forward to.  I have one last assignment to do, and if I pass I will have completed my Grad dip in Applied Science and Library technology(or something like that!).

I have enrolled to attend a virtual 'webinar' in a week or so about gaming and libraries.  What a very interesting topic.  The Shanachie boys have produced a video on this topic called if you are not gaming you are losing.  One of the librarians quoted in this production talks about her YA circulation statistics going up 200% after introducing gaming!!!  The downside is that it starts for me in Australia at 4am!!

The annual QPLA conference is coming up again, and it is being held at the State Library in Brisbane instead of Bundaberg this year.  Because it has been shifted, I am able to attend the conference for one of the days.  Such a good time to listen and learn.

Also coming up in November is the Unconference, hosted by the State Library.  I really can't wait for this one!  Great chance to learn heaps about how librarians are implementing Library 2.0 technologies, and I get to hear Erik and Jaap from the DOK Library Concept Centre talk on telling the library's story.  These guys, also known as the shanachie's, will also be at the New Librarian's Symposium being held in early December, so I get to hear them twice!!

What an amazing time of learning coming up for me - can't wait.  Isn't that what libraries really are about?  Encouraging life long learning regardless of what format it takes.