The New Librarianship MOOC - an introduction from RD Lankes

As you know, the New Librarianship Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) starts in July. You can register your interest now and also out find out more about it via some FAQs over at the Virtual Dave (RD Lankes) blog or read the original announcement. Now watch an introduction to the course from RD Lankes.

 
  New Intro from R. David Lankes on Vimeo.

Public and Mobiles Libraries Group Unconference is this Saturday in Halesowen

Photo credit: debs via photopin cc

Saturday 15 June 2013 will witness the first ever PMLG Un-conference – discussing the topics that matter to you. Everyone who works in a library has their own areas of expertise, their own unique experiences and an individual perspective. Sign up for free tickets here: http://pmlgunconference2013.eventbrite.co.uk/

The PMLG Un-conference will provide a platform for sharing ideas, thoughts and problems. As is the ethos of an un-conference, all the day’s activities will be sculpted by its participants, giving you the opportunity to choose the topics that capture the most relevant and up to date issues facing public and mobile libraries. And the best part... It’s absolutely free!

B.Y.O.P.L. (Bring Your Own Packed Lunch... and cake to share, if you feel bakey!) 

You don't have to be a member of PMLG or CILIP to take part.

For more information on the Unconference (including the opportunity to post your discussion topics) please visit the wiki.

How to get to Halesowen Library
Halesowen is located within the West Midlands just off the M5 motorway and close to Birmingham (11km/7miles), Bromsgrove (16km/10 miles), Dudley (10km/6 miles) and Stourbridge (10km/6miles).

By Car

Postcode for Sat Nav: B63 4AZ
Leave the M5 motorway at junction 3 and take the A456 to Halesowen.  Take the third exit at the next island and filter left onto the Queensway before the traffic lights.

Parking – long stay

High Street Car Park, Halesowen B63 3HY
140 bays - £2.50 all day

Maybrook House Car Park, Halesowen B63 4AH
101 bays - £2.50 all day

Pool Road Multi Storey Car Park, Halesowen B63 4AQ
Every other floor long stay - £2.50 all day

By Public Transport 
Old Hill station is 3km/2miles north of the centre and Birmingham New Street is 11km/7 miles east of Halesowen. Old Hill serves the local network, including Stourbridge and Birmingham Moor Street, while Birmingham New Street serves the national network.

A network of bus routes serves the surrounding area with journey times from Birmingham of approximately 25 minutes. A brand new, state-of-the-art bus station is adjacent to the centre. Try the bus journey planner.

Staying overnight? A brand new Travelodge has been recently built in Halesowen:

Umbrellas and UNbrellas

Photo credit: zilverbat. via photopin cc

We thought we should clear up any confusion about the ticketing policy for UNbrella at CILIP's Umbrella. In particular, whether a ticket for Umbrella is needed. The short answer is yes, a ticket is needed.

Our part in any befuddlement arose from plans, half made, 6 months ago. After our proposed paper for Umbrella was rejected, we started to plan a fringe event. I'd already booked time off work and wanted to make the most of it.

We quickly found an audience for the event, others who were keen to meet up and talk shop, but for one reason or another (mainly cost), couldn't go to Umbrella. There was a real Librarycamp virtual buzz and, with hindsight, we should have put more effort into it. We've said countless times before Librarycamps are easy to organise - build it and they will come.

What happened? We took the easy option, CILIP asked us if we'd be interested in running an unconference at Umbrella, we said yes and have concentrated on that rather than the fringe event. Sue and I have both been surprised, flattered and more than a little embarrassed by the level of interest maintained in our initial plan. We foolishly thought the few conversations would have fallen from the twittersphere. Once again we underestimated the enthusiasm for librarians to want to sit in a pub and talk about libraries ;)

We chose to appeal to CILIP (the opportunity to court all those unconference virgins) and not to honour our original commitments. This is another reason we are exploring the possibility of a salaried LibCamp-er. "We're only volunteers" can only be an excuse for so long.

Upcoming Librarycamps

Here's a quick round up of some upcoming librarycamps. Is yours missing? let us know in the comments or email librarycamp@yahoo.com and we'll add it to the list.

JUNE 2013

Librarycamp North East - NEWCASTLE
Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Saturday 15th June 2013

Tickets: http://libcampne.eventbrite.com
Twitter:
Hashtag: #libcampNE
Wiki: http://libcampne.wikispaces.com

JULY 2013

Mini Librarycamp at CILIP Umbrella - MANCHESTER
CILIP Umbrella 2013

Tuesday 2 July 1.45pm - 4pm

Tickets*: http://librarycamp.eventbrite.co.uk
Twitter: @librarycamp
Hashtag:
Wiki: http://unbrella-at-umbrella.wikispaces.com

*You need a ticket for Umbrella to attend the Unbrella Librarycamp

Mini Librarycamp at CILIP Umbrella - MANCHESTER
CILIP Umbrella 2013

Wednesday 3 July 1.45pm - 4pm

Tickets*: http://librarycamp.eventbrite.co.uk
Twitter: @librarycamp
Hashtag:
Wiki: http://unbrella-at-umbrella.wikispaces.com

*You need a ticket for Umbrella to attend the Unbrella Librarycamp

Librarycamp South West - BRISTOL
Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol
35 Berkeley Square BS8 Bristol

Saturday 27 July 2013

Tickets: http://libcampsw-estw.eventbrite.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LibCampSW
Hashtag: #libcampsw
Wiki:

OCTOBER 2013

Librarycamp GLASGOW
Mitchell Library, Glasgow

Saturday 26 October 2013

Tickets
Twitter
Hashtag: #libcampgla
Wiki

NOVEMBER 2013

The Big One -  Librarycamp 2013 - BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham

A Saturday in November

Tickets:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/librarycamp
Hashtag: #libcampuk13
Wiki: http://unbrella-at-umbrella.wikispaces.com/

Photo credit: kw_online_uk via photopin cc

Umbrella's UNbrella

Hello, are you heading to July's CILIP Umbrella conference up here in sunny Manchester?

Don't forget to sign up for the Unbrella Unconferences, being organised by CILIP's New Professionals Group and Librarycamp, as part of Umbrella.

There will be two mini-librarycamps - here's the schedule  - please sign up at Eventbrite if you'd like to come. (Please note: you will need a ticket for Umbrella to attend UNbrella).

Librarycamps are unconferences which means the participants lead the agenda – in fact, there isn’t an agenda until people make suggestions for what they’d like to talk about at the start of the event.

It’s a PowerPoint free zone and there are no keynotes speakers. Anyone can propose or lead or facilitate a session, just turn up and pitch your idea at the start of the event. You can also share your proposals on the Unbrella wiki ahead of the event.

It’s an unconference so we follow the (hippy) principles of Open Space events - people can wander in and out of sessions, tweet, blog and take photos. Past librarycamps have included sessions on:

Design your own library and information qualification

Leadership without portfolio

3D printing

Codeclubs in libraries

Facilitating the "Coming of Age" of Open Source Software in libraries

DRM is broken and that's OK

How university resource centres can get the best out of mobile learning and open access

The economics of happiness and libraries

If you'd rather speak to a real life librarian about unconferences and how they can help you, don't hesitate to email the Librarycamp-ers at librarycamp@yahoo.com. If you're on Twitter we'll be tweeting announcements and much more as @librarycamp.

See you there? Sign up at Eventbrite if you'd like to come.

Breaking up with libraries...

"Also in the mix is my general frustration with library technology. We pay BILLIONS to ILS and other vendors each year, and for what? Substandard products with interfaces that a mother would kick to the curb."

Interesting read - Breaking up With Libraries: http://ninermac.net/breaking-up-with-libraries
We hear you girl!

Photo credit: Alex Bellink on Flickr

LibCampUK13 Update

We thought we'd update y'all with where we are, with respect to this year's event. Due to reasons in our personal lives (all good; house moving and Open Uni courses) our fund-raising isn't as successful, this year, as it was at this point last year. We are working towards the creation of a salaried position to address this.

We don't expect this financial deficit to be a problem, the accumulated energy around Library Camp maintains a 'social surplus'. Already, before any details have been announced, over a hundred potential attendees signed up to our UK13 mailing list, many in addition to the 200+ from last year. Sponsorship letters and brochures for Library Camp UK13 will be mailed out within the next month. If you know any potential sponsors please let us know.

We are expecting a further 'social stimulus' when we get to spread the word and preach unconferences at this years CILIP Umbrella conference. If you're going to be there look out for us, we'll be under the Unbrella and maybe out for a pint later on that night ;)

Our social media base continues to expand rapidly suggesting a keen interest among the digitally literate. But even though we are constantly in contact with libraries and librarians on the ground, the lack of public library staff is a major concern. A concern we hope to exploit by encouraging active library campers to invite public library staff along.

For this years camp we are talking to more venues in the Birmingham area and a particularly impressive venue in the very centre of the city. This year a later date than last year, is pencilled in to our diary, if you're interested in coming along we'd recommend you keep the last couple of Saturdays in November free.

(Photo credit: Kalexanderson via photopin cc)