DISCHARGE

Library themed series.  Hidden inside library books.  Edition of 21.

Rudai 23. Thing 4: Google

Like everyone in (most of) the world I use google on a daily basis, I mean my choice of browser is google chrome.  I am aware of most of google's apps and have used a lot of them, regularly using google maps, google drive and google scholar.  Today I tried out google hangouts for the first time, seems useful and easy to use...  although I rarely communicate in this way (I've never actually used Skype either!).  But now I am prepared when the opportunity arises.

I started using blogger in around 2008 so I have had a google account since then.  Over the last couple of years I have had a little look and a little tinker with my google+ profile but, if I'm honest, I never really planned to use it regularly.  I feel I have enough social media sites on the go, most of which I hardly use, so have avoided adding more.  But google+ does seem to have some interesting features... I will explore further before it dies.

Rudai 23. Thing 3: Your Professional Brand

I signed up to LinkedIn a while back, although I haven't really done a lot with it to be honest.  This is something I have been meaning to change, so thank you Rudai 23 for the encouragement.  Outside the information arena I also work as a cartoonist, the reason I joined LinkedIn first time round was because I received an invite from a client.  As I said I rarely use it in my 'cartooning life', so I've decided to edit it and use it strictly for my 'library life'.  The thing I look forward to most about using LinkedIn is getting involved in discussions with other information professionals.  I have read discussions on various websites including CILIP and Twitter, but I am yet to contribute anything myself.  That's about to change...

When I started this blog for Rudai23 I used this image as my profile picture...

On reflection I feel it will be better to use an 'real' photograph as my profile picture, mainly because it appears more professional but also because it will match the one that I use on my LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads profiles.  I have another blog for my cartooning work, for this I will continue to use the drawing above. 

I intend to continuing utilising my drawing skills on this blog by adding illustrations to posts thus making my professional brand stand out.

Rudai 23. Thing 2: Writing Your First Blog Post

Your task is this: Write about how/why you became a librarian.

When people ask what I do, and I tell them, often they'll say "cool, so you get to sit around and read books all day".  I have always had an interest in books and if I'm honest sitting around reading books all day does sound like a nice way to 'earn a buck' (or a pound, or a euro etc).  I began to apply for library jobs simply because I like books, and not just reading them.  I like the design of books.  I like the smell of old books, and new books actually.  I like making books.  I like the way books feel in you hand (which proved useful in my first library job where I was mainly shelving).  But the thing is, there is so much more to libraries than books and that's why I love them and continue to work in information services.

I currently work as an LRC Officer in a sixth form library.  What I enjoy most is making promotional material and finding creative ways to make our resources more accessible for students.  I am required to work term time only so for the other fourteen weeks of the year I get to "sit around and read books all day".

Rudai 23. Thing 1: Create a blog

Done.