Thing 3 My Personal Brand

Trying out the google search exercise on my name is quite interesting.  I have done it before but it was quite sometime ago.

I didn’t expect to find much as I don’t use personal pages on social media networks.  Due to the fact that I work in a school I prefer that personal information is not available on the web.  I did however turn up a few items that I have contributed to CILIP publications in the past.

It’s my intention to only publish items that are in a professional context and with that not to disclose personal or confidential information regarding my work.  I hope that by following these principles that I will end up with a blog that demonstrates my professional capabilities as a librarian and one that I am happy for anyone to see.

In terms of branding the visual look is important.  Again it says something about you as a person.  I’ve happily included a photo which is a suitable portrait.  I have also had a play around in the blog page editor:  I’ve done a little tidying of my site from the basic template.  As it is in the public domain then the look is important as it is a reflection of me and it portrays the work that I do.

I decided to create a gmail account for use with my blog.  I did this with branding in mind as I think that a common approach is best (colour schemes, name format etc) so that it is recognisable across multiple platforms (although I’ve only this site at the moment).  With this in mind, when creating my gmail account, I have used my profile (and real) name and my blog name.  So markn.aschoollibrarian@gmail.com is also part of the brand.

Thing 2 Looking at other blogs

It's good to see a number of people who also work in a school setting taking part in the programme.  Hopefully all of our blogs will be valuable to others.  It's a good way pick up new ideas and see examples of good practise in the workplace.

It seems there's quite a few people who are doing this for the second time round.  Determination!

CPD23 for 2012

I haven't done this for a while!  It has been my intention to pick up the 23 Things programme but never got round to it.  Having just read the email and found that the programme is to be run again this year, I have promptly signed up.

No excuses this time for not completing it!  I must be deteremined and disciplined, and certainly not lapse when the school summer holidays start.  Playing catch-up doesn't always work.

Anyhow, its a good opportunity to learn new skills and keep abreast of the technology available.  Despite not getting very far last year, I had recorded a list of other blogs and have found them useful for gaining greater professional insight and awareness.

Thing 2 Looking at other blogs

Well, if you look at the date of this post compared to the first you'll see how far behind I am.  Working in a school I have had six weeks holiday.  I ought then to be fully up to date but alas travel and home improvement work significantly got in the way.

Anyhow, I'm back and aiming to catach up by the time we get to the last thing.

I have had a look at several blog sites and there's some really good ones.  They are very well designed and offer much good information.  I went to the new professionals conference in Manchester so I've looked at some of the blogs written by people who I saw there.  Rarely Sited by Naomi Tiley, one of the contributors to CPD23, is of particular interest.  I enjoyed Naomi's presentation, along with Katie, at the NPC and have found some useful resources from the presentation on her blog.

I've also checked out the blog of thebradfordlibrarian as she gave an informative careers presentation at our CILIP Yorkshire and Humber meeting back in July.  I do a sesson with Year 10 students on librarianship as a career and there's lots of good ideas to help me develop my own work.
 

Thing 1 Doing CPD23

Never used ICT in this way before, so hopefully will learn how to use lots of new tools which will be of value professionally both on a personal basis and for my library service development.