Category Archives: Writing

The world is your oyster. No, it’s MY oyster!

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I know there’s more out there than what’s in front of me.  It’s like how I felt when I was looking at papers to do at Vic.  I felt the world was at my feet; the world was my oyster.  Scrap that.  The world is at my feet; the world is my oyster.

And on that note, may I announce my first professional speaking appearance at …

the ALIA National Library and Information Technician’s Conference
Back to Basics – Perth 2011

Monday 12 – Friday 16 September

 

Sooo excited!  I am going to be visiting my friends and family in Perth and presenting a paper that a colleague (the highly regarded and respected Alison Fields) and I have written together titled,

“Writing Basics: Choosing the right media and the right audience to deliver your message”

I cannot speak more highly of Alison.  One of my tutors/lecturers from the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand for approximately 5 years, she asked me late last year if I’d like to write a paper with her for the bi-annual ALIA Lib Tech conference in September 2011.  I literally jumped at the chance.

Grandfather Clock Face Waters building by stevendepolo, on FlickrA bit of history

Back in 2008/2009 approximately 3 years ago when I was living in Perth, I put my hand up to speak at the, ALIA Lib Tech 2009 Conference: Technology Technique Unique.  I wrote an abstract titled “Aotearoa and Australia: my experience so far“, based on the differences in the library and information industry I’d observed so far in my career.  It was accepted. And it would’ve been good.  But I didn’t present it.  In between having the abstract accepted, and the actual conference, I’d left employment in Perth to returning home to Wellington and finding myself unemployed.  Thus, no funds to attend the conference.  Mmm I didn’t totally think ahead on that one.

Alison Fields, one of my Open Polytechnic tutors, e-mailed me to say hello and that she’d seen my name on the programme – she was also speaking and was looking forward to catching up in Adelaide [at the conference].  I was too, until I realised I didn’t have any money to get there to present.  I told the conference secretariat (and Alison) that unfortunately I could not attend due to lack of finances.

A ray of light

Rising Seagull at Dawn by Oberazzi, on Flickr

A year or so passes and Alison drops me a line. Would I like to write a paper with her for the next ALIA Lib Tech conference, they’ve just called for abstracts.

“Would I ever?!”

I thanked Alison for thinking of me, a slowly emerging information professional and current Open Polytechnic student.  And I have been thanking her ever since.  I will continue to thank her for inviting me and taking me on this journey of my first conference paper and speaking appearance.

Reality dawns

I’m presenting our paper in Perth in just over two weeks!

Will you be in Perth mid September?  Are you attending ALIA Lib Tech 2011?  The New Librarian’s Symposium #5?  Or Library Camp Australia?

New Years Resolutions continued

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Recently alerted to a query on linkedin by Sally Pewhairangi to name your top 3 priorities for the next 12 months, I decided it was time to update any interested followers on how my New Years Resolutions were going.

My top three priorities for the next 12 months are:

1. Write.
2. Present that writing in a professional environment e.g. at a conference.
3. Read more offline for pleasure.

I included numbers 1 and 3 in my “New Years Resolutions” post back on January the 4th.  Not that it’s a priority, but I wanted to include #2 in between them as I would really like to write something that is worthy of presenting at a conference. That’s just a personal goal I have.
Another priority is to rein in my writing and focus on making it more professional and authorative.  This will be something to work towards for a while.  Advice on how I might do this will be greatly appreciated!
Other than time and experience, perhaps #3 and study too, I’m not sure how I can “get more professional” in my writing.
Ideas?

New Years Resolutions

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  1. write
  2. read more offline for pleasure

Pretty simple really.

#1 on the list, will help me to do the following:

  • attend NLS5 and ALIAlibtec11 in Perth in September this year as a speaker and delegate
  • improve my vocabulary
  • complete some papers with my chosen institution of learning (an actual institution – OPNZ)
  • improve and grow as editor of LIANZA’s fortnightly publication, Library Life.

#1 on the list will also help me to believe my intuition and what other’s have told me, that I have something to offer in writing for and speaking to others travelling along a similar path in the library and information field.

#2 on the list will help me remain sane.  Other than writing for myself (and by default, the profession), this is definitely what I need to be doing more of, to keep things in perspective.

Will keep you posted on these new years resolutions.