Susan Wilson said:
> I chartered in 1980 and subscribe to this list as I am a Route A supervisor
> and it is obviously very helpful to me to see the concerns of those
> currently chartering. I agree absolutely that to have to write a PDR and
> actually think about what you are doing is a more valuable exercise than
> just having your Librarian certify that you have worked in various different
> departments, as in my case. I also, on balance, agree that revalidation will
> help us all keep on our toes. There is no doubt that there are people in the
> profession who, once chartered, whenever that may be, just coast.
>
> However, those of us who chartered before PDRs, of course, chartered
> according to the rules applying at the time and did not have the option to
> write a PDR. This does not necessarily devalue our charter. It's our
> professional development, or not, since that will do that.
I agree that the fact that you followed the rules in force at the time doesn't
necessarily devalue your Charter. The fact that you did not *have* to
jump through the hoop we currently do doesn't mean you can't jump ;-) .
But there are many people out there pronouncing themselves as "Chartered
Librarians" (both PDR and pre-PDR) who unfortunately do not show as much
continued commitment to professional development as many of us unchartered bods
on this list. Blame it on envy - I'd have been Chartered for YEARS now if all it
needed was getting my boss to sign a bit of paper <sigh> ;-)
Presumably the requirements changed to requiring a PDR because they were felt to
be inadequate. Now the feeling (of the IIS at least, if not of all members of
the LA or indeed this list) is that the *current* requirements are inadequate
for the use for which they are intended (i.e. as an indicator of quality). An
ALA gained "by default" a year after qualifying is, in my opinion, pretty much
equally as meaningless at *proving* continued professional development as one
gained from writing a PDR in more recent years. Personally, I just hope that the
"commitment" to demonstrating CPD currently being discussed is made a formal
requirement during the transition period by CILIP.
> Finally, do we have to refer to those of us who chartered some time back as
> 'old'? I get enough of that from my teenage children without professional
> colleagues getting in on the act! I thought we'd got past all that. And, if
> you're wondering, I'm forty-six.
I sincerely apologise for my use of the word "old", as it has caused offence.
In my defence, I did put a winking smiley after it tho'!. I was intending to
jokingly lighten the tone of a quite "argumentative" email, but should have
thought more about my choice of words. Thanks for caring enough about us
slightly more wet (or in my case vaguely damp) behind the ears unchartered lot
enough to be a Route A supervisor :-)
Lesha
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Lesha Fossey
Assistant Librarian, Circulation Services
University of Exeter
Stocker Road TEL: 01392 263867
Exeter FAX: 01392 263871
EX4 4PT E-MAIL: [log in to unmask]
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