Dear all,

I think this is a really interesting thread, and as someone who has, as far as completing
my portfolio goes, turned into an Olympic champion at procrastination, much of what people
say rings very true. Indeed, it's actually comforting to know I'm not the only one who
cannot quite see the wood for the trees.

I would say, however, that looking at successful portfolios is helpful. You need a little
imagination and to appreciate that your own will never be exactly the same, but it's good
to have such guidance, and of course this list is invaluable! However, that is not to say
that it's all plain sailing.

Completing my portfolio is proving to be the most difficult thing I have ever had to do.
If I was told right now to write a 5,000 word essay entitled "A reflective evaluation of
your career as a librarian" by next Monday, I'd do so with no trouble at all. I think part
of the problem is that we have these other things thrown into the mix (PPDP and BPK for
example) that are meant to inform, but in reality confuse the purpose and task of
completing a portfolio. Or at least this is what I have found. Feel free to disagree
completely; that's just my opinion!

And it is extremely difficult to balance life and work - not only in terms of completing
the portfolio at home, but also in terms of finding the time to fit in the "extra
curricular" activities that might, for example, facilitate professional networking.

Having said all that, I'm on track to submit by the end of September, and have, on the
whole, found the mechanism of completing the portfolio to be useful and interesting -
although it took me a while to get to that stage - and can see a value to me. That, I
think, is the most challenging aspect of all.

Apologies for having turned this into a very long message!

Best wishes,

Sarah

-------------------------------------------------------------
Sarah Taylor
Assistant Librarian
Electronic Services Development Team/e-space
Manchester Metropolitan University
Minshull House
47 - 49 Chorlton Street
Manchester
M1 3FY
(0161) 247 6115
 

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>>> Stephanie Coane <[log in to unmask]> 27/06/2007 09:51:41 >>>
Peter,

agreed on being professionals - but my feeling is that documents riddled
with hermetic jargon like the BPK, which requires an explanatory document by
Hertfordshire County Council to make sense of, *are* underselling us,
turning the valuable work we do into an indigestible hotchpotch of
buzzwords. It's not a question of being too lazy/busy/tired to knuckle down
(though all those are true of me, at various times!) - but the nature of
CILIP's documentation would induce existential nausea in fluffy bunnies.

I will probably register for chartership eventually, and even more
eventually attain chartered status, I've been attending library visits and
other CPD events since before I even enrolled for the MA, but exposure to
90% of the professional literature makes me want to jump off a cliff (or
moan on LIS-CILIP-REG). I guess I'm just out of touch with the Zeitgeist and
will never make middle management!

Stephie

On 6/27/07, Peter Kazmierczak <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>  Dear All,
> Been following this thread with interest.
>
> Couldn't agree more that motivating oneself to knuckle down to Chartering
> can be very difficult. After a days work, often to 7pm, it can be hard.
> Getting home you find the children on the computer etc......  Always
> excuses, at least by me.
>
> But lets remember we're professionals, even if not recognised by the
> renumeration we receive. So let's go for it and not under sell ourselves.
>
> Yours sincerely,
> *Peter*
>