Impact Winter 2010 Volume 13 Number 4

Winter 2010 Volume 13 Number 4

www.cilip.org.uk/cdg/impact

Lizz JenningsPlans for Impact 2011

Susan MahonyWorking at the AfricanPrisons Project

Christine Love-RodgersMore than just

keeping your hand in

Maria CoteraLooking back

(and forward)

Challenging

Times

PRESIDENT (2010)

Jon ScownLibraries West Development Officer

Cultural Services Admin Centre, Mount Street,Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 3ES

Tel: 01278 451201Email: [email protected]

SECRETARY (2011)

Chris Barker,Quincentenary Library

Jesus College,Cambridge, CB5 8BL

Work phone: 01223 339940Mobile: 07939 205243

Email: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUTTHE GROUP

Joel KerryEmail: [email protected]

Career Development Group Website:

http://www.cilip.org.uk/cdg/

Registered charity number: 313014

ISSN 1468-1625

Impact, the official journal of the CareerDevelopment Group of CILIP: theChartered Institute of Library andInformation Professionals; formerly theAssistant Librarian, the journal of theAssociation of Assistant Librarians.

Copy can be submitted to the Editors inplain ASCII text format, MS Word format, orin the body of an email message.Accompanying photographs of a resolutionof no less than 150dpi (mono) or 300dpi(colour) are welcome. Please contact theHonorary Editor for further information.

Views expressed in Impact are notnecessarily those of the CareerDevelopment Group or the Editors.

HONORARY EDITOR (2011)

Lizz JenningsInformation Librarian (E-resources)

University of Bath,Bath, BA2 7AY

Email: [email protected]: 01225 383475

IMPACT COPY DATES 2011 see www.cilip.org.uk/cdg/impact

ADVERTISE IN IMPACTAdvertise here and reach nearly 4,000

potential customers, it’s so easy!

If you are interested in advertising in Impact, please contact

the Honorary Editor

Impact Winter 2010 75

CONTENTSLIZZ JENNINGSPlans for Impact 2011

CHRISTINE LOVE-RODGERSMore than just keeping your hand in:making time for professional develop-ment in a part time post.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT GROUPHONORARY OFFICERS FOR 2011

TAMEEM ALICDG Web survey results

SUSAN MAHONYWorking at the African Prison’s Project

MARIA COTERALooking back (and forward)

DATES

AcknowledgementsImages sourced from contributors, CDG Flickr col-lection, Stock.XCHNG (www.sxc.hu) and MorgueFile (www.morguefile.com), under free licence.

Printed in England by Headley Brothers Ltd, Ashford, Kent

Welcome to the Winter issueof Impact, my last as Honor-ary Editor. Sadly this is also thelast printed issue, at least for now.

In this edition Christine Love-Rodgers, discussesthe challenges and rewards of professional de-velopment when you are part-time.

Looking back, Tameem Ali reveals the results ofthe 2010 Web Survey. Our outgoing PastPresident Maria Cotera, reflects on her time inthe Career Development Group and Susan Maho-ny talks about her experiences in Uganda at theAfrican Prison’s Project.

Looking forward, we announce the new CareerDevelopment Group Honorary Officers for 2011and Lizz Jennings, the incoming Honorary Editorstarts the issue by telling you more about theplans for Impact this year.

2011 is set to be a difficult year for somelibrarian colleagues. As a public librarian, can Iencourage everyone to check out the Voices forthe Library’s National Campaign to highlight theissues affecting public libraries as a result thebudgetary pressures (for more see page 81).

Finally I would like to thank the many peoplewho have helped me out in my year as Editorand wish Impact and Lizz all the best for thefuture.

Alison Barlow

Honorary Editor 2010

Information LibrarianNottinghamshire County CouncilBeeston Library, Foster Avenue,Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1AEEmail: [email protected]

Winter 2010Volume 13 No. 4

EDITORIAL

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Check out thisissue online at

www.cilip.org.uk/cdg/impact

Impact Winter 2010 76

In the Autumn issue of Impact, the then President, Jon Scown and HonoraryEditor, Alison Barlow, outlined the financial challenges facing the Career Devel-opment Group.

Additionally, CILIP have made changes to special interest group funding in 2011.

At the last Career Development Group National Council meeting in October,2010, after discussion, the decision was taken to produce Impact in a purelyelectronic format for the duration of 2011.

Impact is important, and has a long history. Nonetheless, there are opportunitiesfor improving and expanding Impact using current technologies. As the editor for2011, I am planning to use this opportunity to make the most of these resourcesto ensure that Impact remains relevant and accessible, but allows readers to joinin the conversation more easily. There are also possibilities for enhancing articleswith more interactive content.

Impact will continue the mix of career advice, reflections and global perspectiveswhich currently contribute to its popularity.

I also intend to continue producing four issues during the year, and dates will bemade available on the website, but will be during March, June, September andNovember as at present.

Feedback on any changes or ideas are welcome at any time!

Whatever changes are made, you will be able to access Impact at:

www.cilip.org.uk/cdg/impactLizz Jennings

Honorary Editor [email protected]

Plans for Impact 2011

Lizz Jennings

Impact Winter 2010 77

W hen I returned to work parttime after my first spell onmaternity leave, a colleague

welcomed me back by saying that ‘itwas good to see I was still keeping myhand in’.

I was taken aback. I had always enjoyedmy career and never thought of myselfas someone who was just treading wa-ter. Now, as I plan towards going onmaternity leave for the third time, I un-derstand completely what she meant.

Working part time as an academic li-brarian and being mum to two boys, therest of the time has felt like it has takenall my resources and then some. Find-ing time and enthusiasm for profession-al development on top of just doing myjob has been a constant struggle.

This article aims to share some of thethings that have worked for me.

Challenges

I would pick out the main challenges ofpart time professional development forme as time, cost, childcare and sheerhassle.

Finding time in a pressured work envi-ronment for professional committeemeetings can seem impossible, whenyou hardly have time to get your jobdone. The same is true for finding timeout of work to attend professional meet-ings when you need to be rushing backto pick up little ones from childcare.Professional development events andmeetings often happen on days whenyou are not working (and thus have nochildcare planned), or may happen attimes when it is difficult for you to attend.

Professional development can also re-quire hard cash. Some of us may befortunate enough to be funded by our

making time for professional development in a part time post

Christine Christine Love-Rodgerse-Rodgers

More than just keeping your hand in:

Impact Winter 2010 78

employers, but even so there can beadditional childcare costs to be met if theevent is happening on a day when youare not normally at work.

And there is the hassle of it all. Thenumber of arrangements, childcare andotherwise, that I had to make to lookafter everyone at home while I attendeda residential conference recently woulddo justice to an Olympic organising com-mittee.

Opportunities

But there are opportunities for profes-sional development when working parttime too.

Professional committees

I must admit that my own report card onprofessional committees in the last fewyears would probably read ‘Could dobetter’. But I have managed it, if sporad-ically, and can see that it is possible.

Professional committees are often sym-pathetic to childcare responsibilities andmay be ready to adjust meeting times orprovide help with childcare costs. Theycan also help those in my position simplyby advertising their activities via emailbulletins, as they are increasingly doing,and planning and publishing meetingdates well in advance so that childcarearrangements can be planned ahead.

In the future cost considerations and thedevelopment of new technologies maysee an increased activity of professionalgroups online via social media likeFacebook TM.

Although I do not feel this could entirelyreplace being there in person, this couldpotentially increase inclusivity and makeprofessional involvement more possible.

I am encouraged by the development ofthe New Professionals network (seepage 91) with its online presence. Evenif it does make me realise that I am nowan ‘Old Professional’!

Conference attendance

Do not forget that professional groupsand associations may also offer bursa-ries for conference attendance if youcannot get funding elsewhere. Althoughthese bursaries are competitive andhave award criteria to meet, do not beput off if you feel that you do not meetevery criteria for the funding. Even myshort experience of professional com-mittees has shown me that applicationsfor conference and travel awards cansometimes be thin on the ground. Whynot give it a try?

Volunteering

Working part time may offer opportuni-ties for volunteering. I have helped out ina small way with the library at my sons’primary school, which is staffed day today by parent volunteers.

Joanna Ptolomey (2009) talks about theimportance of trying something new outof your comfort zone, and being involvedin a school library was a very new situa-tion for me.

As well as getting my hands dirty return-ing, issuing, shelving, and tidying thebooks, I have benefited from seeing how

Impact Winter 2010 79

teachers manage library sessions withchildren and introduce information skillseven the youngest age groups.

Courses

While working part time, especially if youhave responsibilities at home, may notactually offer you more free time, it mayoffer you more flexibility to study than yourcolleagues who are working full time.

I have enjoyed several Open University(OU) short courses (all taught online)recently, having found that fundingopportunities (via ILA Scotlandwww.ilascotland.org.uk) were available tome on my part time salary. This would nothave been possible had I been workingfull time.

Often my time spent on OU courses hasbeen time ‘stolen’ from other things, suchas commuting time on the train or waitingfor my sons to finish their swimming les-sons, and it has been gratifying to grabtime back for myself in this way.

I have also been able to apply forcredit transfer based on my Charter-ship gained some years ago. So whoknows, maybe I can put all of thistogether into a future degree.

Revalidation

When I returned to work part time,after having my second child, I waskeen to register for revalidation, andasked for my manager’s support.She asked me why I wanted to takeit on, and what I would gain from it.

She was right to be cautious. What Iexpected to take six months to put

together ended up taking 18.

I thought that it was worth it though. Hereis why.

It is all about you

When I returned to work after babynumber two, I did not just return for themoney (which did not amount to muchafter childcare anyway) but also becauseI saw myself as being committed to theprofession.

Revalidation is part of that professionalcommitment. Furthermore, professionaldevelopment, whether in the form ofrevalidation or otherwise, is all about you;your skills, your learning, your develop-ment. If you are a working parent givingyour time to family, work and home, it canseem that not much else is about you.

Why not take the chance to think aboutyourself for a change?

Impact Winter 2010 80

It is all about what you are already doing

I like the fact that revalidation is basedon, and aims to make sense of, thedevelopment that you are already under-taking, whether day courses, e-learningor work based learning. While my col-leagues have undertaken MScs andMBAs I know I do not have the capacityto take this on right now.

Revalidation provides me with a structureand a goal for learning without being asignificant extra burden. I have also beenable to feed what I have done into myappraisal meetings, copying and pastingfrom my learning log for example.

When I completed my first Revalidationcycle I was able to use the feedbackprovided as a tool to discuss my futureprofessional development in my apprais-al.

Value for money

Although I work part time I find I am stillpaying the flat rate CILIP subscription, nosmall amount these days. If all I get out ofmy subscription is a magazine throughmy letterbox at regular intervals, I feel myvalue for money is limited.

I consider that I can get maximum valuefor money from CILIP by engaging with allit has to offer, in terms of professionalinvolvement, professional developmentevents and its professional developmentprogramme. After all, I have paid for it!

Making connections

The Mentor support programme forrevalidation was attractive because it al-

lowed me to make connections outside ofmy organisation. In fact, because my pro-posed mentor was in a role related to myown job, it helped me get my manager’sagreement for revalidation.

Working part time can be isolating. Ofnecessity part time workers attend fewermeetings and have fewer conversationsover coffee than their full time colleagues.

Attempting to fill this gap online can justmean more email to the mountain await-ing you when you come in to work. It is farbetter to take positive steps to meet oth-ers face to face if you can. And workingwith a mentor is in itself a learning activitythat you can build into revalidation.

The importance of writing it down

Revalidation treats writing things downand gradually compiling documentationon your professional development as ofkey importance.

Joanna Ptolomey’s tips for new profes-sionals include:

‘Write down all the things that youare committed to, such as learn-ing a new skill.

Now write down all the actionsyou have taken beside the com-mitments listed. The key thinghere is that you will be doingsomething about it almost daily.’

Reflective writing is confidence building; ithelps you realise that you really didachieve things and you really do knowsomething about your job. I found thathelpful in the confidence-sapping experi-

Impact Winter 2010 81

ence of returning to work after maternityleave.

Rewards

I think one of the chief rewards of profes-sional development is that it reminds youabout what you enjoyed about your ca-reer in the first place.

Conference presentations are full of peo-ple who have said ‘yes I can’ to challeng-es and new developments, in contrast tothe every day working life approach of‘this is the best I can do with the time andresources I have’.

Conferencing helps us to make connec-tions with the wider professional world,and new connections. Crucially, it givesyou a breath of fresh air and a perspec-tive upon your own job in the widerscheme of LIS services.

Even if you feel on the fringes of theprofessional world whilst you are workingpart time, you are still a potential managerand leader of library services in the future.That is a future worth investing in.

So spend some time thinking about your-self, do something new, take a risk, writedown what you learnt (or did not learn).Professional development part time is allabout enjoyment, enthusiasm, communi-ty and commitment to your profession.And I think that is more than just keepingyour hand in.Ptolomey, Joanna (2009). “Tips for encouraginggrowth in you as a new professional.” Impact :Journal of the Career Development Group Sum-mer 2009, p.41.

Christine Love-RodgersLiaison Librarian (Arts, Culture & the

Environment, Divinity)University of Edinburgh

Voices for the Library

We aim to: show the value of public libraries to users in the 21st century

publish stories from users about the positive impact of libraries

highlight campaigns in local areas and encourage involvement

Email: [email protected] Web: www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/voicesforthelibrary Twitter:www.twitter.com/ukpling

national campaign to raise theprofile of UK public libraries

and the value of havingtrained library staff

Impact Winter 2010 82

The following members have been elected to serve the Career Development Group onthe Presidential Team and as Honorary Officers during 2011:

Thanks are due to all members who have contributed to the nominations process byproposing and seconding candidates, as well as to all the new and continuing membersof the Presidential Team and Honorary Officers for their hard work, commitment andwillingness to represent and serve the Group.

VacanciesIf anyone is interested in seeking nominations for either of the two vacant posts;President* or Honorary Treasurer, please contact CDG Past President Jon [email protected].

*Nominees must have served on National Council as an Officer or Divisional Represent-ative.

For further information and to download nomination forms go to www.cilip.org.uk/cdg.

Presidential ReceptionUnfortunately the Career Development Group will not be holding a presidential recep-tion in 2011 as we do not yet have an incoming President. The current Vice President(Viki Lagus) is unable to take up the presidency due to ill health and regrettably we havenot been able to find a replacement as yet.

Career Development Group116th Session: 1st January - 31st December 2011

President - VACANTVice President - Viki Lagus (Northern Division)Past President - Jon Scown (West Country Division)

Honorary Editor - Lizz Jennings (West Country Division)Honorary Events Co-ordinator - Nicola Healey (West Country Division)Honorary International Relations Officer - Sabelo Mapasure (West MidlandsDivision)Honorary Learning Co-ordinator - Karen Poole (London & South East Divisions)Honorary Membership & Marketing Officer - Joel Kerry (Yorkshire & Humberside)Honorary New Professionals Co-ordinator - Franko Kowalczuk  (London & SouthEast Divisions)Honorary Secretary - Chris Barker (East of England Division)Honorary Treasurer - VACANTHonorary Website Co-ordinator - Eleni Zazani (London & South East Divisions)

Impact Winter 2010 83

A survey of the CDG website wasconducted in September 2010.

There was a very poor response but ofthose who completed the survey the re-sults were as follows.

How most learnt of CDG website

� Either through CILIP membershipor CILIP’s website.

� 79.2% when looking for CDG infor-mation

This was borne out in the areas visited;International projects, events, divisionalpages, New Professionals, QualificationsSupport, Impact, calendar, Chartership,useful resources, contact details.

Website navigation

� 58.3% found the main CDG pageswere okay to navigate

� 11% said the home page had toomuch information

� 66% found information they werelooking for

� 11% found information was notup-to-date

� 33% found it difficult to find contactdetails

� 56% knew of CDG RSS feeds� 52% knew about Quick links and

shortened urls

Website design

� 48% considered there was theright balance between text andimages

Main things liked� ease of navigation� useful information� visible links

Main things disliked� events outcome and feedback� some pages out of date/more up-

to-date information� too much text on some pages,� better balance between

text/images� slow loading pages� better use of white space on divi-

sion pages

Awareness of CDG social media

� 88% knew of CDG presence onFacebook

� 68% on Flickr� 64% on Slideshare

CDG Website surveyresultsTameem Ali

Impact Winter 2010 84

Initial Changes made

Home page (see above)It was hoped to use a different template forthe homepage but this was not possible.

Within the template constraints, there arenow 3 main headings:

ü Announcementsü CDG benefitsü Keeping in touch

Keeping up-to-date with web updates

ü Subscribe to the RSS feed for theCDG and keep informed of websitechanges

ü Subscribe to the CDG Bulletin andJISCMAIL lists

ü Join the CDG using social media linkson main CDG web pages

Navigationü Navigation links have been changed

ü Use Quick links which are on all theCDG web pages

ü Main contact details are on Contactus page i.e. links to CDG officers anddivisional contacts

Textü More headings, bullet points, and

better use of white spaceü Links made clearer

Changes still to be made

ü Ensure information is up-to-dateü Co-ordinate publicity for eventsü Provide events outcome and feedbackü Better balance of text/images

I would like to thank those who complet-ed the survey. Improving the website isan ongoing process and feedback is al-ways welcomed.

Tameem AliHonorary Website Co-ordinator 2010

Impact Winter 2010 85

Susan Mahony, CDG Bursaryaward winner, discusses her ini-tial thoughts on returning fromthe African Prison Project (APP).

Susan is currently working in theUK on the Collection DevelopmentPolicy for the APP library service.

Entebbe Airport in Southern Ugan-da must rank amongst the mostbeautiful locations to land in theworld.

As you descend, the plane circles LakeVictoria, and the impressive scale ofAfrica’s scenery impacts immediately up-on you. We were welcomed at Entebbeby Jonathan, a member of the African

Prison Project (APP) team, and thentravelled to Kampala, stopping at theMinistry to gain permission letters, be-fore progressing to the APP office/guesthouse.

Kampala bustles with traffic - taxis(minibuses), boda boda (motorbike tax-is), special hires (taxis) and private vehi-cles. The centre and arterial roads are acommercial conglomeration of high riseluxury buildings, market shacks andstreet upon street of small workshopsand businesses.

The APP office in Luzira District is in amixed area close to the biggest prison inUganda. Here we were welcomed to apeaceful compound, from which you seeLake Victoria to the east and the prisons

Working at the African PrisonsProject

Susan Mahony

Impact Winter 2010 86

to the west, visible symbols of the con-trasts that the project contends with.

Alexander McLean, the director of theprogramme, would be joining us in thesecond week and so during the first 10days we familiarised ourselves with theproject and accompanied the librarian,Glorias Asiimwre on her normal workroutines.

Glorias, a qualified librarian trained atMakere University, is the only prisonlibrarian in the country and took up thepost as a newly qualified graduate. Shehas had to develop the role for herself asno model exists to which she can work.APP has developed a library in the re-mand centre, which Glorias has set upand catalogued, but most of her work isin the literacy classes and readinggroups. She runs groups in the remandcentre, Murchison Bay prison, Luzirawomen’s prison, Luzira Upper men’sprison and on the condemned wing ofUpper prison, as well as at prisons inEntebbe. She takes public transport(minibuses or motorbikes) to the prisonsand runs consecutive groups through-out each day.

It is worth noting that the legal system inUganda differs slightly to UK. In the UKprisons often hold more serious offend-ers as there are more community sen-tences. However in Uganda there arelengthy remands, since the court proc-ess is slow and people go to prison for

different categories of offence (for exam-ple debt).

In prison in Uganda, living conditions canbe difficult, prisoners possess very littleand are lucky to have an exercise bookor a pen. Although provision of the singlemeal a day the prison offers, is morethan some living in poverty in the com-munity can be assured of, prisoners arefrequently severed from their communi-ties, as transport costs can make it im-possible for people to travel to the prisonfrom remote areas. It is hard to imaginethe mental resilience needed to copewith so little status or control.

Glorias has worked hard to build relation-ships, which have allowed her to be ac-cepted by both staff and inmates and asa result has set up a successful pro-gramme of reading and discussiongroups that are welcomed by both.

The groups are operated in English, thelingua franca in Uganda. As many of theinmates do not have even Primary edu-cation they often cannot read, so basicliteracy groups have been especiallypopular as a means for prisoners to ad-vance themselves. In the basic literacygroup at Upper prison for example, thereare up to 90 prisoner members.

At each location APP has a book boxfrom which inmates select their ownbooks. Glorias provides specially select-ed, weekly titles for the basic literacygroups to read which they discuss thefollowing week.

The success of these groups has pro-duced a few problems. Firstly there are

“It is hard to imaginethe mental resilience needed

to cope with so little status or control”

Impact Winter 2010 87

limited numbers of appropriate titles ofthe right level of literacy that are relevantto group members. This makes co-ordi-nating homework reading difficult.Though the project has received dona-tions of thousands of books, many havelimited relevance and need sorting. Sec-ondly, Glorias had never been trained inadult literacy work. Part of our contribu-tion was to propose different ideas forthese group activities. Some of the mostmemorable moments of my trip tookplace during these groups.

Motivation to learn and attend classes ishigh though and prisoners both teachand avidly attend education classes.Provision of APP books and a chance todiscuss their ideas with someone outsideof the prison is therefore a significantevent in the week. I have never seensuch animated reading groups as thoseI attended at Luzira, particularly on thecondemned wing where they discussedbooks they read with passion, compas-sion, dignity, humour, insight and reflec-

tion that I had neither expected, norexpect to hear again. Without passingjudgement on their crimes, APP hasclearly helped these men as they con-front their personal circumstances.

The women prisoners confront differentissues, particularly as they are separatedfrom their children and see them only onSundays. Children are cared for in a DayCentre during the week. I also took someold soft toys donated by my children sowe retrieved children’s books from thosedonated, to match for the baby box APPprovides to foster mother/baby activities.

APP also supports health, legal and re-integration projects. It sees libraries atthe heart of its activities: as centres forlegal, health, education and civil rightsinformation as well as a resource to fos-ters human dignity within the prison. AAPnow plans to expand to provide mobilelibraries and improve services it providescurrently. As time was short, I am nowcontinuing work with them on a Collec-

“they readwith passion,

compassion, dignity,humour, insightand reflection

that I hadneither expected,

nor expectto hear again ”

View over the roofs of Luzira

Impact Winter 2010 88

tion Development policy that embracesboth current work and the planned de-velopments.

Personally I made some very goodfriends, learnt a lot about Uganda, andabout librarianship in a very differentcontext.

On a human level the sincerity and vi-sion of APP staff and their results areabundantly clear.

The Career Development Group shouldbe justifiably proud of its support to inter-national efforts such as these.

Susan Mahony

New Year AppealWe are currently raising funds, with Lanka Community InformationInitiative (LCII), to build a community library in the MacaldenyiaTamil Vidyalayam primary school in Sri Lanka .

The Sri Lanka project will make a major impact to the community thelibrary will support.

If every CDG member donated just £1we would raise over £3000in just the click of a button

Just think what a differencethat your £1 could make

Donate throughCharity Choice https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/donation.asp?ref=158224

Or via our web pages www.cilip.org.uk/cdg/international.

For more information or to get involved contact Sabelo Mapasure,Honorary International Relations Officer, [email protected]

Impact Winter 2010 89

CDG Past President for 2010, MariaCotera reflects on her time in the CareerDevelopment Group and how her role asInternational Officer has influenced herviews and career.

As my time of service to the CareerDevelopment Group comes to anend, I have been reflecting on what

my contribution has been; what I have givento the Group, the profession as a whole,and the world at large (if anything), and alsowhat I have gained from my professionalactivism since I first got involved back in2004.

What I have gained is certainly easier toascertain than what I have given. I havelearnt many useful things (some profession-al, and others about life, human values andrelationships), acquired many skills whichwill no doubt help me in my future careerpath, made lots of useful professional con-tacts and a few long-lasting friendships and,along the way, developed a confidence inmyself and my abilities which I certainly didnot posses a few years back and might nothad acquired otherwise.

What I have given back is probably not forme to say, and will obviously depend onwho looks at it. I would like to think that mypassion for professional activism might

have inspired a few colleagues to join inand get involved, and that my vision for awider inclusion of new professionals intoCILIP might have allowed some new facesto be recognised, and empowered them tohave their voices heard.

Reflecting back, I see that the commonthread during the seven years I haveworked for the Group has been my com-mitment to international work, and I amgrateful to Linda Macpherson and JoannaBall who, after a few months of service forCDG (London & South East Divisions) com-mittee, nominated me to take on the role ofAssociate International Officer, support-ing the Honorary Officer.

One of the main tasks of the internationalrole is to undertake international collabora-tive projects on behalf of CDG. I was givena wonderful project to run; the constructionof a library in Tolimfundo Primary School inSoweto, South Africa, an area plagued withAids and poverty, but full of enthusiasm forlearning and passion for books and reading.This opened my eyes to a new reality andfuelled my commitment to work in support

Looking back(and forward)

Maria Cotera

“ What I have gained is certainly easier toascertain than what I have given”

Impact Winter 2010 90

of women, men and children around theworld who see books and education as theirpassport to a better life.

In 2005 I took over the role of HonoraryInternational Officer launching a nationalfundraising campaign to support future col-laboration projects, and a new project forthe reconstruction of the Ratgama Siris-umana primary school in Sri Lanka after thedevastation of the Tsunami on Boxing Day2004, which affected around 200 librariesover the country, including over 165 schoollibraries.

In 2007, my last and final year as CDGInternational Officer , I identified the AfricanPrisons Project (APP) a small UK charitywhich focuses in improving “the welfare,health and education of detainees in Africa”through the creation of libraries and healthfacilities in prisons as a worthwhile charityfor CDG to work with.

This was the beginning of my involvementwith Luzira Remand Prison in Kampala,Uganda, which continued on joining the

Presidential team in 2008 through:

· setting up a prison library· recruiting and supporting a newly qual-

ified librarian, Glorias Asiimwe· writing articles for various CILIP publi-

cations· talking at Prison Libraries Group Na-

tional Conference 2008 and CILIP Um-brella Conference 2009

· helping set up the international travelbursary for Susan Mahony to visit theproject (see article on page 85).

In 2009, I started work as APP EducationAdvisor, in a personal voluntary capacity.My mission was to supervise the library andeducational activities, to develop organisa-tional strategic and working plans for thecoming years, and to help identifying fund-ing and write funding bids.

At the beginning of 2010 I was invited totravel to Uganda, with our bursary winner(though not funded by CDG) to meet theprisoners we serve, undertake needs as-

Past Presidents celebrate at Maria ‘sPresidential reception at UCL in January 2009

Impact Winter 2010 91

sessments in different prisons, and to pro-vide literacy training for our staff working inthe prison libraries.

In spring 2010 I took voluntary redun-dancy from my job as a cataloguer in UCL,leaving in the July. The initial trip havingbeen delayed due to the volcanic ash cloudtill September, this gave me more time tofocus on my work as Education Advisor andprepare the visit to Uganda. My redundancypayment, allowing me to cover my livingexpenses.

The visit was an amazing experience,which reinforced my belief in the principlesof social justice, and international solidarity,which first inspired my desire to work oninternational issues, when I undertook therole of Associate International Officer in2004.

Back in the UK I now remotely manage andsupport Glorias and her new assistantStephen, have been working on the plan-ning and development of the educationstrategy and on setting up a viable workingplan for the following months in collabora-tion with them, and plan another trip to

Uganda to continue my voluntary work forAPP.

So having found my dream job, throughmy involvement with CDG, I thought itmade more sense to concentrate my ener-gies in seeking the funding which will allowAPP to pay for my salary, rather than infinding another job.

However I am realistic and know that in thistough economic crisis funding opportunitiesare very scarce and projects which benefitAfrican prisoners are not exactly a priorityfor funding bodies so I may never find thesalary I need, and have just started apply-ing for other jobs; nevertheless I am a CDG-trained professional activist, accustomed todedicate many hours to voluntary work, andremain committed to continue supportingthe basic human rights of African prisoners,including their right to information and edu-cation, through my voluntary work for theAfrican Prisons Project now and once I getback to full-time employment.

Maria CoteraPast President 2010

[email protected]

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Impact Winter 2010 92

DatesDate: Thursday 3 February 2011

Event: Building Your PortfolioJoin Michael Martin from CILIP and otherChartered Members to find out moreabout what is involved whether you are aChartership, Revalidation and Certifica-tion candidates. Get help putting yourportfolio together and following the regu-lations, as well as hear tips from success-ful candidates.Division: ScotlandTime: TBCCost: Free but booking essentialVenue: Dundee TBCContact: Celia JenkinsEmail: [email protected]

Date: Wednesday 9 March 2011

Event: Mentoring WorkshopDivision: Devon & Cornwall, with PTEGTime: Whole dayVenue: Exeter City CollegeCost: Full day £15 (Inc. VAT) for PTEGmembers or £30 (Inc. VAT) for non-PTEGmembers. If you have already undertaken

a formal course in mentoring then youmay only need to attend the afternoonsession (2 - 4.30pm) Refreshments will beprovided but you are asked to bring yourown lunch.Contact: Janet WestcottEmail: [email protected]

Date: Wednesday 9 March 2011

Event: Joint AGM with Guest speaker,CILIP Chief Executive, Annie MaugerDivision: London & South East Divisions)& CILIP in LondonTime: 18:00-19:45 (refreshments from17:30)Cost: FreeVenue: Ewart Room, CILIP, 7 RidgmountSt., London WC1E 7AEContact: Tina ReynoldsEmail: [email protected]

The Career Development Group has beenawarded the CILIP Seal of Recognition,which recognises high standards in the con-tent and relevance of its training.

Work Experience OpportunityRuskin College Library in Oxford (http://www.ruskin.ac.uk) is looking for a volunteerto carry out some basic shelving or archiving style projects.

This is a good opportunity for someone to gain basic archiving and academic libraryexperience.

Please note that this position would not replace paid staff.

For more information, please contact Francesca Redman byemail: [email protected] or by post: Fran Redman, Graduate Trainee

Librarian, Ruskin College, Walton Street, OX1 2HE Oxford