Library Worklife

Volume 3, No. 9 • September 2006

Support Staff

How to Journal Ideas

A follow-up to "Journal Yourself to Success!"

By Catherine Hakala-Ausperk

Can you name the five most recent workshops you’ve attended? How about the one key thing you learned from each? Will you be checking up on yourself to be sure you really put it into practice? What were the results of the last time you turned to your mentor for advice—or when someone turned to you?

Can’t remember? Join the club. In today’s busy workplace, paying attention to your own professional growth is tough and, sometimes, months can go by before you even get a minute to think about how you could be improving and growing your career. As the years go by and we continue to develop professionally, either because of or in spite of our own plans, rarely can we say with confidence that our path is following a strategic and intentional plan.

And yet, if we are not in charge of our own success, who will be?

Earlier this year, Library Worklife published an article titled "Journal Yourself to Success!" Written by Human Resources Coordinator Laurie Marotta, it included advice such as tracking "assignments, work experiences, projects, learning, opportunities and new skills acquired." Why? Well, for one thing, to support and enhance your own career development by continually re-setting your goals and by measuring your progress.

"In keeping a journal," Marotta wrote, "you too may find that you will be much better at visualizing and then capitalizing on your past experiences."

Some readers , convinced of the value of her ideas but overwhelmed with their already packed work days, wondered, more practically, how to pull off the arduous task of almost daily record-keeping?

The first tip is to convince yourself that it’s worth it. Try starting with a small goal of writing something every day for one month. Then, re-read the journal from beginning to end at the end of that time. If you learn something or feel re-energized or excited about what you’ve done so far, then here are some tips to keep going.

1. Find a journal you can carry with you.

Pick a small notebook or PDA that fits in your purse or briefcase. You’ll never know when you’re going to get a minute to write. You could be waiting on hold for someone or passing a few minutes in between meetings. You’re only going to need a couple minutes a day!

2. Write for yourself—simply and without being perfect.

Don’t worry about how neat your entry looks or whether or not the grammar and punctuation are perfect. You’re writing notes to yourself and all you need to do is make enough sense so that you’ll understand when you re-read it later!

3. Be honest.

Did you ever think about signing up for a workshop that will take up an entire day and wonder, "Didn’t I hear this speaker once before? Was this the person I really liked or I really didn’t like?" If you could flip back through a journal or two and find your honest entry for that day, you’d know what to do! It’s doubtful the New York Times will ever discover and publish your journal so be honest about what you’re thinking and feeling. That will make your entries much more useful to you later own and, when you’re mentoring someone at an early stage of their career; you’ll be more empathetic to their feelings

4. Pick a time of the day for writing—and stick with it.

Everything I absolutely have to do I try to do right after lunch. I’ve usually got a few minutes "of my own time" left and I use it but, even if I’m running late, it’s a good way to get me re-started for a busy afternoon.

5. Set goals and check up on yourself.

If you want to be sure you improve on a certain skill, set a time frame. If you say you’ll do it in the coming month, go 30 pages ahead and write in "Have I improved (this skill)?" It’s easy for all of us to forget what we’re really trying to do, when we’ve got so much else to keep us busy!

6. If you need to, start small.

If writing, even a little, each day you work is too daunting a task for you in the beginning, just keep a simple list of projects completed or situations handled and enter it weekly. Your journaling can grow as you can increase the time you spend working on it.

These are just a few ideas for making journaling work for you! Laurie and I would be happy to hear what some of your suggestions are! Please send your tips and success stories to me at causperk@heightslibrary.org and share some of your ideas!

Good luck!

Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Paralibrarian Section

Exploring the Possibilities

By Allison DaSilva, Chair, MLA Paralibrarian Section

RECOGNITION, APPLAUSE, AWARDS, congratulations and thanks! A mission of the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Paralibrarian Section is to enhance opportunities for paralibrarians and to develop career awareness. To promote those goals, the committee has initiated two exciting programs: The Paralibrarian Awards and the PAralibrarian Recognition of Achievement (PARA) program.

Reorganized after several years’ hiatus, the MLA Paralibrarian Section has a statewide membership of more than 125 library staffers, including paralibrarians and degreed librarians. A group of dedicated and energetic people have teamed up to participate on the committee’s Executive Board and subcommittees. Visitors to www.masslib.org/sectionsandcommittees/paralibrarian.htm will find information on Roundtables, Career Development and Awards Committees.

Every year, the Paralibrarian Section of MLA presents 2 awards. The Outstanding Paralibrarian Award recognizes a non-MLS library staffer who goes above and beyond the limits of the job title, and who exemplifies the ideal that true professionalism isn’t limited to professional librarians. The Paralibrarian Advocate Award goes to someone who truly appreciates the value of paralibrarians in our libraries, and who has worked to increase their opportunities and visibility. These 2 award recipients are chosen from nominees across the state. Along with a plaque, flowers and big smiles from MLA members, this year each award winner received a complimentary joint membership to ALA and MLA.

The PAralibrarian Recognition of Achievement, acronym PARA, is a program to recognize the accomplishments of paralibrarians, academically and professionally. Based on a successful New York State paralibrarian program, the Massachusetts PARA just completed its pilot year, and proudly awarded three PARAs. Applicants may submit forms for a Level I, Level II or Level III notice of achievement, based on points for experience, education and professional activities. The goal of the program is to provide recognition and a measure of paralibrarian contributions to librarianship in local, state and national forums.

Roundtable discussion groups have been well attended by paralibrarians throughout the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems. The roundtables have provided opportunities for paralibrarians to brainstorm common issues and success stories, and to help set the agenda for the Paralibrarian Section. A strong presence at the MLA Annual Conferences highlights the commitment of paralibrarians to the success of Massachusetts libraries.

The MLA Paralibrarian Section is a proactive voice for paralibrarians offering exciting programs and new forums. With a welcome message to new members and fresh ideas, we represent and advocate for the paralibrarians of Massachusetts.

We would love to have your feedback on these articles!