Proving the value of peer networks: plugging in to your peers

Bethan Ruddock#npc2010July 2010

Proving the value of peer Proving the value of peer networks: plugging in to networks: plugging in to your peersyour peers

Bethan Ruddock #npc2010 July 2010

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What are peer networks, and why should I care?

‘‘contact groups consisting of fellow contact groups consisting of fellow Library/Information professionals, Library/Information professionals, workers, or others associated with workers, or others associated with the profession. These may include the profession. These may include

groups such as work colleagues; groups such as work colleagues; fellow members of an association; fellow members of an association; members of a social group such as members of a social group such as

a ning or facebook group; a ning or facebook group; conference attendees; twitter conference attendees; twitter

followers; and other groups with followers; and other groups with whom you interact on a whom you interact on a

professional basis.’professional basis.’

What?

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‘If you work in isolation you repeat the mistakes that others have made.’

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Why?

‘They provide the opportunity for: benchmarking; discovering

solutions to problems; finding out about tools others have used

first; making you realise you are not alone you are not alone

in your struggles; encouraging professional engagement.’

Why?

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Peer Networks Present:

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‘Find peer networks on Twitter, email lists and face-to-face hugely helpful both for getting new

opportunities and for mutual support/advice.’

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Support:

‘Necessary for us all to share experience and build new ideas with our colleagues and peers’

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Collaboration:

‘‘I find peer networks I find peer networks very valuable for very valuable for finding out about finding out about resources and resources and opportunities I opportunities I might otherwise might otherwise have missed.’have missed.’

‘‘I've found Twitter I've found Twitter useful for making links useful for making links with others who I've not with others who I've not actually met, and actually met, and getting advice on issues getting advice on issues (mainly related to (mainly related to digital repositories).’digital repositories).’

‘‘networking can networking can improve services we improve services we offer and helps us offer and helps us bench mark.’bench mark.’

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Collective intelligence:

‘My peer network on twitter helps keep me up to date. Peer network of old colleagues helps me brainstorm ideas, reflect on practice, and are a valuable information source.’

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Discussion:

‘Peer networks have a vital role to play in

the work I do, it helps us to set

standards and keep up with current

trends and developments in the

profession.’

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Current awareness:

‘‘They are also invaluable for They are also invaluable for observing trendsobserving trends, debates, etc , debates, etc

quickly. How people in your quickly. How people in your peer network peer network engage with certain engage with certain

debates debates or issues or issues can provide can provide a very good a very good

temperature check temperature check on how important a certain on how important a certain

issue is perceived to be issue is perceived to be (linked data for example) and (linked data for example) and

what the what the key questions key questions are.’are.’Image used under a CC licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqjunkie/2473850888/

Current awareness:

‘Knowing your peers means that you are exposed to new ideas / different ideologies, which may well

further new thinking related to your work’

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Different points of view:

‘To be effective anyone in the library/information world needs to be able to network with peers. Not only can this help either directly or indirectly with your career but is stimulating and thought provokingto find out how others tackle particular issues. Your peers are also a valuable informationsource in themselves!’

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Different points of view:

‘Invaluable for experience sharing, kiteflying, support - and I've made some lifelong friends’

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Friendship:

‘Valuable for numerous reasons, including keeping up with what is happening in other workplaces, getting support when things are tough, finding quick answers by asking a contact who knows.’

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Sharing professional experiences:

‘I believe they are vital, for personal development, for increasing one's knowledge of the profession as a whole, and in becoming involved in worthwhile projects.’

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Personal growth:

‘Peer networking has helped a great deal in my role as a library assistant dealing with requests for classical music scores. Experienced staff left soon after I joined and a network called IAMLS

has helped me develop some very good contacts whom I have called for advice. The

network is also useful for tracking down obscure pieces of music.’

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Community of experts:

‘I actively encourage younger colleagues to join social networking and peer networking groups. There is valuable information and experience to be gained, and we all need to "see beyond the desk" to stay on top of the job and remain enthusiastic and fresh. It is so easy to become insular and short sighted, even within a team context,let alone an institutional one.’

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Advice for new professionals:

‘As somebody who has been involved in the profession for less than a year I have found peer networks invaluable.

Without peer networks I doubt I would have learnt so much about the profession in such a short space of time...

...I've probably learnt just as much if not more about the profession through networking as I have from my current

job.’Image used under a CC licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/2442371176/

New professional view:

‘‘I believe them to be very I believe them to be very important for career important for career advancement, making sure that advancement, making sure that people know who you are.’people know who you are.’

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New professional view:

‘the network of those working toward chartership is invaluable for sharing ideas, getting a bit of reassurance or encouragement.’

‘I have already been able to

communicate with other chartership

candidates via twitter and the LIS

mailing lists.’

‘It has helped with my chartership.’

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Chartership:

Opportunities:

articles

guest blog posts

conference papers

book contributions

joint conference session

invited to speak at two events

post on a journal

run a social media workshop

set up the Library Routes Project

Run a demo session

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‘As a new professional, I

felt it was important to

attend the BIALL conference to

meet law librarians outside my library for the

first time.’

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Fresh point-of-view:

‘I use peer networks through social media sites, twitter, LinkedIn, Ning

sites such as MashUps, and sites supporting conferences. This gives me access to a wide group of like

minded librarians who when I meet them f2f I already know what we

have in common.’

Finding a network:

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‘am part of the Ravelibrarians group on a huge knitting social networking website called Ravelry. I know, sounds insane, but we actually have really interesting work-related discussions on the fora.’

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Finding a network:

‘I have set up a semi-formal peer network which meets 4 times a year. We seem to get a lot out of it.’

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Finding a network:

‘‘Most of this networking is done Most of this networking is done in my spare time … I think I in my spare time … I think I

would struggle to continue my would struggle to continue my current level of involvement in current level of involvement in

full-time employment at my full-time employment at my current workplace due to current workplace due to

employer concerns about the employer concerns about the value of peer networks.’value of peer networks.’

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Challenges:

‘Can be very time consuming so need to work out costs/benefits.’

‘had to justify why going to a library-related conference was so

important that I needed time off. Also, have been asked to take time off for

CILIP Committee out of my personal time.’

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Challenges:

‘‘Peer networks are highly Peer networks are highly valuable, but negotiating and valuable, but negotiating and communicating within them communicating within them takes skill. We need to reflect takes skill. We need to reflect on the identity/persona we on the identity/persona we present. On the other hand present. On the other hand authenticity can be really authenticity can be really valuable in forming valuable in forming relationships that don't feel relationships that don't feel loose or weak.’loose or weak.’

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Challenges:

I just dislike the idea of being forced I just dislike the idea of being forced to do it if I want a better job.to do it if I want a better job.

Challenges:

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Proving value:

‘I found the International Association of Music Libraries UK Branch invaluable when, as a younger professional,

I felt isolated. I was a subject specialist for Music but also for many other subjects. Music was my main interest –

I had taken a specialist course in music librarianship at Leeds Polytechnic - but it had a negligible profile at my university

library, a situation I was determined to change. Thanks to the energy, interest and support of IAML(UK) I can

say with complete assurance and no personal vanity that I accomplished this change successfully, to the benefit of

the library, the Music Department and the university.’

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Positive change:

@bethanarbethaninfoprof.wordpress.combethan.ruddock@manchester.ac.uk