Ready for Interlend 2015

Ready for Interlend 2015?

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51869361@N05/5045091954">Water Lily</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>

I hope you are enjoying the start of the summer.  Like many of you I am busy getting ready for Interlend 2015.  This will be my first Interlend conference.  I have been a keen visitor to the FIL British Library days over the years, but never made it to the big conference before.  I look forward to saying hello to you if you making the trip to Manchester.

I have also taken plunge in becoming a member of the FIL Executive Committee this year.  It has been a great experience.  The opportunity to network with ILL colleagues has been valuable.  The commitment in terms of time is not huge.  Three days to attend committee meetings in Birmingham and two telecoms has not been difficult to fit in.  I have definitely gained in confidence and improved my networking skills.

I have learned how to blog and used the experience in successfully revalidating my CILIP chartership.  I used my new improved networking skills to persuade a colleague to allow me to shadow them on some research training which should be a helpful addition to my CV and was also part of my revalidation submission.

As part of the conference sub-committee I have learned about organising a conference, from choosing a venue, persuading companies to sponsor the conference and arranging speakers.  I have used this experience on a smaller scale in my day job arranging training for colleagues on interlending work.

These are just two examples of how my work on the FIL Executive Committee has benefitted my day job.  (It has also come in handy for other things as I used my blogging experience to impress my young nephews when I had to look after them earlier this year and my networking skills to help me get a place on a course at the University of London.)

I hope this has convinced you to think about joining the committee. 

See you in Manchester (and maybe at the next FIL Executive Committee meeting in October!)

Karen

Countdown to Manchester!

Well, it’s all systems go now, ready for the opening of Interlend 2015 in just over two weeks’ time!

I’ll admit that it is at this stage that I start to panic; what if no one turns up? What if we lose a speaker? Did we really book the hotel?  All questions covered months ago, and contingency plans made, but until I’m on the return train journey, they will nag at me!

My less paranoid self says it’s too late now, and that any issues can be dealt with by the team.  The FIL executive committee en masse, but also the conference sub- team, without whom most of the conference ‘stuff’ would never have been achieved.  So a BIG thank you to them: Lesley, Karen, Kate and Gillian. The hotel has been visited, the conference materials produced, the sponsors approached and speakers selected.  It’s a lot of work, and mostly done in our own time.

By the way, you can get a preview of The Midland by watching Channel 5 on Monday evenings. Inside the Midland is a fascinating look behind the scenes in what is obviously a very smart hotel.

I end my stint on committee at the AGM in June. I can’t believe how quickly the four years have passed. It really has been an interesting experience, so I’d like to thank all my committee colleagues, past and present, for their help, support and friendship. I hope we’ll keep in touch, if only at future conferences!

With my departure, and that of other committee members, we’ll be looking for new people to fill four vacancies. So do, please, give it some thought and put your name forward if you are interested. You don’t need to be attending Interlend 2015 to be nominated.   It’s a great way to be at the heart of Interlending in the UK; you meet some great people; have some good networking opportunities, and can develop all sorts of skills.  A key activity if you’re looking towards Chartership too!

As you can see from the photo., FIL is ready for the off.  Will he be seeing you in Manchester?