How can library and information professionals future proof their career by staying up to date with innovations in their sector? Let’s consider tools and technologies that can help avoid information overload, as we look at aspects of seeking information; sifting and storing the resulting information; and sharing the results of this effectively and appropriately.

1. seek – sift – share:
current awareness and
trend-watching for
information professionals
Alison McNab, University of Huddersfield
@AlisonMcNab / @hudlib
#mmitagm

2. Future proofing the Library & Information
professional
seek – sift – share
•Seeking information
•Sifting the resulting information
•Sharing appropriately
Wakelet links: http://wke.lt/w/s/XGD4q
Inspired by the Seek, Sense, Share model discussed by Virginia Power [Jarche Personal Mastery model http://jarche.com/]
https://www.slideshare.net/MmITGroup/seek-sense-share-digital-change-agent-virginia-power

3. Poll: What sources or tools do you use for professional
and/or personal current awareness?

4. Seeking (searching) for information
• More than just current awareness
• Define boundaries
– but start early
• Automate what you can
• Include people in your search strategy
• Record your search strategy

5. Automating search
• Alerts
• Email
• RSS
• Scholarly information
• BrowZine
• ToCs / Alerts
• Recommender services
• Tracking changes to web page content (Karen Blakeman)
http://www.rba.co.uk/sources/monitor.htm
• Know when to stop!

6. Storing and sifting information you
find
• Logging your process / methodology
• Digital curation tools
• Reference management software
• Concept mapping
• What patterns do you find?
• Are you collaborating?
• Do your conclusions need to be evidence-based?

7. Tools to share your findings
• Traditional or interactive document
• Infographics
• References (reference management tools)
• Digital curation: Wakelet etc
• Blog or website (personal or organisational)
• Social media
• Sharing more widely? Dissemination and promotion
• Conference presentation
• Journal article
• Repackaging the information: literature review
• Reflecting on the exercise

8. If it all gets too much….
• Unroll.me https://unroll.me/
• InBox Zero https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/inbox-zero
• Filter incoming alerts using mailbox rules

9. Any questions?
Wakelet links: http://wke.lt/w/s/XGD4q
Slides: https://www.slideshare.net/MmITGroup/presentations
Email: A.McNab@hud.ac.uk

10. Any questions?
Wakelet links: http://wke.lt/w/s/XGD4q
Slides: https://www.slideshare.net/MmITGroup/presentations
Email: A.McNab@hud.ac.uk