End of 2008

2008 has been a milestone year, with 2 weddings (both of our daughters), 2 funerals (mother and mother-in-law), a tender and an overseas holiday.

Photos: left - Col & Vicki

right - Sharon, Tegan, Vicki

I'm looking forward to a less eventful 2009.

Back at work

Well, I've been back at work for 2 weeks now. It's been over a month since I last blogged and I had forgotten how to login! But, I did remember my LAN login on the first Monday back at work. Pretty good for 4 months away.

I've been playing with 23 things again - added RSS feeds. Quilting and library blogs, of course!

I already am subscribed to a number of library e-lists through work and these come to my email. I find that it's vital to know what is happening in the library world, especially at my level within the organisation.

Going to see overseas libraries was truly worthwhile. European libraries particularly are innovative and they do have much bigger budgets and libraries. But Australian libraries are also extremely innovative. In fact, librarians from other countries are often astounded at what we do in much smaller buildings. I've uploaded a photo of the new Amsterdam public library - the equivalent of our Brisbane Square Library in function.

World Library Tour

I'm writing this in Stockholm, Sweden. Fifteen Australian librarians have been on a study tour for one week now.
So far we've visited Singapore and Helsinki and will go to Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Hong Kong after this.

Libraries in Singapore and Europe are so much bigger than our own, with much larger collections. However, many things are very similar, particularly customer behaviour and changing expectations. The European libraries are very impressed with what Australian libraries achieve and how efficient we are. We are impressed by the beautiful buildings and services they provide, particularly in Scandinavia, where education and literacy are highly prized.

We' ve been taking lots of photos, so once I am back in Australia, I'll put a lot of photos up on the blog.

Fav blogs

While reading through all the info on blogs, I realised that blogs are already part of my life. I have a small blog on my Bebo page, to let our Scottish rellies know what's going on here in Oz.
I read a couple of blogs regularly - but that's it, as blogs could just take over your life. I already try to fit in so many things into my free time!

Here's my favourite blog to read, "Postcards from Cairo":
http://jennybowker.blogspot.com/
Jenny Bowker is an internationally recognised art quilter and teacher. She also happens to be married to a diplomat who has just finished as the Australian Ambassador to Egypt. Previously they have lived in other Middle Eastern countries. Jenny combines her cultural exploration of Egypt with her quilt-making. Her latest incredible art quilt was a portrait of an Egyptian man (from a photo she took of him). Here is a photo of the quilt on Flikr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7665648@N04/2477225640/

Another blog I read is by a new quilter - a Dutch woman, Linda, who moved to Brisbane last year because her husband got a job with UQ.
http://q-linda.blogspot.com/
So many quilters on our e-list wanted to read her blog that she now has an English language one for Aussie readers and a Dutch one for people back in the Netherlands. I'm enjoying watching a new quilter develop her skills as well as discover our great city.

back later

What are you going to do for four months??

Well, that's the question I have heard the most. What are you going to do for four months? And the answer is: Whatever I feel like! :-)

At the moment, I'm taking the opportunity to do my 23 things while I've got time on my hands.

I'll take a break soon, as I have to go and have coffee under the gazebo! It's become something of a ritual to have morning and afternoon tea out in the garden (if I'm at home and not gallivanting around somewhere). It's been so nice during Winter, to sit in the sunshine and sip coffee. What am I going to do when I go back to work in November?

I'm really glad that BCCLS is undertaking 23 things. How amazing that we've been give special access to social networking sites etc. I do already have Facebook and Bebo pages. If any BCCLS staff would like to be my friend, just send me a message and I'll invite you. The Bebo page is mostly for our Scottish rellies to share photos etc, as they tend to use Bebo rather than Facebook.