#blogjune Post 3 - My History of Blogging

Ok so I am cheating a bit today and I'm a bit late with my post. I'm late with my post because I had bootcamp this morning at 6am-7am.  I then had to shower, eat breakfast and be out the door by 7.45am to drive to Grafton (1 hour and half away) for a team leaders meeting at library HQ. I'm cheating because I haven't got any other better idea for a post and I think it is actually an interesting activity to participate in anyway.  Thanks to @FiFyi and Multifarious Librarian for this "meme"

How long have you been blogging?

I first started blogging in 2005.  I used a blog to keep track of the research for my Dunn and Wilson Scholarship - you can read about it here.

I then went into hiatus and didn't start blogging again until 2011 when I participated in #blog12daysxmas.

Why did you start blogging? How many times a week do you post an entry?

So as I mentioned above, I started blogging to keep track of research.  But I went back to blogging to force myself to reflect and share my reflections.

My blogging regularity varies unless I'm participating in things like #blogjune or #blog12daysxmas.  Last year I went all out and also made my own #blogDecember.

This year I hope to continue #blogjune and post everyday in June.  I am also participating in #ANZ23mthings which I hope to post at the end of each week about, and of course, will do #blog12daysxmas.

I also try to do a couple of blog posts after I attend events/conferences/seminars.

How many different blogs do you read on a regular basis?

Gosh, I haven't really counted the blogs I follow on my reader - The Old Reader which I'm using now as Google Reader decided to close down.

I would guess there may be 20 regular blogs I follow and read.

Do you comment on other people’s blogs?

If I'm very interested in a topic or have an opinion I'd like to share, then yes I comment.  However, I seem to be commenting more on author's blogs I follow in order to win a copy of their books!!

Do you keep track of how many visitors you have?

I admit, I do look at the stats every now and then just to see if any of my posts have generated interest.  I can tell when I have posted about passionate or controversial topics by the amount of readership I get.  I also note that since posting posts to Twitter and Facebook, my audience has gone up a little.

Did you ever regret a post that you wrote?

I haven't ever regretted a post.  But I have felt nervous and worried about some posts.  Especially if they are borderline personal - but then I did do a post about that too.  I think for #blogjune I may venture more into the personal side because some of the topics that have been floating around in my head are more personal then professional - I wonder if this will affect readership!?!

Do you think your readers have a true sense of who you are based on your blog?

Hmm, this is a good question.  I'm not sure.  A lot of people who do read my blog, knew me before I blogged - but it would be an interesting exercise and I do hope to meet more of my virtual network in real life.

Do you blog under your real name?

Close to it.  SharonU is pretty close.

Are there topics that you would never blog about?

Politics, politics and politics.  Oh and probably some personal choices that people are emotionally caught up in.  I'd like to think I could test the waters but I think some people may be surprised and a bit shocked.

What is the theme/topic of your blog?

I think it changes a bit here and there.  Mostly it's about library things but sometimes, it goes into personal interests.

Do you have more than one blog? If so, why?

I have enough trouble regularly writing on one blog let alone two!!

What have you found to be the benefits of blogging?

Reflection, discussion starters and development of a good network of fellow professionals.  I also feel less isolated.

So, why do you continue to blog?

Because I enjoy sharing and am starting to enjoy reflecting.  I also don't mind "hearing" myself "talk"!!

Blog12daysxmas Post 11 - We are one, are we not?!

Today's Destiny Card is Harmony.

The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions with a pleasing effect. The study or composition of musical harmony.

Synonyms concord - accord - unison - agreement - unity I'm actually at a loss of what to post.  In fact, something I read this morning has upset me but as most of those discussing it think it is not worth wasting the energy to respond to it, I'm reluctant to post about it. But at the same time, I'm a bit disgusted that in the LIS profession that something like this has been allowed to be published. I will share: Annoyed Librarian: Do Public Librarians Have Any Standards? How do you feel after reading that post? I mean in the Australian Library and Information Associations journal Incite, there was the Library Provocateur that had a column back in 2010 called On the Edge.  But there was never anything as degrading to the profession as what has been published on the Library Journal site. While our profession is made up of many different industries - public, education, health, etc - I feel that as a profession we are all about unity.  When it comes to fighting for our fellow library professionals whose jobs may be at risk, we all come together to fight the fight.  We don't criticise each other - well not in public anyway 8-)  Which is why I'm a bit stumped as to why Library Journal published this post. I don't particularly like being referred to as a "professional entertainer" and regarded with looking after a persons entertainment not education.  Well my belief is that public libraries are all about lifelong learning and that can include recreation/entertainment because even if it is not considered "education" you are still learning something when participating in recreational/entertainment pursuits. Anyway, this is just making me all worked up - which is probably the author of that posts whole goal. But I am interested in other's thoughts on this.

Work Life Balance

http://shewgirl.blogspot.com/ got me started thinking about work life balance. While her blog post focused on web 2.0 tools and how they can help organise/disorganise your life - mine is probably more focused on balancing family time with work commitments.

I have constantly struggled with this. I was studying when it was decided (not really that harsh but probably something that had to happen) that we should have a child. I wanted to wait till I had finished but yes in reality there probably would always be some excuse for putting it off. I'm not sure what I was scared of or why I really wanted to wait but as it happened it didn't take long to get pregnant so I continued studying with young child. Perhaps it was a lesson in time management.

I had 12 wonderful months with my little miss but I missed my professional life. Was I wrong in missing it? Was I guilty about wanting to go back to work and not stay at home with a little one? Hell yes but the longer I was away from work the more behind I was feeling. Sure I was staying up to date with things the best I could - reading professional journals, participating in email discussions, blogging, researching, writing conference papers - but I was not interacting with people as a professional. I was interacting with other professionals but I wasn't doing what I love to do - help people find what they are looking for.

So going back to work was a great relief to me - yes it killed me putting my little miss in care and there were days when I just wanted to be at home with her. But the absolute joy of being back in a library as a professional just made me feel human again.

However, I used to be a great attender of networking/professional events. Having a child makes that a little more difficult - you can't always bring them along and you can't always expect your partner to take up the babysitting role.

Email interaction can only satisify so much of the need. I was missing that connection. Now moving to a regional area I miss it even more because the opportunity for networking opportunities is not as abundant as in metropolitan areas.

I have often thought of returning to study - but I miss spending time with my family. Working full time and often coming home and not wanting to do much more than read a book - does not equal quality family time. How do you balance it?

I'm in no way upset with my partner - if the tables were turned I'm not sure how accommodating I would be - I've been lucky enough to spend days away at conferences and catch really early flights and really late flights home with him taking on the family duties. But it is really hard when you want to participate professionally but don't want to impact on family time.

I often resort to times like this - it's late (I'm not a night person) and I'm here blogging when the family is asleep. Otherwise I get up really early and do the same. But there are times when I want to do things that may mean staying back after work or sacrificing weekends where I feel too damned guilty to take it on.

I'd love others to share ways that they have remained professionally active but still maintained the family balance.