#blogjune Post 21 - Another missed post

So I missed another post.  Well, yesterday I had to be super quick getting ready to work so had no time to post in the morning, then in the evening I had no motivation left to post - so slack me, slap my wrist!!

On Sunday, my friend and fellow librarian wrote a post about brand identification.  She wrote about how the marketing of electronic resources in libraries is often left to the library staff.  Where she felt the vendors that sell libraries these products had great responsibility to market their products or brands.

I had a staff meeting yesterday and raised this with my staff.  I said it was interesting how lots of library visitors ask us about Ancestry.com because they saw the advertisement on television.  We don't have access to the commercial Ancestry.com but we do have access to the library version.  But it was the point that the television advertising got them asking.  Ancestry.com has done this well.  And with shows like "Who do you think you are?" being popular, it has also brought to light online resources like Trove.

I remember a few years back, our neighbour Coffs Harbour Library doing a series of television advertisements on home library service.  The result was a number of people coming to our libraries asking if we did home library service because the advertisement said libraries do.  So even though the advertisement was from a different library service, the viewer only noted library and the service, and assumed all libraries are the same so they must all do it.

So then you would think vendors would have it easy.  Create a generic advertising campaign.  Mention their resource, mention library and da da - people will seek out their library to use the product.

But then you must ask, what is in it for them?  The vendor doesn't really gain more money from this, or do they??  If more users are using the resource then the library service is more likely to continue providing access and purchasing the subscription.

Like my friend said in her post, posters, in house advertising etc only targets the users who already are on board and seeking this out.  Let's target those that don't know about all the electronic resources that libraries offer.

I recently ran an advertising campaign on our local radio stations promoting our online resources to those that can't get to the library because of time restraints or opening hours not meeting their needs.  It highlighted the ebooks, eAudio books, eMagazines and eMusic collections that our library service provides.  It mentioned you only have to come in to join and then you never have to set foot in the library again!  Just out of this advertising campaign I had 4 people that mentioned they had heard the advertising on radio join the library because they didn't know we had those resources.  I imagine more joined because of this but didn't mention the advertising they heard.

So yes, vendors should spend time advertising - a generic program is really all they need to cover all library services.  And libraries should do some advertising that goes beyond the walls to those that don't come through the doors.

#blogjune Post 19 - Words

This post I'm going to do something different and as there are no rules for #blogjune, I'm guessing it's ok.

Today I'm sharing local author, Jenn J McLeod's post: A sad and angry sea - and we grieve

I hope you all take time to read Jenn's post and also read her books!

As a runner, it is common, being out on the streets/parks early, that you might be the first to discover something - even a dead body.  It is one of my fears that this may happen to me one day.  And as Jenn and her partner experienced with walking the beach - there have been times walking our local beach during a time when someone has gone missing at sea that you worry it might be you that discovers the body.

Sorry to be a bit depressive this morning - it's raining, it's Sunday and it's work tomorrow - the mood suits!  Actually, I have a Body Shop party to go to in a few hours so the mood is set to pick up.  And not to be too humorous but I did not the link with bodies and Body Shop!

I promise a much lighter post tomorrow!

#blogjune Post 18 - 8 years

Today (well almost today) marks 8 years since I was offered the current job I'm in.  I had a telephone interview and then a few weeks later was invited to have another "interview" face to face in Grafton.  We booked overnight accommodation in Bellingen because we thought, why not see the place anyway regardless of if I'm offered the job or not.

Consequently, I was offered the job that day (although I didn't accept straight away) and we drove on into Bellingen.  It was Crazy Market Day - basically Bellingen has their monthly markets and the shops offer discounts and it only happens in June - and it was funny seeing the diverse people walking the streets.  We were in a kind of daze thinking that we could be moving to this eccentric place.

We stayed overnight at the Bellingen Valley Motel and was in awe of the beauty of the place.  I accepted the job and the rest is history - so they say!

8 years on and I'm now going through an assessment of where I want to go/be career wise.  I'm not sure if it will be here for much longer.  Still pondering and waiting.  Perhaps a new chapter is on the horizon.

#blogjune Post 17 - Fashion or lack of

Once again I turn to Rachel's post about fashion that I read this morning.  Rachel, you are doing wonders for giving me ideas for posts.

In her blog, Rachel writes about how she likes fashion but doesn't necessarily buy or wear the latest fashion - it's more about comfort.  For me, I don't follow fashion, nor do I put too much thought into what I wear.... unless it's for a running event!

Now I have a drawer full of running clothes.  The drawer is full but you can never have too many running clothes.  And each night before a run or bootcamp, there is quite a bit of thought that goes into the coordination of the tights, singlet, jacket etc before bed.  You see, I have everything ready to put straight on in the morning.

Being winter, sometimes the choice does come down to warmth.  But there still has to be some colour coordination.  Lorna Jane is a favourite brand of mine for the inspirational singlets.  I have 8 of them, and I do put thought into choosing which one I wear and when.  Then I have the singlets I got at events.  Again, depending on the mood and colour required, I will make a decision regarding which one of those I wear.

When it comes to tights, I'm a bit fussy on brands.  At the moment I'm really trying to build up my compression wear.  I have 2 long compression tights (make that 3 as I just bought another pair second hand for a bargain price!), 2 Skins and 1 2xu.  My 3/4 tights are a mix of New Balance and Lorna Jane (I actually only have one LJ 3/4 tights and would like to get another one the same but are waiting for a good sale as they are expensive).

Which then leads into the price.  Running is supposed to be an inexpensive sport.  Yeah, no!!  I'm quite happy to spend $25 on a singlet or $40 on a race singlet, $150 on long tights, and don't even go near what I spend on shoes.  But spend that on casual or work wear, nope!  Can't do!

I wish I could wear active wear all the time!!

#blogjune Post 16 - Commuting or Cow Spotting

This morning I was reading Rachel's post about her morning commute, so I thought I would describe mine.  It will not take long!

I'm lucky enough to live about 15 minutes drive from MPOW.  I usually drop Miss A at school along the way as it's really only 5 minutes down the road.  Once I have dropped her off (which usually means walking her to her classroom and making sure her friends are there - yes she is back to being a bit clingy - tweens, sigh!), back in the car and out onto the Pacific Hwy.  Although in a few months it won't be the Pacific Hwy anymore - yay!  The highway is actually moving 5km's West of our town and we will then only have a local road to drive on.

Not much to see on the Hwy and I'm only on it for about 2km.  I cross the Kalang River which is nice and then take the Short Cut Rd (yep that's what it is called) past a few houses with half acre to acre blocks, over the new hwy (quick peak at the progress) and past the industrial estate.  Then out onto Waterfall Way.

The 10km or so drive on Waterfall Way is through dairy farm land.  So lots of cows and you are driving West so the Dorrigo mountains loom in front which makes for a scenic drive.  Usually I get stuck behind someone driving slow, or have to stop for road works (seems to be endless) but in reality there is not much traffic, no traffic lights or hold ups.  Not long and then I'm in Bellingen and parked and walking to work.

Sometimes if we have lots of rain, then I can't get to MPOW (due to flooding) and have to work from the branch that is located in my town.

I don't really miss commuting in the city.  And anytime I have to visit Sydney for professional development, be it a course or conference, I tire quickly of the hustle and bustle.  That said, maybe it won't be long and I will be back in the hustle bustle and might even enjoy the people watching for a while.  Nice change from cows!

#blogjune Post 15 - A post so I have posted

Bit late off the mark this morning.  I've had to rush around and consequently have had little time to get my head around a post today, so I am merely filling a blank screen with words to say I have posted!!

#blogjune Post 14 - Back to work

Alas, the long weekend is over and it's back to the grind.  Thank goodness it's only a 4 day week and next week will only be a 4 day week too because we are heading to a wedding in Qld.  I could get used to these 4 day weeks.

This morning it was up at 4.30am to meet my running buddy for a 12km easy run at 5.30am.  Hmm, since my running buddy is naturally speedy, it was not going to be an easy run.  We decided to head out along Yellow Rock Rd, which runs along beside the river and has paddocks on the other side.  A nice run when you can actually see the scenery - this morning it wasn't till we headed back that we could see anything.

The Garmin played up around 4km and started dropping in and out.  This stuffed us up a bit because we were sure the turn around was at a particular point but we had not hit 6km yet.  So we decided to turn at 5km and add a bit of a detour on our way back.  By the end it felt like we had done more than 12km but if it's not recorded on the Garmin/Strava then it never happened so we had to make sure we had done the 12km according to the watch!

Funnily enough, when I uploaded the run to Strava, it did say 12.3km (still think we did more) and apparently we went swimming across the river to North Beach.  I think Garmin was confused - perhaps it doesn't want to get back to work either!

This sort of leads in to how much I rely on technology to track my runs.  And how disappointed I get when for whatever reason it doesn't work out right.  Mind you, I do not live by the watch when I run.  In that way, I mean I don't hang off every km split it give.  Due to completing the Run Down Under virtual run around Australia, I'm more concerned that I track my km's.  And it does help having something track how far you've gone rather than trying to measure it out yourself by driving the track first.  I wonder how they did it all before km tracking watches?!?