Take a journey to a different time

Please enjoy my colleague Ranju’s account of her recent experience studying Digitisation II which is a module of the MA in Historical Archives, run by the History Department at NUI Maynooth. It is also really worthwhile checking out her project at Omega.

Old TTC Rosedale bus, City of Toronto Archive (Photo: http://bit.ly/1nVjvEz)

***Posted on behalf of Ranju Upadhyay, Programmer, The Library, NUI Maynooth***

During the period of 7th Feb 2014 to 14th March 2014, I undertook Digitisation II module which is part of MA in Historical Archives, run by History Department at NUIM.
Apart from having theory classes at the Library we had field trips to National Archives, NUI Galway (Abbey Theatre Digitisation Project), PRONI Belfast. Each visit, though related to Digitisation of Historical Materials, offered something different and interesting to learn. With each place we visited, we got to learn about the different kind of software systems they are using for digital preservation, conservation and access. While Abbey Theatre digitisation project used a mix of open source and proprietary software, PRONI had chosen to do their in house development on top of CALM archival software.
As a requirement for the completion of the module we all had to complete a project and make accessible at Omeka. Mine is available at Omeka.

Walk on Wednesdays

Anyone thinking of Daffodils that wonderful poem by William Wordsworth? (Photo: By rollingroscoe MorgueFile)

The challenge after returning to work following a bank holiday weekend is to remember that you started the working week on Tuesday so Wednesday has come around a lot quicker than expected. Check out some of the walks the walking group in the library in NUI Maynooth have participated in over the past few years. The Liz McDonnell 5K Cross Country Run.
Don’t panic you don’t have to run necessarily. You can walk this 5K while enjoying the beautiful grounds of Castletown House all the while feeling really good about the fact that you are walking for such a worthwhile charity as ARC Cancer Care Support Ireland. Details for the 2014 5K are not yet available but we hope to support it again this year.
Interestingly the NUI Maynooth Archive and Research Centre is located on the second floor of Castletown House in Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
This facility marks an exciting new collaboration between the Office of Public Works and the National University of Ireland Maynooth.
Sorry I digress, so back to the subject of walking and our experience here in the library, the Maynooth 10K offered a great opportunity to challenge ourselves. Once again relax you can walk this one too! Some of the course includes the wonderful grounds of Carton House. Who knows you may even spot a well know golfer or rugby player as you stride through this pretty stretch of Maynooth. It is not too late to register if you want to take part in the Maynooth 10K.

Almost time to say goodbye to the daffodils until they can delight us again next spring! (Setting: College Grounds, Maynooth) (Photo: B. Gardiner)

All proceeds will go towards the development of all-weather facilities on Moyglare Road in conjunction with Maynooth GAA.

Best of luck to all those taking part in this year’s event. Happy walking or perhaps more appropriately for this particular walk happy celebrity spotting. Enjoy.

Distance Learning – Masters in Library and Information Studies

My colleague Ruth has kindly offered to share her experience of distance learning. She is currently studying for the Masters in Library and Information Studies. This course is available through Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. While the university is in Scotland you can complete the course through distance learning. Full details available from their website. Please enjoy details of Ruth’s experience below.

Are you prepared to take a leap into the unknown? (Photo: andrée et playmobil 003 – MorgueFile)

I began an MSc in Information and Library Studies with Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen in September 2013. This is a part-time distance learning course with all study done online through the University’s virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle.
Initially, undertaking a distance learning course was daunting as I had never studied online before. However, the structured nature of the course has made this process easier to adapt to. Lectures are posted online weekly and students are encouraged to complete coursework and to chat on forums as regularly as possible.
How to juggle work, life and study was also something I had to consider strongly before signing up for this MSc. The support I have received from the Library has been extremely helpful in this regard. Moreover, studying by distance learning gives me the flexibility to study in my own time and from wherever suits me best. That does mean, however, that most of my evening/weekends are now devoted to learning about cataloguing and classification!
With one year of the MSc nearly complete I have so far found the experience challenging but enjoyable and interesting. I would encourage anyone who wants to develop their career while continuing to work to strongly consider distance learning.

Walk on Wednesdays

So you made a New Year resolution back in January to get fitter. How is that going for you? Well done if you have managed to keep up with your new fitness routine but if like many others you have struggled with it, why not consider setting up a walking club in your library. As a result of a Bright Ideas campaign the staff in the library in NUI Maynooth set up a walking club. We had our inaugural walk at lunch time on 24th April 2010 and we have continued to meet to walk each Wednesday at lunch time. This means that at least once a week we are guaranteed some exercise and we have the added benefit of enjoying the beautiful grounds here on campus and catching up with work colleagues in an informal setting.

Early morning on campus, which path to take? (Photo: B.Gardiner)

We have participated in the Irish Heart Foundation Step Challenge. Details about our experience with the challenge are listed in the step challenge event poster: Step Challenges in the Library at NUI Maynooth presented at the NUI Maynooth Teaching and Learning Showcase 2013. As today is Wednesday we will be walking as usual and it’s a lovely day here in Maynooth. If you would like more details about our walking club just contact me. A club is easy to establish, it fits into your working day and it does not cost you money!