If you’ve ever been to the Libraries and Information Literacy (LILAC) conference, or any other library conference for that matter, you’ll know just how unsettling it can be to clock the same people you saw presenting deep pedagogical theories on the practice of teaching in the afternoon, now sporting a cocktail dress at the evening’s gala dinner. Yet we all appreciate that there’s a business and a casual side to everyone, and not just in the fashion department.…

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I hope it is not a generalisation to say that librarians are usually quite introspective people. Moreover, those of us who have completed a librarianship qualification or chartership will almost certainly be familiar with the concept of “being a reflective practitioner”. As a result, it can be said that libraries and teaching reflective practice go hand-in-hand. Reflection is something that healthcare professionals are regularly encouraged to do. For example, nurses are expected to submit reflections as part of their revalidation every three years. However, after doing some enquiring, it turns out that they receive very little training on how to write reflections effectively. I theorised that this was a potential gap that the library services could fill. I also felt that designing and delivering my own training session would be an excellent learning opportunity. I thought it could be useful to share my reflections on designing the session and the feedback I received for those interested in developing something similar.…

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Deciding to make a poster for It’s Great Up North was no quick decision. I sat on the idea for a week at least, ummed and ahhed about the pros and cons before going for it.…

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