RUTH RIKOWSKI
News Update No.22
This 22nd News Update contains a number of different information news items, including the CILIP Network of Expertise and Interests and Gwenda Sippings invitation for me to join it; the launch of Tony Ward’s Critical Education Newsletter; Toni Samek’s LJ Teaching Award and the Relaunch of the Feminist Library Newsletter.
1. GWENDA SIPPINGS INVITING ME TO JOIN A NEW CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS (CILIP) NETWORK OF EXPERTISE AND INTERESTS
It was very nice to hear from Gwenda Sippings this month. Gwenda was the Head of Information when I worked at Clifford Chance (London) Ltd (a global law company) in 1999-2000. I referred to my work at Clifford Chance in my previous News Update, No. 21, Section A, under heading ‘Information Technology Systems and Library Work Experience’. Incidentally, Clifford Chance (a very rich and successful company) was voted No. 1 in Project Finance International’s Annual Law Firm Survey this year – see http://www.cliffordchance.com/news/latest_news/details.aspx?LangID=UK&contentitemid=13002 (22/11/07)
Anyway, Gwenda is currently working with CILIP to pilot a new network of expertise and interests. She has invited me to join this network, and I have enthusiastically accepted her invitation. In her invitation letter she explains the objectives of the CILIP network saying that:
“The objectives…are primarily to enable members to share their expertise and interest with each other, and to assist colleagues who do not know where to start with a new project, or who have reached a sticking point. It is also to provide a group of known advocates to talk and advise CILIP staff on related issues of strategy and policy, or issues raised by the Media.”
I am very much looking forward to working with Gwenda on this new and exciting project and thanks Gwenda for the invitation! Hopefully, it will also provide me with the opportunity to connect with more of you library and information professionals out there and to make a positive contribution. Indeed, to build on the connections that I made whilst working as the book reviews editor for Managing Information.
2. FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT GWENDA SIPPINGS
I thought it might be useful to provide some further information about Gwenda Sippings, for those who do not know so much about her, so here goes! Gwenda’s experience at senior information management level is impressive! Her most recent appointment was in Central Government at HM Revenue and Customs, and as I say, prior to that she was Head of Information at Clifford Chance (London) Ltd.
News Update No.22
This 22nd News Update contains a number of different information news items, including the CILIP Network of Expertise and Interests and Gwenda Sippings invitation for me to join it; the launch of Tony Ward’s Critical Education Newsletter; Toni Samek’s LJ Teaching Award and the Relaunch of the Feminist Library Newsletter.
1. GWENDA SIPPINGS INVITING ME TO JOIN A NEW CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS (CILIP) NETWORK OF EXPERTISE AND INTERESTS
It was very nice to hear from Gwenda Sippings this month. Gwenda was the Head of Information when I worked at Clifford Chance (London) Ltd (a global law company) in 1999-2000. I referred to my work at Clifford Chance in my previous News Update, No. 21, Section A, under heading ‘Information Technology Systems and Library Work Experience’. Incidentally, Clifford Chance (a very rich and successful company) was voted No. 1 in Project Finance International’s Annual Law Firm Survey this year – see http://www.cliffordchance.com/news/latest_news/details.aspx?LangID=UK&contentitemid=13002 (22/11/07)
Anyway, Gwenda is currently working with CILIP to pilot a new network of expertise and interests. She has invited me to join this network, and I have enthusiastically accepted her invitation. In her invitation letter she explains the objectives of the CILIP network saying that:
“The objectives…are primarily to enable members to share their expertise and interest with each other, and to assist colleagues who do not know where to start with a new project, or who have reached a sticking point. It is also to provide a group of known advocates to talk and advise CILIP staff on related issues of strategy and policy, or issues raised by the Media.”
I am very much looking forward to working with Gwenda on this new and exciting project and thanks Gwenda for the invitation! Hopefully, it will also provide me with the opportunity to connect with more of you library and information professionals out there and to make a positive contribution. Indeed, to build on the connections that I made whilst working as the book reviews editor for Managing Information.
2. FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT GWENDA SIPPINGS
I thought it might be useful to provide some further information about Gwenda Sippings, for those who do not know so much about her, so here goes! Gwenda’s experience at senior information management level is impressive! Her most recent appointment was in Central Government at HM Revenue and Customs, and as I say, prior to that she was Head of Information at Clifford Chance (London) Ltd.
Gwenda was featured as one of ‘the top ten leading librarians in Britain’ in ‘The Independent on Sunday’, 2002, along with others such as Sheila Corrall and Professor Charles Oppenheim – see http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2002/march2002/ALA_print_layout_1_22481_22481.cfm. She was also shortlisted for lnformation World’s Review ‘Information Professional of the Year’ award in 2005 – see
http://www.vnunet.com/information-world-review/news/2145655/iwr-professional-award. Furthermore, she was elected as the Cabinet Office’s first Head of Profession for Librarians and Information Managers in Government 2005.
Gwenda is now an independent consultant. She undertakes consultancy and project management work promoting knowledge and information management, to people such as Board members of organisations, and those setting up new knowledge and information management services. She also provides a mentoring and coaching service to people such as senior managers and senior knowledge managers, lecturers in Library and Information Schools and those entering the information profession with no information qualifications. In addition, Gwenda seeks to enhance professional development in various ways, such as by contributing to the development of new networks in the information industry and to the success of CILIP. For further information about her consultancy work see: http://www.gwendasippings.com/.
Gwenda spoke about her work at the Inland Revenue in an article that was published in CILIP’s Update in April 2004 – see http://www.cilip.org.uk/publications/updatemagazine/archive/archive2004/april/update0404b.htm.
Gwenda is now an independent consultant. She undertakes consultancy and project management work promoting knowledge and information management, to people such as Board members of organisations, and those setting up new knowledge and information management services. She also provides a mentoring and coaching service to people such as senior managers and senior knowledge managers, lecturers in Library and Information Schools and those entering the information profession with no information qualifications. In addition, Gwenda seeks to enhance professional development in various ways, such as by contributing to the development of new networks in the information industry and to the success of CILIP. For further information about her consultancy work see: http://www.gwendasippings.com/.
Gwenda spoke about her work at the Inland Revenue in an article that was published in CILIP’s Update in April 2004 – see http://www.cilip.org.uk/publications/updatemagazine/archive/archive2004/april/update0404b.htm.
She was appointed in September 2002 and was the first Director of Information Resources that the Inland Revenue had employed. When she was first appointed she had to conduct a review, and outline a strategic direction. The strategy was based on 3 principles, including the need to encourage “…everyone to work together to manage data information and knowledge as a shared corporate resource.” Gwenda then appointed a small team to carry the work forward, which she said had been very exciting and that she had enjoyed “…seeing activities start up which are making a real impact on people’s approach to information management.”
Gwenda Sippings web-log is at: http://gwendasippings.blogspot.com/
3. ‘KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES’ EDITED BY RUTH RIKOWSKI, CHANDOS PUBLISHING: OXFORD, 2007-NOW AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN MANAGING INFORMATION
The book that I have edited (further details in my signature below), ‘Knowledge Management: social, cultural and theoretical perspectives’, Chandos Publishing: Oxford, 2007, is now available for review in Managing Information (to subscribers to the magazine only).
See: http://www.managinginformation.com/news/newspage.php
(scroll down to news item of 21/11/07)
4. REVIEW BY JANICE GRANT OF ‘KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES’ EDITED BY RUTH RIKOWSKI,
CHANDOS PUBLISHING: OXFORD, 2007 IN SHINE (SCOTTISH HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK)
Janice Grant has written a thought-provoking review of this KM book for the Scottish Health Information Network. She says that:
“Anyone planning to implement KM in their organisation will find plenty of food for thought. Although not a practical guide, the authors agree on the importance of capturing and disseminating ‘knowledge’ within the organisation.”
In noting that the book is more theoretical than practical, though, she intriguingly also asks the reader to be ‘warned’ about my Open Marxist analysis of KM in it. I was hoping that such an analysis would be an uplifting experience, rather than something to be scared of, or at least wary of, but still….!
She concludes her review very positively, saying that:
“…the ideas proposed by the authors are innovative, stimulating and thought-provoking. The book will surely encourage debate on concepts such as knowledge, wisdom, information, value, efficiency, progress and many others. I would recommend it to any librarian or information specialist interested in contributing to efficient capture, storage and dissemination of information within their organisation.”
5. FORUM/DISCUSSION AND BOOK REVIEWS FOR KM BOOK
Unfortunately, I have such a lot on that I am still not in a position to be able to hold the Forum/Event that I was hoping to, for this KM book. The teaching certificate has proved to be more demanding than I thought it would be, in all honesty! I do very much hope, though, that we will be able to start the discussion at some point, preferably in a face-to-face setting.
Meanwhile, Bob Bater, one of the contributors of the book, emailed me last week, saying that he was interested in sending me a short piece, outlining some further thoughts he has had in regard to the chapter that he co-authored with Isabelle Cabos, on intangible value and KM for possible inclusion in these Updates. I said that I would be more than happy to include such a piece. I started the debate myself actually anyway, with a critique which I wrote which is available on our website. This piece is entitled ‘KM critique: a reconsideration of ‘Knowledge Management: social, cultural and theoretical perspectives’ – it is available at:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=KM%20Critique. In this article, I consider, in particular, some of the points raised by Bob and Isabelle.
Gwenda Sippings web-log is at: http://gwendasippings.blogspot.com/
3. ‘KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES’ EDITED BY RUTH RIKOWSKI, CHANDOS PUBLISHING: OXFORD, 2007-NOW AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN MANAGING INFORMATION
The book that I have edited (further details in my signature below), ‘Knowledge Management: social, cultural and theoretical perspectives’, Chandos Publishing: Oxford, 2007, is now available for review in Managing Information (to subscribers to the magazine only).
See: http://www.managinginformation.com/news/newspage.php
(scroll down to news item of 21/11/07)
4. REVIEW BY JANICE GRANT OF ‘KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES’ EDITED BY RUTH RIKOWSKI,
CHANDOS PUBLISHING: OXFORD, 2007 IN SHINE (SCOTTISH HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK)
Janice Grant has written a thought-provoking review of this KM book for the Scottish Health Information Network. She says that:
“Anyone planning to implement KM in their organisation will find plenty of food for thought. Although not a practical guide, the authors agree on the importance of capturing and disseminating ‘knowledge’ within the organisation.”
In noting that the book is more theoretical than practical, though, she intriguingly also asks the reader to be ‘warned’ about my Open Marxist analysis of KM in it. I was hoping that such an analysis would be an uplifting experience, rather than something to be scared of, or at least wary of, but still….!
She concludes her review very positively, saying that:
“…the ideas proposed by the authors are innovative, stimulating and thought-provoking. The book will surely encourage debate on concepts such as knowledge, wisdom, information, value, efficiency, progress and many others. I would recommend it to any librarian or information specialist interested in contributing to efficient capture, storage and dissemination of information within their organisation.”
5. FORUM/DISCUSSION AND BOOK REVIEWS FOR KM BOOK
Unfortunately, I have such a lot on that I am still not in a position to be able to hold the Forum/Event that I was hoping to, for this KM book. The teaching certificate has proved to be more demanding than I thought it would be, in all honesty! I do very much hope, though, that we will be able to start the discussion at some point, preferably in a face-to-face setting.
Meanwhile, Bob Bater, one of the contributors of the book, emailed me last week, saying that he was interested in sending me a short piece, outlining some further thoughts he has had in regard to the chapter that he co-authored with Isabelle Cabos, on intangible value and KM for possible inclusion in these Updates. I said that I would be more than happy to include such a piece. I started the debate myself actually anyway, with a critique which I wrote which is available on our website. This piece is entitled ‘KM critique: a reconsideration of ‘Knowledge Management: social, cultural and theoretical perspectives’ – it is available at:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=KM%20Critique. In this article, I consider, in particular, some of the points raised by Bob and Isabelle.
If anyone is inspired to read this, and to give me any initial thoughts/comments that they might have, do feel free to do so! The more meaningful intellectual discussion we can have the better, I think. Indeed, perhaps, these Updates themselves could be the start of such a discussion! Watch this space! (alternatively, or in addition, the Forum on our website can be used – see http://www.flowideas.co.uk/forum.php).
Meanwhile, though, if anyone is interested in reviewing this KM book, do let me know, and/or contact my publisher directly – gjones@chandospublishing.com.
6. TONI SAMEK OBTAINS THE FIRST ANNUAL LJ TEACHING AWARD
Toni Samek, Associate Professor at the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada and someone who I commissioned to write a book for Chandos Publishing, has just won the first annual Library Journal (LJ) Teaching Award, which has been sponsored by ProQuest. The award “…recognizes excellence in educating the next generation of librarians.”
Toni will accept the award at a special reception to be held at the ALA (American Library Association)-midwinter in January 2008 in Philadelphia. The award is particularly in appreciation of Toni’s work on intellectual freedom and social responsibility. Along with the award, there is an LJ cover and feature, and a $5000 prize.
John Berry, who very much likes and admires Toni’s work, contacted and congratulated her personally about her award. John Berry is a very influential figure in the library and information profession. He worked for the Library Journal for 42 years. He semi-retired last year, but continues to write a column for Library Journal as well as giving talks and teaching at the University of Arizona, the Pratt Institute in New York, and Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois.
John Berry’s article about Toni winning this award is in Library Journal, 15th November, 2007 – see http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6497260.html
In his article Berry says that Toni’s work “…goes far beyond the three standard measures of academic performance: teaching, research, and service.” Furthermore, that she aims to bring theory and practice together in her teaching. Toni herself says that “It is very important for library educators to teach both the rhetoric and reality of our field. I like that part of the criteria for this award, about connecting to current issues.” Berry continues this theme saying that Toni’s “…students have studied in the “foundations course” the way homeless people use public libraries, with a focus on the housing crisis in Edmonton.”
Toni has also taught traditional courses in reference and information sources, collection management, electronic reference, and information retrieval. A few years ago, she developed a course called Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility in Librarianship, which was unique in the way it linked the two core values, Berry says.
Berry says that Toni “… has integrated principles, values, and cases from it into her other courses. Her deeply moral, human-centered teaching always employs material from her research and professional service.”
Nominees for the award were judged according to a number of criteria. These included enhancing student-centered thinking in teaching; integrating theory, practice and research; forward thinking and communicating the core principles of librarianship, such as intellectual freedom and valuing the library service. Nominations were open to those that had taught a course at an American Library Association-accredited master’s program since September 2006.
The criteria for the nominations can be found at:
http://libraryjournal.firstlightera.com/EN/Microsites/1/Proquest/LJTeachingAwardCriteria.htm
Further information about the new award can be found at:
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6497265.html
See also: http://www.slis.ualberta.ca/news.cfm?story=69213
The Library Journal (LJ) can be found at: http://www.libraryjournal.com/.
Further information about Toni Samek is in News Updates No. 6, Item 1.
Many congratulations to Toni!!
7. RELAUNCH OF THE FEMINIST LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
I was very interested to receive an email from the Feminist Library in London with the information that they have just re-launched the Feminist Library Newsletter. And they also attached a copy of the newsletter (Newsletter No. 1, October 2007). This is being done in another effort to help to preserve/save the library. The aim is to produce the newsletter quarterly by a volunteer editorial team and will “…include features on a wide range of women’s issues, interviews, book reviews, news of events and activities by women’s groups, and of course updates on the Feminist Library’s own work.”
The newsletter begins by explaining what the Feminist Library is and what the collection consists of. The collection contains approximately 10,000 books, 700 complete and partial sets of periodicals, 1,200 articles and over 2000 pamphlets and ephemera and it is “…recognised as the most significant collection of contemporary feminist material in England” and includes fiction as well as non-fiction material.
The newsletter then goes on to discuss the activities that have taken place in the Feminist Library this year. This includes information about the emergency meeting that I attended in February 2007. Also, how the library was reopened to the public in May 2007, after having been closed for years, only to find that they were then locked out by their landlord, Southwark Council, just two weeks later. But they hope to regain access to the library and to open it to the public again soon.
Other news items included information about the first meeting of a new independent libraries network.
If you would like to receive the newsletter, then please contact one of the Feminist Library Newsletter team requesting this, at feministlibraryappeal@gmail.com.
The new Feminist Library website has also just been launched – see http://www.feministlibrary.co.uk/
See Update No 1, Item 3; No 2, Item 3; No 4, Item 5 and Item 7, No 3. For further information about the Feminist Library in these News Updates.
8. TONY WARD LAUNCHING HIS CRITICAL EDUCATION NEWSLETTER – ‘KIA ORA FROM NEW ZEALAND’
Tony Ward has just started a Critical Education Newsletter, which will be very much welcomed by many, many people, I am sure. The need to think outside of the conformist education box can hardly ever have been greater! The increasing emphasis on skills and employability on many undergraduate courses today, for example, can be quite frightening, I think, and perhaps, in itself, is even helping to create an environment of plagiarism, as the value of real knowledge and research increasingly seems to be undervalued.
Anyway, to return - the popularity of Tony’s website (http://www.tonywardedu.com/) is increasing at an amazing pace – with the statistics showing an increase of about 40% every month, Tony says. And many of the free PDFs are being downloaded (60 of them in all at the moment and more are still being uploaded). Tony says that it has all “…been a wonderful journey!”
The first newsletter includes information about 3 new and extensive articles that have been added to the website recently, one of which is a critical analysis of institutional racism in New Zealand’s High Schools, focusing particularly on the attitudes of teachers to Maori students. There is also information about some new links that Tony has added to the webpage - and this includes a link to our website, ‘The Flow of Ideas’ (thanks very much Tony - and I have also put a link to your website from ours!) and a link to the Critical Pedagogies Working Group at the University of Kingston which I referred to in Update No 20 (Item 7) and Update No. 21 (Item 2). It also includes a number of interesting news items, such as a news item about the United League of Indigenous Nations. Tony Ward explains that: “The Treaty provides an opportunity for First Nations throughout the world to benefit from interaction and cooperation with Indigenous peoples everywhere. It focuses on cooperation amongst Indigenous leadership in the areas of environmental protection and international indigenous trade and commerce.” This sounds like a potential area of interest for me then, with clear links to the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), traditional knowledge and indigenous populations.
If you would like to subscribe to Tony’s newsletter, drop him an email –
tonyward.transform@xtra.co.nz
9. ‘FOR ACCREDITATION, SEE INDOCTRINATION’ BY FRANK FUREDI AND FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FRANK FUREDI
Coming across this article the other day in the Times Higher Education Supplement
was interesting. It was published a couple of years ago (06/05/05) but some of what Frank Furedi said certainly struck a chord with me, as I continue to work towards obtaining this teaching certificate. The sub-title of the article reads ‘Courses in teaching have little to do with producing better lecturers and much to do with learning to conform’.
The article is about the teaching certificate – with the focus being on the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE). There are actually 2 levels of certificate now – the CLTHE and the PGCHE. I am currently studying for the CLTHE - the Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.
Frank Furedi’s opinion is that “…the PGCHE is almost exclusively about socialising academics into the ethos of the audit culture that dominates the campus.” (p.4) He also thinks it is about adopting a certain language – of benchmarking, summative assessments etc. Furthermore, he argues that whilst the courses “…continually go on about the need for reflection and critical thinking, what they offer are models of teaching based on standardisation and homogeneity.” (p.4) I would be interested to know the views of others taking the CLTHE and PGCHE courses! For me, I have found the teaching observations to be the most valuable part of the course. But never-the-less, he thinks that the courses do change us – we use different words and expressions, and more ‘template teaching’.
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FRANK FUREDI
Frank Furedi is Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent. He has published a number of books, and given many, many talks. His book ‘Where have all the intellectuals gone?: confronting 21st century philistinism’, Continuum: London, 2004, for example, is very good, I think. He argues in it that the intellectual is an endangered species, whilst the dumbed-down culture is becoming increasingly dominant.
Frank Furedi was in the Revolutionary Communist Party many years ago, and this was an organisation that also interested Glenn Rikowski and myself at the time. In particular, they published some very good articles with a clear Marxist analysis.
Frank Furedi also gave a keynote speech at the Discourse, Power and Resistance Conference 5 held at Manchester Metropolitan University, 21st-22nd April 2006 that Glenn and I attended. The conference was on the general theme of ‘Research as a Subversive Activity’ – see http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/dpr_06/index.php. Glenn and I also both gave papers at this conference. Glenn Rikowski gave a paper entitled Night Thoughts on the White Paper – details and abstract at:
http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/dpr_06/abstracts/abstract_profile.php?id=10. I gave a paper entitled The Transformation of Services and Intellectual Property Rights into International Tradable Commodities: a Marxist perspective on the GATS and TRIPS – details and abstract at: http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/dpr_06/abstracts/abstract_profile.php?id=70
We (Glenn Rikowski and Ruth Rikowski) also conducted a dialogue on The Business Takeover of Schools and Libraries – details and abstract at: http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/dpr_06/abstracts/abstract_profile.php?id=28
Frank Furedi’s talk at the conference was about ‘Vulnerability’ – which we found interesting and inspiring and found ourselves agreeing with much of it. That was an enlightening experience in itself – we have all moved on from RCP-type politics, in various ways, and yet something about our ways of thinking still seemed to resonate sharply. He was arguing that we are encouraged to feel vulnerable in society today in various ways, and that that was weakening us. Trade Unions traditionally in the past, on the other hand, encouraged workers to feel strong and proud of themselves, and with plenty of drive to ‘fight back’. But today, ordinary people are not encouraged to feel strong and confident in the same way – instead, when people face difficulties in life they are more encouraged to feel weak, vulnerable and dependent. I very much agreed with him, and I think this is quite unhealthy for society at large.
Frank Furedi is certainly a real and significant figure - both politically and academically. He is also someone that has very much a voice and a mind of his own and encourages others to ‘think outside the box’.
http://libraryjournal.firstlightera.com/EN/Microsites/1/Proquest/LJTeachingAwardCriteria.htm
Further information about the new award can be found at:
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6497265.html
See also: http://www.slis.ualberta.ca/news.cfm?story=69213
The Library Journal (LJ) can be found at: http://www.libraryjournal.com/.
Further information about Toni Samek is in News Updates No. 6, Item 1.
Many congratulations to Toni!!
7. RELAUNCH OF THE FEMINIST LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
I was very interested to receive an email from the Feminist Library in London with the information that they have just re-launched the Feminist Library Newsletter. And they also attached a copy of the newsletter (Newsletter No. 1, October 2007). This is being done in another effort to help to preserve/save the library. The aim is to produce the newsletter quarterly by a volunteer editorial team and will “…include features on a wide range of women’s issues, interviews, book reviews, news of events and activities by women’s groups, and of course updates on the Feminist Library’s own work.”
The newsletter begins by explaining what the Feminist Library is and what the collection consists of. The collection contains approximately 10,000 books, 700 complete and partial sets of periodicals, 1,200 articles and over 2000 pamphlets and ephemera and it is “…recognised as the most significant collection of contemporary feminist material in England” and includes fiction as well as non-fiction material.
The newsletter then goes on to discuss the activities that have taken place in the Feminist Library this year. This includes information about the emergency meeting that I attended in February 2007. Also, how the library was reopened to the public in May 2007, after having been closed for years, only to find that they were then locked out by their landlord, Southwark Council, just two weeks later. But they hope to regain access to the library and to open it to the public again soon.
Other news items included information about the first meeting of a new independent libraries network.
If you would like to receive the newsletter, then please contact one of the Feminist Library Newsletter team requesting this, at feministlibraryappeal@gmail.com.
The new Feminist Library website has also just been launched – see http://www.feministlibrary.co.uk/
See Update No 1, Item 3; No 2, Item 3; No 4, Item 5 and Item 7, No 3. For further information about the Feminist Library in these News Updates.
8. TONY WARD LAUNCHING HIS CRITICAL EDUCATION NEWSLETTER – ‘KIA ORA FROM NEW ZEALAND’
Tony Ward has just started a Critical Education Newsletter, which will be very much welcomed by many, many people, I am sure. The need to think outside of the conformist education box can hardly ever have been greater! The increasing emphasis on skills and employability on many undergraduate courses today, for example, can be quite frightening, I think, and perhaps, in itself, is even helping to create an environment of plagiarism, as the value of real knowledge and research increasingly seems to be undervalued.
Anyway, to return - the popularity of Tony’s website (http://www.tonywardedu.com/) is increasing at an amazing pace – with the statistics showing an increase of about 40% every month, Tony says. And many of the free PDFs are being downloaded (60 of them in all at the moment and more are still being uploaded). Tony says that it has all “…been a wonderful journey!”
The first newsletter includes information about 3 new and extensive articles that have been added to the website recently, one of which is a critical analysis of institutional racism in New Zealand’s High Schools, focusing particularly on the attitudes of teachers to Maori students. There is also information about some new links that Tony has added to the webpage - and this includes a link to our website, ‘The Flow of Ideas’ (thanks very much Tony - and I have also put a link to your website from ours!) and a link to the Critical Pedagogies Working Group at the University of Kingston which I referred to in Update No 20 (Item 7) and Update No. 21 (Item 2). It also includes a number of interesting news items, such as a news item about the United League of Indigenous Nations. Tony Ward explains that: “The Treaty provides an opportunity for First Nations throughout the world to benefit from interaction and cooperation with Indigenous peoples everywhere. It focuses on cooperation amongst Indigenous leadership in the areas of environmental protection and international indigenous trade and commerce.” This sounds like a potential area of interest for me then, with clear links to the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), traditional knowledge and indigenous populations.
If you would like to subscribe to Tony’s newsletter, drop him an email –
tonyward.transform@xtra.co.nz
9. ‘FOR ACCREDITATION, SEE INDOCTRINATION’ BY FRANK FUREDI AND FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FRANK FUREDI
Coming across this article the other day in the Times Higher Education Supplement
was interesting. It was published a couple of years ago (06/05/05) but some of what Frank Furedi said certainly struck a chord with me, as I continue to work towards obtaining this teaching certificate. The sub-title of the article reads ‘Courses in teaching have little to do with producing better lecturers and much to do with learning to conform’.
The article is about the teaching certificate – with the focus being on the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE). There are actually 2 levels of certificate now – the CLTHE and the PGCHE. I am currently studying for the CLTHE - the Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.
Frank Furedi’s opinion is that “…the PGCHE is almost exclusively about socialising academics into the ethos of the audit culture that dominates the campus.” (p.4) He also thinks it is about adopting a certain language – of benchmarking, summative assessments etc. Furthermore, he argues that whilst the courses “…continually go on about the need for reflection and critical thinking, what they offer are models of teaching based on standardisation and homogeneity.” (p.4) I would be interested to know the views of others taking the CLTHE and PGCHE courses! For me, I have found the teaching observations to be the most valuable part of the course. But never-the-less, he thinks that the courses do change us – we use different words and expressions, and more ‘template teaching’.
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FRANK FUREDI
Frank Furedi is Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent. He has published a number of books, and given many, many talks. His book ‘Where have all the intellectuals gone?: confronting 21st century philistinism’, Continuum: London, 2004, for example, is very good, I think. He argues in it that the intellectual is an endangered species, whilst the dumbed-down culture is becoming increasingly dominant.
Frank Furedi was in the Revolutionary Communist Party many years ago, and this was an organisation that also interested Glenn Rikowski and myself at the time. In particular, they published some very good articles with a clear Marxist analysis.
Frank Furedi also gave a keynote speech at the Discourse, Power and Resistance Conference 5 held at Manchester Metropolitan University, 21st-22nd April 2006 that Glenn and I attended. The conference was on the general theme of ‘Research as a Subversive Activity’ – see http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/dpr_06/index.php. Glenn and I also both gave papers at this conference. Glenn Rikowski gave a paper entitled Night Thoughts on the White Paper – details and abstract at:
http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/dpr_06/abstracts/abstract_profile.php?id=10. I gave a paper entitled The Transformation of Services and Intellectual Property Rights into International Tradable Commodities: a Marxist perspective on the GATS and TRIPS – details and abstract at: http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/dpr_06/abstracts/abstract_profile.php?id=70
We (Glenn Rikowski and Ruth Rikowski) also conducted a dialogue on The Business Takeover of Schools and Libraries – details and abstract at: http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/dpr_06/abstracts/abstract_profile.php?id=28
Frank Furedi’s talk at the conference was about ‘Vulnerability’ – which we found interesting and inspiring and found ourselves agreeing with much of it. That was an enlightening experience in itself – we have all moved on from RCP-type politics, in various ways, and yet something about our ways of thinking still seemed to resonate sharply. He was arguing that we are encouraged to feel vulnerable in society today in various ways, and that that was weakening us. Trade Unions traditionally in the past, on the other hand, encouraged workers to feel strong and proud of themselves, and with plenty of drive to ‘fight back’. But today, ordinary people are not encouraged to feel strong and confident in the same way – instead, when people face difficulties in life they are more encouraged to feel weak, vulnerable and dependent. I very much agreed with him, and I think this is quite unhealthy for society at large.
Frank Furedi is certainly a real and significant figure - both politically and academically. He is also someone that has very much a voice and a mind of his own and encourages others to ‘think outside the box’.
10. INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE THROUGH EDUCATION: MEDITERRANEAN COMPARATIVE EDUCATION (MESCE) CONFERENCE IN MALTA, 11TH-13 MAY 2008 - www.educ.um.edu.mt/mesce.
The Third Mediterranean Society of Comparative Education (MESCE) was formed in 2004 and it is having its 3rd Conference in Malta in 2008. Prior to this MESCE hosted the World Council of Comparative Education Societies conference, which was held at the University of Sarajevo in September 2007. And in 2006 the MESCE conference took place at Alexandrian Library in Alexandria, Egypt.
The organizers hope to attract papers from various parts of the Mediterranean, both North-South and East-West and “It is the intention of the organizers and the MESCE Executive Board to provide an important opportunity, through this meeting, for fostering dialogues among cultures and to firmly establish MESCE as an important regional society in the ever burgeoning Comparative Education field.”
Malta is described as “… an ideal location for an exchange of ideas and research concerning education issues that are making their presence felt in this region, although the conference will also welcome discussions of issues that emerge from beyond the Mediterranean basin.”
There will be two broad conference themes - intercultural dialogue within and across nations and education in the Mediterranean and the official language of the conference is English.
There will be two broad conference themes - intercultural dialogue within and across nations and education in the Mediterranean and the official language of the conference is English.
Thanks to Peter Mayo for informing me about this and if you are interested in participating in this conference, do have a look at the website!
11. WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY LATEST NEWS: THE THREAT DEEPENS!
The latest news about the threat posed to the William Morris Gallery and the Vestry House Local History Museum, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, (which I referred to in News Updates No.7, Item 1 and No. 10, No 2) has been reported in the Green Party Trade Union Group Blog (29/11/07), which can be found at http://gptublog.blogspot.com/
The latest news about the threat posed to the William Morris Gallery and the Vestry House Local History Museum, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, (which I referred to in News Updates No.7, Item 1 and No. 10, No 2) has been reported in the Green Party Trade Union Group Blog (29/11/07), which can be found at http://gptublog.blogspot.com/
In this news item it says that as from 6th December “…there will be no-one at the gallery with the knowledge or experience to safeguard the collection or to help visitors.” Recently, professional, experienced and knowledgeable members of staff have been lost – in particular, the curator. There will be a new team to join the gallery but they do not appear to have long term contracts. Furthermore, the whole collection has not been catalogued, thereby putting the collection at even further risk.
As from January 2008, the William Morris Gallery and Vestry House Museum will only be open part-time. The article makes the point that this is likely to decrease the chances of obtaining funding, as funding is assessed on access criteria. Staff have been told to do all they can to book up events on Sundays from January, in order to boost visitor numbers and encourage usage. But, the article says that these same people have suffered stress, through job insecurity, colleagues losing their jobs, others having to go part-time etc. In addition they do not now have the support and knowledge of more experienced and qualified staff.
There is a petition to protest about what is happening to the Gallery at www.petitiononline.com/savewmg, which I hope that you will feel able to sign. I have just signed it myself, and there are now over 11,000 signatures. As I say in my comment in my petition signature, perhaps George Orwell’s predictions in his novel ‘1984’ are proving to be more right than we have realised, as we continually face loses to our culture, our sense of history, and our historical documents and resources. On the other hand, perhaps, the ‘Nothing’ (in the film the ‘Never Ending Story’) is in danger of taking over and the group ‘Porcupine Tree’s’ ‘Fear of a Blank Planet’ (this being their latest album) are indeed real!
Those involved with the campaign think that the council’s stated aim to save £56,000 by this restructuring and part-time service will not be achieved. They make the point that the council have spent money employing outside consultants – money which could have been spent on trying to safeguard the gallery and museum and keeping the experienced staff in post. They suggest that the gallery could generate further income in other ways, such as by advertising the service more and having more special exhibitions. In their view, the collection is in “extreme danger”. They are firmly of the opinion that “The reduction in investment and opening-hours will run the service down further, and this will eventually lead to the redundancy of the gallery.”
The news item suggests other ways in which we can help. In particular, to write to the people on this page: www.keepourmuseumopen.org.up/?page_id=62. It suggests we call for the reinstatement of Peter Cormack, the Keeper and Curator, for example, and encourage Waltham Forest Council to open the galleries full-time again.
Those involved with the campaign think that the council’s stated aim to save £56,000 by this restructuring and part-time service will not be achieved. They make the point that the council have spent money employing outside consultants – money which could have been spent on trying to safeguard the gallery and museum and keeping the experienced staff in post. They suggest that the gallery could generate further income in other ways, such as by advertising the service more and having more special exhibitions. In their view, the collection is in “extreme danger”. They are firmly of the opinion that “The reduction in investment and opening-hours will run the service down further, and this will eventually lead to the redundancy of the gallery.”
The news item suggests other ways in which we can help. In particular, to write to the people on this page: www.keepourmuseumopen.org.up/?page_id=62. It suggests we call for the reinstatement of Peter Cormack, the Keeper and Curator, for example, and encourage Waltham Forest Council to open the galleries full-time again.
Finally, here is news of 2 musical events in London this week (apologies for the short notice):
12. RAM JAM REBETIKO CONCERT AT SOAS – REBEL MUSIC OF GREECE
There will be a concert by the SOAS Ad Hoc Rebetiko Band on:
Friday 7th December 2007 at 7.30pm, inSOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), University of London,
Main Building, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1, in Room G2
[Nearest tubes: Russell Square or Goodge St]
REBETIKO is the rebel music of Greece – music of the underworld. It is the urban blues of the old port areas of Greece and it includes songs of prison, hashish, love, emigration and desperation. There is also more than a hint of Sufi in its modes and musics and there is Soul stuff in 9/8 rhythms.
The concert will be followed by a party/jam session afterwards in the Students Union Bar, at 8.30pm. Food and drinks at the bar.ADMISSION: Free. There will be a bucket collection for expenses.For further information see the Rebetiko website at www.geocities.com/rebetology
For further details contact: ed.emery@soas.ac.uk
13. SECOND CHANCE CHOIR, BLACKHEATH WINTER CONCERT, 6th DECEMBER
The Second Chance Choir, that I am a member of, will be holding its special Winter Concert at St Michaels Church, Blackheath, South London (on the corner of Blackheath Park and Pond Road) on Thursday 6th December 2007, at 8pm. Admission is free and there will be food and drink to follow. Everyone is welcome.
Many thanks to Gwenda Sippings, Toni Samek, Una Byrne, Tony Ward, Peter Mayo Philip Booth and Les Levidow for providing information for items 1, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 respectively.
Best
Ruth
4th December 2007
13. SECOND CHANCE CHOIR, BLACKHEATH WINTER CONCERT, 6th DECEMBER
The Second Chance Choir, that I am a member of, will be holding its special Winter Concert at St Michaels Church, Blackheath, South London (on the corner of Blackheath Park and Pond Road) on Thursday 6th December 2007, at 8pm. Admission is free and there will be food and drink to follow. Everyone is welcome.
Many thanks to Gwenda Sippings, Toni Samek, Una Byrne, Tony Ward, Peter Mayo Philip Booth and Les Levidow for providing information for items 1, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 respectively.
Best
Ruth
4th December 2007
