The challenge continues and more people have joined #blogeverydayofjune. Thirty at last count. This tweet pretty much sums up the feelings of those participating:

bonitoclub RT @nomesd Does anyone else find that all they’re doing now is reading blogs? #blogeverydayofjune <– yes, but it’s great fun!

Those of us participating in this challenge are not necessarily blogging on professional topics. Of those that aren’t – do you feel constrained in anyway not to speak out on professional topics? I am not saying that you should professionally blog- just wondering if perceptions of risk to career colour that choice. Of those that do post on professional topics- have you ever felt it threatened your career?

Of those taking part in the challenge most work in the information industry. Many of the blogs are personal in nature such as SkinniBitch who is sharing her weight loss journey and FromMelbin who has blogged about grief. There are those who started off with purely professional blogs like Creative Circ who says in her comment on Suelibrarian’s post:

I thought I would #blogeverydayinjune on professional topics, and have found it very exciting to be discussing circulation again. It’s not a hot topic with my peers : – ) However as I read everyone else’s topics I wanted to get more into my own thoughts and discussions.

Being a part of this challenge has made many question their digital identity and reputation management. As a blogger you may decide to have separate identities or not, the decision is yours and it will depend on many factors including your workplace social media policies (if they have one).  Whatever you decide authenticity and having your own voice is important.

However, from all the posts I have read over the last four days I can say the following:

1. The profession is full of many terrific, articulate and thoughtful writers.
2. People who work in libraries are a diverse bunch with many different passions – from  kitchen appliances to retro art/collecting.
3. Blogging for 30 days straight is a real challenge and;
4. Reading 30 blogs a day is time-consuming but fun!

Due to popular demand, we are doing it all over again!  Some of the Libraries Interact team will be in Melbourne for the VALA 2010 conference and are getting together for dinner. We are keen to catch up with each other and with you, our fellow blog readers, bloggers and tweeters..

So it is with great pleasure that the team from Libraries Interact invite you all to share dinner with us on Monday 8th February from 6.30pm. (night before first day of conference). (Thanks to Sue for her twitter poll which settled the weighty issue of when)

We will be enjoying fine food, great scenery and awesome company at Berth at Melbourne’s Docklands. (45 New Quay Promenade Tel: +9670 0199) Resting right over the water at Docklands, Berth comes recommended to me by my sister. The menu looks good, with hopefully enough to suit all tastes and dietary requirements.

For those visiting our fine city or locals wanting to get in early, feel free to meet us at 5.45pm (after both Boot Camp and LPlate have finished) at the VALA registration desk at the Melbourne Convention Centre. We will work our way down to Docklands, using the free City Circle Tram and our feet! (City Circle tram finishes running at 6pm – hence the rush) For those wanting to make their own way there, here’s the map.

And most importantly, please let me know if you are coming, so that I can ensure that everyone gets a seat. Email me at tango65 at gmail dot com by Friday 5th February.

We would love to have you join us!

It’s amazing how fast a 3 day conference can come and go. VALA 2008 is finished and we are looking forward to VALA 2010 in the new Melbourne Convention Centre, being built just across the river from the existing site.

But for the wrap-ups. Kathryn and Con did a great job presenting on Libraries Interact in their presentation “Libraries Interact: collaboration and community in the Australian library blogosphere”. Thanks and kudos also to Fiona who co-wrote the paper with them, but was unable to attend due to a new exciting secondment.  We will be linking to the Libraries Interact slides and paper at the VALA website, as they become available.

So if you are reading this after having been introduced to Libraries Interact by their presentation – then Welcome to Libraries Interact!

Both the full papers from the whole three days, including plenary sessions, as well as the podcasts will be available from the VALA website – we were told, by the end of February. So if you find the blog posts below of interest, I would highly recommend you go and read the papers or listen to the podcasts when they become available.

As for the bloggers – I have found the following have blogged on VALA, so to get a bird eye’s view of the proceedings, check out:

Innovate

Librarians Matter

Ruminations

Connecting Librarian

Red Dirt Librarian

If you know of any others, please leave a comment here and we will add them to the list.

It was a great conference, the speakers were excellent, as was the organisation – I know I learned a lot.

A few of the Libraries Interact team will be in Melbourne for the VALA 2008 conference from 5th to 7th February and are getting together for dinner. We are keen to catch up with each other and with fellow bloggers and Libraries Interact readers.

So it is with great pleasure that the team from Libraries Interact invite all library bloggers and blog readers to join the Libraries Interact team for dinner during VALA – our first “Australian Library Bloggers Dinner”!

So as not to clash with the myriad of other evening events happening during VALA, our “Australian Library Bloggers Dinner will be held on Monday 4th February from 6.30pm. (night before first day of conference)

We will be enjoying fine food, great scenery and awesome company at Bhoj Indian Restaurant at Melbourne’s Docklands. (54 Promenade, Newquay Tel: +9600 0884) The menu is varied and vegan/vegetarian friendly. Bhoj won The Age Good Food Guide award for Best Indian Restaurant in 2004 and 2005.

For those visiting our fine city or locals wanting to get in early, feel free to meet us at 5.30pm at the VALA registration desk at the Melbourne Convention Centre and we will work our way down to Bhoj at Docklands, using the free City Circle Tram and our feet! (City Circle tram finishes running at 6pm – hence the rush) For those wanting to make their own way there, here’s the map.

(Melways Map 2E, Ref E4)

And most importantly, please let me know if you are coming, so that I can ensure that everyone gets a seat. Email me at tango65 at gmail dot com by Sunday 3rd February.

We would love to have you join us!