Using Coggle as a mind-mapping tool

Have you discovered Coggle? It is a tool you can use for mind-mapping, planning or any other activity you think it might benefit you. There is a really useful introductory video (under 2 minutes!) which demonstrates what a Coggle map can look like and how to use it.

As a visual learner I really like using mind-maps as it helps me to express ideas, thoughts or plans in a visual way. It helps me articulate and see the whole picture, and I enjoy creating them! What I like about Coggle is that I found it easy to use, it automatically includes a range of colours, but you can also change the layout or colours if you wish. Like many web tools, you can create a free account or pay for more features.

I have used mind-maps to help inform decisions for planning a house move, my wedding, house jobs and use them a lot in my teaching to demonstrate to students tools they may find useful when planning assignments. Below is a mind-map I created for a recent teaching session - click on the image to view a full size image which will give you an idea of potential layout/colour.

If you haven't used mind-maps or Coggle before, I encourage you to give it a go!

Suzie Williams
Academic Liaison Librarian, University of Sunderland

Presidential Debate - Divided we fall: Are public libraries a national network or a local service?

We're sponsoring the second Presidential Debate webinar which asks whether public libraries are a national network or a local service.

Public libraries have a transformative impact on the daily lives of millions of people as ‘civic infrastructure’ in communities across the UK. As policy and funding become more fragmented, however, the idea of a ‘national public library network’ is coming increasingly under pressure.

In this second in our series of ‘Presidential Debates’, CILIP President Paul Corney will invite a panel of speakers including award-winning journalist and author Kate Thompson to explore the question “Are public libraries a national network or a local service?”.

The debate will be of interest to library leaders and staff, library users and supporters and people involved in decision-making roles in Local and Central Government.

This webinar is free and you can book your place now. 

Click here to learn more about this event and book your place 

Beyond the Horizon Conference May 2021 Schedule

If you've signed up for the CILIP NE 'Beyond the Horizon' conference on Monday 17th May we're really looking forward to seeing you there.

We'll be sending out the joining instructions by email in the next couple of days. In the meantime we're delighted to share the schedule for the afternoon.

Beyond the Horizon Conference Schedule

13:00 - 13:10	Introduction and welcome
13:10 - 13:40	Keynote Changing Times - Changing Libraries: Partnerships in Practice Liz Jolly, Chief Librarian - The British Library
13:40 - 14:00	Short paper Search strategies, when is "enough" enough? Hannah O'Keefe, Information Specialist - Newcastle University
14:00 - 14:20	Short Paper Articulating teaching and learning partnerships and illustrating skills Anne Archer and Louise Cowan, Assistant Liaison Librarians - Newcastle University
14:20 - 14:30	Break
14:30 - 14:35	Lightning Talk Working with the brand-new School of Medicine at the University of Sunderland Cheryl Francis, Academic Liaison Librarian (Medical School) - University of Sunderland
14:35 - 14:55	Short Paper Knowledge: the invisible weapon in a pandemic Vasanthi Elder, Knowledge Manager - NHS England and Improvement/ Northumbria
14:55 - 15:15	Short Paper The impact of Covid-19 on two NHS health libraries Sarah Abernethy, Deputy LKS Manager - Northumbria Healthcare NHS Jackie McGuire, LKS Lead - Northumbria Healthcare NHS Suzanne Wilson,, Head of Library and Knowledge Services - Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
15:15 - 15:20	Lightning Talk Similarities and differences between database search strategies and computer programming: why information specialists should consider upskilling Hannah O'Keefe, Information Specialist - Newcastle University
15:20 - 15:30	Break
15:30 - 15:50	Short Paper Horizon scanning for new therapeutics in a pandemic: the use of pre-print repositories for signal identification Sonia Garcia Gonzalez-Moral, Innovation Observatory Research Fellow - National Institute for Healthcare Research
15:50 - 16:10	Short Paper Build where the students are - Embedding library skills in a virtual space Suzie Williams and Hilary Oakley, Academic Liaison Librarians - University of Sunderland
16:10 - 16:20	Closing remarks