This document discusses the importance of continuing professional development (CPD) for information professionals. CPD involves constantly updating skills and knowledge to improve competency in a changing information environment. It is vital for new professionals transitioning from school to work. While CPD is important, there are barriers like funding that can make it difficult. The document provides tips for overcoming barriers like negotiating funding and doing CPD on a budget. Suggestions for CPD activities include reading professional literature, participating in professional organizations, job shadowing, attending virtual events, and applying for awards.

1. Taking Charge of your Continuing Professional Development Laura Woods Information Assistant Davies Arnold Cooper

2. What is CPD? “...the conscious updating of professional knowledge and the improvement of professional competence...a commitment to being professional, keeping up-to-date and constantly seeking to improve” (Wikipedia, May 2010)

3. Why is CPD important? It’s not your grandmother’s library The nature of information is changing

4. CPD is vital for new professionals Moving from academia to the “real world” Finding your first professional level post

5. Barriers to keeping up with CPD

6. Tips for negotiating funding What’s in it for them? Share and share alike

7. CPD on a budget

8. Professional literature Professional journals http://www.cilip.org.uk/membership/benefits/informed/online-databases/Pages/default.aspx Library and librarian blogs http://uklibraryblogs.pbworks.com/

9. “If you put five librarians in a room, within three hours you'll get at least three associations, five committees, six meetings, and one manifesto” – Stephen Abram Professional Bodies

10. Job shadowing and visits to other libraries Build links within your department Learn how other libraries in your sector deal with the same issues Learn what issues affect libraries in other sectors

11. But all the good events are in... London America any place I don’t live! Attending events virtually

12. Awards and bursaries Apply for everything! https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=LIS-AWARDS

13. Seize the initiative!

14. Image sources http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ladder_to_sky_Escalera_al_cielo_Stairway_to_heaven.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/gingerblokey/2004212238/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/yubacollege/3722717308/ http://flickr.com/photos/beckzaidan/1165934870/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracy_olson/61056391/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonivc/2283676770/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidan_jones/3575000735/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/swimparallel/3174754333/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/diylibrarian/1403798100/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/60588258@N00/3293465641/ http://www.jocelynmathewes.com/blog/2010/01/me_and_my_shadow.html http://si.smugmug.com/gallery/1674201/1/82075104_EFjHo#82075104_EFjHo http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2293239853/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dip108/388012741/