Contact
Email/Gtalk: nkl.osborne@gmail.com
Skype: nkl.osborne
Education
2008 - present University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
MSc e-Learning
Part time study whilst working. Current modules: An Introduction to Digital Environments for Learning
1999 – 2002 University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
BSc Science (General)
Full time study with 2 years of Mechanical Engineering & Management
courses and a further year of tailored classes including Marketing, Economic
& Political Geography, Circuits & Software, European Cinema.
1998 – 1999 Pershore & Hindlip College, Worcestershire (now part of Warwickshire college).
NEBS Management: Introduction to Supervisory
Management Certificate
Part-time, work-based projects and final assessments completed whilst
taking a “Year in Industry” at BP Chemicals Ltd.
1991 – 1998 Howells School Llandaff, Cardiff.
A-Levels: A, B, B (Art, Maths, Physics)
GCSES: 7 A’s (Art, Dual Award Science, English Language,
English Literature, French, Maths)
2 B’s (History, Latin)
Personal Profile
Flexible and highly motivated “people person” always seeking new opportunities to use my initiative and work to the very best of my ability by continually expanding and developing an already diverse skill set. A fast learner with innovative ideas and an aptitude and real passion for technology I enjoy developing and sharing ideas and taking an active part in training work. At ease working alone I am also passionate about team work and collaboration. I enjoy managing my own and other’s time and relish the chance to take on new responsibilities and put new ideas into practice.
Computer Skills
Extensive experience with: Endeavor Voyager (Acquisitions, Cataloguing and Circulation modules); Ms Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Outlook. Practical experience of researching particularly using electronic journals, databases, citation indexes and search engines. Basic experience with Mac and Unix-bases systems. Self-taught HTML skills (which I am eager to develop further and limited C-programming experience.
Find me on the web
Work Experience
SUNCAT Project, EDINA
July 2005- present (on full time secondment to this job from August 2005 – July 2007. On full time contract from 1st August 2007)
SUNCAT is the Serials Union Catalogue for the United Kingdom providing information on serials holdings in libraries across the UK, particularly the holdings of academic and specialist libraries. The project is funded by JISC.
Position Held: SUNCAT Assistant Project Officer. Part of the 6 person team delivering the SUNCAT union catalogue. Core role involves the conversion of catalogue records.
Responsibilities: Conversion of catalogue records from various other cataloguing and database formats into MARC21 format using Ex-Libris’ Aleph 500 software, Perl and UNIX scripting. Alongside other members of the bibliographic team: checking of catalogue record conversions and contributing to the creation of data specifications, documentation and communication with contributing libraries; creating and updating of documentation; contributing, commenting on and testing of software developments and development specifications; reporting and discussing queries and problems to our software partner/provider and attending associated AUG-UKI (Aleph User Group – UK and Ireland) meetings; preparing reports and presentations for internal and external events and meetings ; contributing towards and assisting with the distribution of training materials. Personal responsibilities within the team: Managing the team wiki; developing contacts in other union catalogues (including work towards joint projects with organisations such as OCLA PICA) and moderating and maintaining a mailing list for other union catalogues.
Achievements:
2008: Played key role in set up of the SUNCAT blog, assisting in the set up process, creating a step by step guide to usage for other members of the team and beginning an ongoing role as a co-administrator of the blog. After creating and maintaining a profile and page for the project on Facebook I researched, lobbied for and set up a basic SUNCAT Facebook Application with assistance from the SUNCAT systems engineer. The application is likely to be released to Facebook in February 2008.
2007: Creation of an automatic updating script (May 2007) to remove many of the human steps from converting regular monthly files of new and updated catalogue records. The script has significantly reduced the amount of human effort required to convert update files and has also standardised the way in which such processes are called and referenced. The script is fully documented and commented to ensure edit-ability in the future and was written in self-taught C-Shell UNIX scripting. The script has successfully been edited and applied to 13 libraries so far.
Creation and development of a team wiki (using the free PBWiki service) to encourage more co-operatively written and more extensive documentation, particularly of more technical processes, and to allow for definitive version control of documents. The wiki has recently been approved as the sole location of team minutes due to the flexibility of access and formatting, good quality backup processes and the platform independence of the wiki.
2006: Researching and collating an extensive report on union catalogues throughout the world to compare approaches and coverage with that of SUNCAT and with a view to developing contact with those catalogues where mutual exchange of information would be beneficial. This internal report led to a substantial re-edit of those services linked to by the SUNCAT website and a subsequent round of emails to other union catalogues many of which opted to join an email discussion list which I manage for SUNCAT. This work also led to my involvement in co-authoring an article for NRIN (see below) and has led to a newly formed working relationship with OCLC-PICA which will see an exchange of information and collaboration on research projects. (July 2006)
Co-authoring of an article (November 2006) published in early 2007 in the New Review of Information Networking:
Burnhill, Peter, Fred Guy and Nicola Osborne. 2006. Scholarly Communication and National Union Catalogues: a Strategic Role for SUNCAT in the UK Information Environment. New Review of Information Networking. 12(1):1-21. This is a preprint of an article whose final and definitive form has been published in the New Review of Information Networking © 2006 copyright Taylor & Francis; New Review of Information Networking is available online at: Article in the New Review of Information
Recent Courses attended:
MARC21 (Machine-Readable Cataloguing) – beginners and advanced courses, (2 days) August 2005
LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings) – introductory course, (1 day) August 2005
Unix 1, 2 and 3 (UNIX Scripting) - Edinburgh University Computing Services Courses offering introductions to UNIX and UNIX scripting, (three 1 day courses) various dates, 2007
Perl Scripting – Edinburgh University Computing Services Course offering an introduction to Perl Scripting, (1 day) Spring 2007
Other Professional Interests & additional roles in this post:
Member, EDINA 5 Third Party Websites Group – investigating the promotion and interoperability of the EDINA website and third party websites. I contributed to group meetings and produced a substantial appendix on possible Web 2.0 type approaches.
Member, ELISA E-Content Group – this group is planning a portal of digitised material held in libraries and information services across Edinburgh. My role is largely to investigate and share technical expertise although I also drafted the initial business plan for the group and have contributed to grant and lottery funding applications. Currently I am involved in setting up and testing a pilot service using the Webfeat federated search application.
Co-Administrator, EDINA Facebook Group – as an early supporter of Facebook within the organisation I was asked to assist with the administration of the EDINA Facebook group.
Edinburgh University Library
Jan 2003 – 31st July 2007 (on full-time secondment from this job from August 2005)
Edinburgh University Library provides academic support and computing facilities to approx. 20, 000 students across several city-centre campuses.
Position Held: Library assistant (monographs). Part of 15 person team reporting to Acquisitions Team Leader. Core role involves processing orders and invoices for monograph titles requested by academic staff. Until Jan. 2005 this role was combined equally with a role on the serials team.
Responsibilities: Specific and unique responsibility for Law material including serials subscriptions. Monograph ordering/invoicing work including responsibility for large sums of money and changes to live public catalogue: regular manning of customer enquiry points; project work (de-accessioning, software testing); informal departmental expert on IT and VHS/DVD technical & rights issues; member of library Collections Policy Review Group (as of Feb. 2005).
Achievements: In 2004: Originating and updating Missing Issues training/reference documentation; training and supervising 3 student helpers to conduct complex medical journal binding (summer 2004); identifying a bulk 60% journal discount through Project Muse saving the library several thousand pounds each subscription year from 2005 (Nov. 2004); co-writing/presenting staff development session in collaboration with Acquisitions Team Leader (Oct. 2004); originating and developing departmental FAQ on DVD/VHS legal and technical issues (Jan 2005); training bibliographic services staff on use of e-diaries (Feb 2005).
Courses attended:
Electronic Collections and the Future of Libraries" - David Rosenthal, LOCKSS (Feb 2005)
Freedom of Information and Records Management Awareness Sessions: Introducing FoI; Dealing with FoI requests; Records Management (all Nov/Dec 2004).
Fire Safety (Sept. 2004)
Holland House Microlab, Pollock Halls of Residence
Nov 2001 - present
Located at the heart of Edinburgh University’s main accommodation for new students, the Holland house lab provides approx. 80 PCs and 20 Macs for use by students living on site. The building is shared with the Rutherford Library (recreational lending library) and a music room.
Position Held: Microlab Supervisor Assistant (part-time), part of a team of approx. 10 assistants all working part-time unsupervised shifts supporting the normal office hours of the Microlab Supervisor.
Responsibilities: Answering highly varied enquiries; handling loans and returns of library materials, registering new memberships and basic maintenance of the Rutherford Library; key handling for squash courts/music rooms; fire safety and security responsibilities for the microlab building.
Achievements: Establishing a new DVD collection for the library on the request of the supervisor. I was able to spend a small budget strategically to obtain a high volume of quality material with broad appeal. The collection is very popular and is now self-funding and growing rapidly.
IOFilm.co.uk and FilmShops.Com
July 2000 – Sept. 2001
IOFilm (formerly known as InsideOut.co.uk)is an Edinburgh-based film website with a large team of unpaid reviewers and writers. Filmshops.com was a commercial offshoot company formed in autumn 2000.
Position Held: Administrative assistant/journalist & company director (Filmshops.com only).
Responsibilities: Co-ordinating work/schedules of journalist team during the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Developing the Filmshops.com business plan, providing input for site and database design, liaison with city business associations, banks, accountants, etc. to establish the business.
Achievements: Successful submission of business plan to Edinburgh Small Business Gateway’s new technology grant programme. Negotiating free preview & competition discs from film distributors. Attracting approx. £1600 worth of site advertising.
Examples of Film & Arts writing
- IOfilm (1 DVD review only) - writing as Nic O.
- EyeforFilm (break-off site now housing archived IOfilm content) - writing as Nic O and Nicola Osborne.
- BFFS Scotland (see Reviewer Column for list of reviews, other writing, as editor, across the BFFS Scotland site is uncredited
- EdinburghGuide.com - various Edinburgh Fringe Festival reviews from 2000-2002
- Edinburgh University Film Society - various reviews from 1999 onwards used for programme booklets and website.
- ItchyEdinburgh - writing from 2001-3 for Edinburgh guidebook and website, paper and electronic archive copies available on request.
- Fest - film writing and reviewing for this Edinburgh Festival newspaper in 2002/03, paper and electronic archive copies available on request.
BP Chemicals Ltd., Baglan Bay Works.
Aug. 1998 – Sept. 1999
BP Chemicals is one of the four major worldwide BP businesses.
Position Held: Assistant Engineer, Year 2000 team reporting to the Team Leader. Unique role created to assist special project team evaluating BP Baglan Bay’s “Year 2000 Compliance” and minimising any potential safety, operational or economic implications of the “Millennium Bug”.
Responsibilities: Extensive support work for team of 10: daily research on best practice & current issues; distribution of key information; information sharing with other BP sites; obtaining and disseminating technical information; maintaining records; liaising with suppliers;
Achievements: Participation in the Sept. 1999 site-wide internal audit which commended the site’s progress and specifically commented on my input by declaring, in a formal presentation to the team and site management that: “Every team should have a Nicola!”
General Interests
Cinema: Passionate about film, I currently hold the post of Information Officer for BFFS Scotland writing twice-yearly newsletters and editing www.bffsscotland.org.uk as part of the group’s work supporting Scottish Film Societies. Belly Dance: In 2004 I began belly dance classes and love combining great music and self-expression with elegant exercise. I am current temporary treasurer of the Edinburgh University African & Arabic Dance Society preparing their accounts for audit/grant applications. Journalism: As well as reviewing for the Edinburgh University Film Society (of which I am an elected Life Member & former Vice-President) I have written and reviewed extensively in print and online media including Itchy Edinburgh, edinburghguide.com and Fest. Crafts: In November 2004 I completed a Silverwork course to complement skills gained over 15 years of beading jewellery. I am an amateur seamstress working on both practical and ambitious home project, most recently an authentic 1960 design cocktail dress. I am also a keen cook currently focusing on my sushi skills.
Referees
Email: nkl.osborne@gmail.com for referee contact info.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.