‘‘ T


HE “Slow Movement” began with Carlo Petrini’s protest at the rapid spread of fast food in the 1980s. His


approach was that food should be “good, clean, and fair” and he stressed that eating should be seen an experience that should be savoured and not something to rush.


In the world of libraries the suggestion is to do “fewer things in order to do them better”, provide tranquil spaces for users and “model slow living”.


See “Slow life, slow librarianship” by Meredith Farkas. https://lnkd.in/g65sbaS7


Slow technology


Does it really matter that we are not up to speed with every aspect of social media, artificial intelligence, online games and multimedia devices? It’s worth remembering that excessive use of technology can have damaging effects both at home and at work. We have come up with ‘slow echnology’ tips on how to promote slower or less extreme interactions with certain technologies.


l make your use of technology deliberate and thoughtful;


l provide tranquil spaces for users; l model slow living;


l make your life – and brain – less cluttered;


l analyse your use of technology to help tune it in to your real wants and needs;.


l set boundaries for your use of technology;


l allow space for creative thoughts and quality time with family and friends;


l challenge the urgency of emails and phone calls: learn to filter demands on your time;


l challenge the use of technology – focus on the message rather than the medium.


Slow down – enjoy the journey Dervla Murphy, Ireland’s most famous travel writer, is best known for her


September 2022


It’s worth remembering that excessive use of technology can have damaging effects both at home and at work.


1965 book Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle, about an overland cycling trip through Europe, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Dervla Murphy’s approach to travel emphasises connection: to local people, culture, food and music. Her “slow travel” approach is a mindset, not a destination. Technology can help us travel but do not let it get in the way.


Slowing down, cycling, walking and observing can help us to discover new ways of relating to our surroundings. With climate change such a challenge it can make us more resilient and more connected both as individuals and as groups.


Henry Mance, the Financial Times chief features writer, is quoted in a review of the train travel guide website seat61.com. His latest trip confirmed for him three things about train travel in Europe:


l you can plan all your European journeys on Mark Smiths brilliant seat61.com (and book many tickets through the Rail Europe or Trainline apps). It removes the hassle and removes need for specialist timetable knowledge;


l Train travel just feels nice and usually so easy: you arrive at the station, often in the city centre, walk a few metres to the platform, and... just board;


l Train travel changes your conception of the continent. It is antidote to an island mentality. If we saw departures to Frankfurt and Zurich on the board at a commuter station such as Kings Cross, it might just change our sense of identity. Best of all, the departure wouldn’t have a single GATE CLOSING warning anywhere near it.


See the full review of the train travel guide website seat61.com in the issue 97 of the CILIP RPG magazine PostLib: https://tinyurl.com/PostLib62023.


Libraries – a horrible place to work? A new book covering US and Canada, edited by Spencer Acadia (Chair of the IFLA KM Section), suggests although many libraries do well at attending


David Byrne is a KM Consultant and Member of the CILIP RPG Committee.


to users and managing external information they often fail at taking care of their own employees and addressing internal workplace issues. https://bit.ly/dyslibr


Spencer is now looking for contributions from Europe and Australia for a further volume on workplace dysfunction in libraries – www.spenceracadia.com/dys-call.


How can you join in!


CILIP’s Special Interest Groups provide communities where you can connect with like-minded people providing you with the chance to share and gain knowledge that will help you succeed. As a member, you’re encouraged to join as many groups as you like.


See the list of CILIP groups that you can join at: https://tinyurl.com/Cilipgroups (login to CILIP website required). Receive email updates from the various CILIP special interest groups (including RPG) and member networks: join any or all of the groups free of charge: https://tinyurl.com/ CILIPemails (login to CILIP website required)


CILIP RPG welcomes feedback and questions from across CILIP and beyond. You can find us at: https:// tinyurl.com/CILIPRPG – or email us at: chair.rpg@cilip.org.uk IP


INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 47


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