Libfocus Link-out for September 2024

Welcome to the September edition of the Libfocus link-out, an assemblage of library-related things we have found informative, educational, thought-provoking and insightful on the Web over the past while.

Images featured in this month's link-out articles

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Academic Libraries: A Leadership Perspective).
In this article for College and Research Libraries, Jeehyun Davis explores the opportunities AI technology presents to libraries. If libraries stay ahead of emerging technologies, they can transform them into avenues for growth and enhanced service delivery.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats: A Comprehensive SWOT Analysis of AI and Human Expertise in Peer Review.
Roohi Ghosh considers whether peer reviewers should be responsible for detecting the use of AI. Ghosh argues that “AI should be seen as a tool to ease the workload of peer reviewers, NOT to add to it.” Ghosh suggested using AI to detect issues prior to peer review and providing clear guidelines for reviewers. Ghosh also provided a helpful Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) chart comparing human and AI capabilities, illustrating how both can work together to complement the peer review process. 

The review mills, not just (self-)plagiarism in review reports, but a step further.
Speaking of reviewer strain, Maria Ángeles Oviedo‑García, a researcher at the University of Seville, conducted an analysis of journals’ peer reviews and “identified 263 suspicious reviews prepared for 37 journals in multiple disciplines between 2021 and this year.” Specifically, Oviedo‑García reported that reviews continually used “vague, generic phrases,” signifying the potential use of review templates. Several reviewers also cited their own work, and many journals were published by MDPI. Science’s Jeffrey Brainard further addressed the use of AI in reviews, increased retractions, and concerns that the entire peer review system needs to be improved.

The value of libraries from Roskilde to Toronto.
Blog post from Danish librarian Christian Lauersen about how we should think about the impact of libraries beyond the number of books we loan or footfall in libraries.

This Election Will Determine the Fate of Libraries.
Many US librarians fear the upcoming presidential election will have a great impact, with more attacks on libraries to follow.

Old books can be loaded with poison. To some collectors, that’s part of the thrill.
Ashlee Stimpson speaks to Melissa Tedone, founder of The Poison Book Project, as well as the owners of some dangerous tomes.

A shell of the place it used to be.
In this Guardian article, Alfie Packham speaks to UK readers on the importance of libraries - and their fragile future.

Why are librarians up in arms over ebooks?
Cathal McCauley, Martin Bradley and Stuart Hamilton explain why ebooks currently offer poor value for readers and libraries in this article for RTE Brainstorm.

Censorship throughout the centuries.
Cara S. Bertram's article for the American Library Magazines traces the history of book bans and threats to intellectual freedom in the U.S.A.

Library Faculty Eliminated Amid ‘Fiscal Insanity’ at Western Illinois.
In this article for Inside Higher Ed, Kathryn Palmer describes how the university laid off all its library faculty as part of massive cuts, leaving employees and supporters to wonder how the library will serve campus constituents.

AI in Libraries - first pulse of the libraries report published.
A global survey of academic, public and national libraries by Clarivate that assesses trends and measures the impact of technologies such as AI.

Academic libraries help shape global citizens.
An insight by the Pressreader team into ways that academic libraries support users to become increasingly aware of global issues and develop into competent digital citizens.

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The Knowledge Summit Dublin 2024: Generative AI Meets Human Experience - a Conference Review

Guest Post by Mairéad Mc Keown, Knowledge and Critical Capability Manager at Bord Bia - The Irish Food Board.

Using AI to generate business ideas by MangKangMangMee via Shutterstock

This blog post will give an overview of the Knowledge Summit Dublin 2024 conference. The main theme of the conference was generative artificial intelligence and human intelligence combined for knowledge creation and discovery. The tacit knowledge exchange sessions focused on past experiences and future synergies of KM (Knowledge Management), AI and human experience. It would be impossible to cover content from every presenter/speaker so I have distilled some of the most widely applicable insights I hope will be of use to those of us working in library, information or knowledge roles. For each insight I have created a resulting implication to inspire action. 

Radical KM – Art aids innovation

Stephanie Barnes, Leading Knowledge Management Author, Speaker and Educator, on Radical KM.

Insight: Art aids innovation, curiosity, resilience, trust, collaboration.

Implication: Pilot radical KM by piloting an art-based intervention, e.g. drawing, painting etc. in your workplace to create a culture of knowledge sharing where people are open to seeing the world through a different lens. 

Meta on how knowledge and AI combined feed opportunity

Praveena Cherukuri, Customer Experience and Transformation Leader, on KM and AI at Meta.

Insight: Knowledge and AI combined feed opportunity.

Implication: Pair the right knowledge with the right AI tool to create opportunity but start small and fail fast, don’t boil the ocean, seek and act on robust user feedback and use technology that’s scalable.

Lessons in KM - Knowledge delivers triple value

Bill Kaplan, KM Consultant and Rebecka Isaksson, Knowledge Strategist, on Lessons from KM.

Insight: Knowledge delivers triple value to the customer, workforce and organisation.

Implication: Devise KM strategies to express, capture and share all the organisations’ information and all the organisations’ experience to create actionable, meaningful, relevant knowledge that delivers triple value.

Being human - Stories aid understanding

Prof. David Snowdon, Chief Scientific Officer, The Cynefin Co., on being human.

Insight: Stories aid shared understanding.

Implication: Build a community of real storytellers who are willing to share failures and successes to aid understanding, build trust and create valuable learning experiences.

KM challenges - KM challenges don’t change

Scott Leeb, Chief Knowledge Officer, Fragomen and Dr Liam Fahey, Leadership Forum, on Lessons learned from a 25-year KM Journey. 

Insight: KM challenges don’t change overtime.

Implication: Build KM strategies that address these five key Km challenges: 

1. Converting tacit to explicit knowledge

2. Demonstrating the ROI and value of KM

3. Discovery of knowledge

4. Collaboration

5. Technology as an enabler, NOT the solution.

NASA on 5 ways to kill KM 

Ed Hoffman, Chief Knowledge Officer NASA, on five sure ways to kill KM.

Insight: There are 5 ways to kill KM

Implication: Avoid all 5 below!

1. Hold one person responsible

2. Use complex KM language

3. Don’t measure the value

4. Don’t do governance

5. Limit communication and keep the leadership team in the dark 

NASA on how stories facilitate learning

Michael Bell, Lessons Learned Program Manager NASA, on ideas for applying AI to Nasa’s Lessons Learned database

Insight: Lessons learned stories facilitate learning in multiple generations.

Implications: Use AI to push lessons learned stories (about successes and failures) in multi-media formats, to the multi-generational user at the point of need. 

AI methods impact use cases

Dr Etzard Stolte, Global Head of KM Roche, on AI and Generative AI for KM. 

Insight: AI methods impact the use cases and successful deployment requires structured knowledge. 

Implication: Add more structure to your data, (coding, taxonomies, knowledge graphs) and choose the right AI method for the right AI use case to deliver value.

Becoming AI-powered is a journey

Kieran McCorry, National Technology Officer, Microsoft, on Becoming AI-powered.

Insight: Becoming an AI-powered organisation requires a three-step journey.

Implication: Follow these three steps: 

1. Develop leadership capabilities

2. Manage human change

3. Build and iterate technical skills. 

Conclusion

Overall, the key theme from the conference was generative artificial intelligence and human intelligence combined for knowledge creation and discovery. The transformative power of where AI and KM intersect cannot be underestimated but we must carefully decide what role we want to play, to use or be used by this new technology.

KM challenges don’t change much overtime, but technology keeps changing at pace. It’s important to remember that successful KM initiatives are made up of culture, people, processes and technology. KM is about executing robust strategies that get the right intel, to the right person, at the right time, in the right format, to make the right decision, or provide the right advice.

AI and related technologies are enablers not solutions, they can only help us discover information once we have first created and shared it. Which brings us nicely back to the main theme of the conference, the careful combination of generative artificial intelligence and human intelligence has the power to transform knowledge creation and discovery. 

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Libfocus Link-out for August 2024

Welcome to the August edition of the Libfocus link-out, an assemblage of library-related things we have found informative, educational, thought-provoking and insightful on the Web over the past while.

Images featured in this month's link-out articles

Four things no-one wants to admit about research culture.
Libraries are part of the discussions around “research culture”. This Wonkhe blog post by Lizzie Gadd explains what we really need to look at if we want to fix research culture.

‘Publish or Perish’ is now a card game — not just an academic’s life.
If you want to know what it is like to navigate academia as a researcher in a competitive world, keep an eye on this card game. In Nature, Max Kozlov looks at the card game that allows frustrated academics to blow off steam.

The Secret Life of Librarians.
Meet the librarians who were awarded the I Love My Librarian Award in the U.S.A this year. Read about how these ten civic heroes are transforming lives and bringing their local communities together.

A weird, whimsical game is hiding in the bookshelves at Los Angeles Public Library.
In this LA Times article, Todd Marten takes part in the Bureau of Nooks and Crannies experience being introduced to public libraries in the Los Angeles Public Library system. The immersive games encourage "guided meditation through play" and aim to spark the participants' creativity and imagination.

As LGBTQ library material comes under fire, California may ban book bans.
Fresno County is about to appoint a library review committee that critics say will censor children’s books. In this article for capitol, Alexie Koseff explains how a bill before the Legislature would outlaw such groups in California.

It's time: how to get your organisation off Twitter / X.
Are you considering taking your library off Twitter? Ned Potter provides some very practical steps to take if you do take this step.

The art library decolonising photo archives by Dalla AL-Dujalli.
A look at The West Asian and North African Women’s Art Library (WANAWAL) inaugural exhibition, don’t worry i won’t forget you, and how their collections are meticulously curated to challenge conventional archival methods and embrace a more inclusive, experimental approach.

'Not a badge of honor': how book bans affect Indigenous literature.
In an episode of the podcast Code Switch, Gene Demby speaks with Debbie Reese about how book bans affect indigenous literature and to Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu on her take on her own book being banned and the interpretation of her story through a Western lens. This link includes the option of listening to the podcast or reading a transcript.

Resources for Understanding the Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This resource list is intended to expand the discussion on the ethical implications and potential shortfalls of different AI technologies while enabling readers to envision more ethical outcomes.

“You Can Help Me with That?”
In this article from College & Research Libraries News, Erin McArthur explores the creation of a Program of Faculty Research Support at a Regional Comprehensive University.

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Libfocus Link-out for July 2024

Welcome to the July edition of the Libfocus link-out, an assemblage of library-related things we have found informative, educational, thought-provoking and insightful on the Web over the past while.

Images featured in this month's link-out articles

UNT Libraries releases the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Collection.
The University of North Texas Libraries has released the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Collection in the UNT Digital Library, featuring over 120 resources about the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) toward government, legislative, and procedural policy.

2024 Top Trends in Academic Libraries.
This article explores the topics and issues that have been trending in academic libraries over the past two years. It draws on research and initiatives from librarians across the profession, highlighting the constant change libraries face. The launch of ChatGPT sparked discussions about the potential impact of artificial intelligence, open access and open science initiatives continued to gain momentum, and the lingering effects of COVID-19 on library workspaces and student well-being remained significant. Rich citations to the literature provide opportunities for further exploration.

Who’s Next?: What Happens When Longtime Library Leaders Retire.
Hallie Rich speaks to three long-term library directors on the verge of their retirement on how the job has changed, their preparation for transition, and what the next generation of library leadership looks like.

Plants Between Leaves: The Long Lives of Preserved Plants in Library Shelves.
Eve Wolynes, Special Collections Curator at the Kenneth Spencer Research Libraries looks at pressed plants, and preserved wood slices in specialist books.

End of the librarian? Council cuts and new tech push profession to the brink.
In this Guardian article, Jon Ungoed-Thomas examines how library staff in England’s public libraries are under threat of being replaced by automated checkouts. In a bid to cut staffing costs local councils are ignoring the preference from many users for face-to-face services as well as the social services library staff provide.

LISTEN: The End of Libraries as We Know Them?
The future of the Internet Archive, which offers permanent access to internet artefacts in digital form, is under threat by a publishers' lawsuit. In this episode of “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast", Brewster Kahle, Internet Archive’s digital librarian, talks about the future of libraries and what the publishers’ lawsuit means for libraries and their patrons in the digital age.

Gartner’s Hype Cycle and Libraries.
We are experiencing an era where emerging technologies are creating change not only in the business world but in nearly every field, and this transformation is certainly relevant for centers of knowledge and education like libraries. Libraries serve to inform,  educate, and advance society by hosting various resources, and Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, specifically for 2023, helps us understand the future of these resources and how they may be shaped.

18 Life lessons.
18 lessons for life for her godchildren by Charlie Rapple, the cofounder of Kudos and Vice Chair of UKSG.

Beyond the journal: The future of scientific publishing.
Rob Johnson of Research Consulting takes a close look at publishing models that aim to transform or replace academic journals.

The paper mill crisis is a five-alarm fire for science: what can librarians do about it?
Amid ongoing issues with publishing integrity, this paper looks at ways librarians can help address the crisis.

Public-Private partnerships and collaborations in the context of library technology (pilot study).
A joint LIBER and Danish Research Library Association report detailing the results of a study examining the characteristics and impact of relationships between research libraries and library technology providers.

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All Hallows Campus and Woodlock Hall Library

This guest post is written by Alana Mahon O'Neill and Rosemary Shanahan from DCU Library. 

In January 2024, we were asked to present at a Library Learning and Development event in DCU Library. We decided to collaborate on a presentation about the picturesque library in which we work: Woodlock Hall Library. To fully understand the context of Woodlock Hall Library, we researched the history of All Hallows Campus in Drumcondra, where the library is located. Our study of the campus, presented here, is based on the extensive research of various historians, archivists and academics. 

Woodlock Hall Library. Picture credit Kyran O'Brien/DCU. 

All Hallows College: A History

Woodlock Hall Library is located on All Hallows Campus, Drumcondra. In the 12th century, the King of Leinster, Diarmuid McMurrough founded the All Hallows Priory monastery on the land where the DCU All Hallows Campus now stands (McQuinn & Guihan, 2022, p. 4). 

Illustration of Diarmuid McMurrough taken from f. [56] r of MS 700 (Giraldus Cambrensis) c. 1200 via Irish Script on Screen

However, by 1538 Henry VIII’s act for the Suppression of the Monasteries meant that all monasteries were dissolved and the land was divided up and granted by the King to ‘the mayor, bailiffs, Citizens and Commons of Dublin’ (McQuinn & Guihan, 2022, p. 4). Sir Marmaduke Coghill redeveloped a standing country house on the old monastery lands of All Hallows. This building became known as Drumcondra House, the oldest building on All Hallows Campus (McQuinn & Guihan, 2022, p. 5).

All Hallows College Dublin. Picture from pg. 154 'Priests and People in Ireland' by Michael J.F. Fitzgerald and Andrew White published in 1902 by Hodges Figgis & Co. via Wikimedia Commons

Coghill left no heirs, so the house passed through various members of the extended family until Reverend John Hand acquired the land. He intended to establish a centre where young Irish priests were trained as missionaries to spread Catholicism abroad (McQuinn & Guihan, 2022, p. 8). 

All Hallows College was founded in 1842 and was named after the monastery the “Priory of All Hallows” which once stood on the land (McQuinn & Guihan, 2022, p. 7). The seminary numbers grew over the following years, peaking in the 1960s, before closing in 1998 when two priests were ordained (Overall, 2016). 

Seminarians studying in Junior House (now Purcell House). Picture credit: All Hallows Trust. 

In the late 1990s, All Hallows College became a third-level institute and provided a range of theological and community work degree programmes. A partnership with DCU was established in 2008. The college announced its closure in 2014 and in 2016 it became All Hallows Campus of DCU (Williams, 2022).

Woodlock Hall Library: A History

Woodlock Hall Library was named after Fr Bartholomew Woodlock, a president of the college from 1854 to 1861. The hall had three different functions before it became a library. It was constructed in 1909 in Senior House as an ‘Aula Maxima’ (Great Hall) and included an elevated stage (dais) for delivering speeches to distinguished guests. Meanwhile, across the corridor, the corresponding room was intended as a reception hall and museum of cultural artefacts brought back by priests who travelled the world. However, the original plans for the library were scrapped when the building project for the east wing of Senior House was abandoned. Therefore, the reception/museum was made into John Hand Library and the Aula Maxima was turned into a refectory (McQuinn & Guihan, 2022, p. 11).

When All Hallows College became a third-level college, Woodlock Hall became a lecture hall and function room. In 2018, plans were implemented for a new library at All Hallows Campus. Due to Senior House’s status as a listed building, the old Gothic features such as the fireplaces, ceilings, walls and windows were incorporated into the new design. The original dais was retained and free-standing shelving was implemented (Williams, 2022). Eanan O’Doherty, who is DCU's Real Estate Contracts Manager, documented the building process in this YouTube video.

Woodlock Hall Shelving. Picture credit Kyran O'Brien/DCU

The architects drew inspiration for the project from famous libraries such as The Ancient Library of Ephesus, The Austrian Melk Abbey Library, Trinity College Long Room and the interior design of New York Public Library (Williams, 2022). In 2021, DCU officially opened Woodlock Hall Library and in 2022, Mullarkey Pedersen Architects won an Architectural Association award for the library design (DCU, 2022).

Library of Epheseus. Picture credit: Ben Lieu Song via Wikimedia Commons

New York Public Library. Picture credit: Diliff via Wikimedia Commons

Every great library needs a comprehensive collection. Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy granted a 10-year loan of 140,000 books to DCU and 18,000 of those books make up the collection on the Woodlock Hall Library shelves. The collection possesses titles specialising in literature, social sciences, Irish language, history, theology and philosophy. The dedicated DCU Library shelving staff worked with 982 boxes containing 18,435 titles filling 573 shelves. The project lasted 13 days and took 65 hours to complete (DCU, 2022; A. Zieba McLoughlin, personal communication, May 9, 2022).

Another eye-catching feature is the art installation behind the helpdesk which consists of 18 portraits depicting some of the notable leaders of the 1916 Rising. The artwork was created by artist Mick O’Dea and was part of a 2016 exhibition, “The Foggy Dew” at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Ely Place. The exhibition commemorated the destruction of the original RHA building on Lower Abbey Street in the 1916 Rising. The artwork was gifted to DCU by the One Foundation and was installed in Woodlock Hall Library by DCU Arts and Culture (Fitzpatrick, 2016).

Artist Mick O'Dea at the official opening of Woodlock Hall Library in December 2022. Picture credit: Kyran O'Brien/DCU

Conclusion

The history we uncovered during our research is vast and we've only recorded a fraction of it here. We invite you, the reader, to come and learn more about the historic Woodlock Hall Library at DCU, All Hallows Campus. To get in touch with the team to arrange a visit contact us at woodlocklibrary@dcu.ie.

References 

All Hallows Trust (2024). Timeline. https://allhallows.ie/all-hallows-trust-section/timeline/

DCU (2022). The transformation of Woodlock Hall. 

                 dcu.ie/commsteam/news/2022/dec/transformation-woodlock-hall 

 
Designing Libraries. (n.d). Woodlock Hall Library, All Hallows Campus, Dublin City University.
                         designinglibraries.org.uk/?PageID=1752

Fitzgerald, M.J. & White, W. (1902). Priests and People in Ireland. Hodges Figgis & Co.

Fitzpatrick, R. (2016, January 15). Irish painter brings Easter 1916 scenes to life. Irish Examiner. 
                         irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20376293.html

McQuinn, C. & Guihan, C. (Ed.) (2022). A historic guide to All Hallows College land and buildings.
                            All Hallows College. fliphtml5.com/uhbb/vpcf

National Library of Ireland. (n.d.). MS 700 (Giraldus Cambrensis).
                            https://www.isos.dias.ie/NLI/NLI_MS_700.html#115

Overall, S. (2016, July 28). Celebrating the Heritage of All Hallows.
                           https://www.irishcatholic.com/celebrating-the-heritage-of-all-hallows/

Williams, F. (2022). Woodlock Hall Library by Mullarkey Pedersen Architects. Architects' Journal. 
                          https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/woodlock-hall-library

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Erasmus Library Staff Mobility Week 2024: My Experience in Ireland

This guest post is by Emma Persson who is an instructional librarian at Linnaeus University in Sweden. Emma took part in the fifth Irish Erasmus Staff Mobility week hosted by CONUL Libraries from the 24-28th June 2024. This week is targeted at professional library staff working in universities or other research orientated libraries with an interest in visiting Ireland. It gives participants the opportunity to engage with Irish librarians and visit many of Ireland's CONUL Libraries. Find out more about the Erasmus programme on the CONUL website. 

The Erasmus participants in the garden at MOLI. Picture credit: Billy Kenrick

I was asked if I wanted to share a bit of my experience during my Erasmus exchange. And it was not a difficult question to answer. I had a wonderful time so of course I wanted to!

This was my first Erasmus exchange that I have been on. I applied at the end of winter and it was with a bit of anxiety and nervousness. One of the reasons for that was that you had to give a presentation to the other participants during the week. And even though I work as a teaching librarian, standing in front of other colleagues is not something I feel very comfortable with. But I've always wanted to go to Ireland and to be able to do it this way was something I simply couldn't pass up, presentation or not! After a while I got the message that I had been accepted and shortly afterwards I also received a very nice and welcoming email addressing the issue of speaking in front of others. In one place it said: Don't forget, you are among friends. And that is one of the things that characterised my stay in Ireland. All the friendly people, and all the interesting meetings and conversations!

I landed on Sunday and after some confusion about my bus journey to Dublin, I was immediately helped by a person who had moved to Dublin a couple of years ago and who made it easy for me to find my way. And then one day followed the other.

Trinity College, Dublin

Each day had a theme of its own and on day 1 we were at the Royal Irish Academy. Among other things, we heard about the work to create a digital archive, the Ordnance Survey Collection. It is an incredible collection that contains lots of detailed maps, letters, drawings and more that describe much of Ireland's history. We also listened to some of the participants' presentations, which this day included the use of social media in university libraries. The presentations were spread out during the week according to the theme of the day. In the evening we had a very nice guided tour around Dublin where we again heard a lot about Ireland's interesting history, the Easter Rising and the influence of the Vikings on Ireland and in Dublin.

A walk in St Stephen's Green on day 1. Picture credit: Dimitrios Kasamatis 

The rest of the week continued in this way. Each day we visited a different university and interesting lectures were alternated with tours of different libraries. Something that was consistent was the work on accessibility for all, the creation of well thought out learning environments and adaptations for those with special needs. Almost every day there were also different very exciting guided tours of, among other things, the Book of Kells, the Museum of Literature Ireland and the exhibition on W.B Yeats. Of course, the week also consisted of many pleasant gatherings with the other participants. There was a great atmosphere in the group and I think many of us will continue to keep in touch with each other in one way or another!

Pugin Hall, St Patrick's College, Maynooth. 

My lasting impression is that I am so grateful to have had the privilege to go on this exchange and I am so glad that I dared to send in my application on that dark winter day. During my week I have seen so much and heard so many interesting stories! I have experienced the hustle and bustle of Dublin and the great atmosphere in the pubs.

So how did it go with my presentation, you might wonder? On Friday, the last day, it was time and I was so nervous as the minutes ticked by far too quickly. I had also managed to lose my voice for the first time in my life and I had to struggle to be heard at all. Not quite optimal conditions for a presentation. But when I walked up to the podium and everyone heard (or not... 😉 ) how I sounded, they quickly arranged a microphone. And somehow this took all the focus off my nervousness and then when I looked up and saw everyone's friendly and smiling faces it just disappeared and everything went as well as it could.

My time in Dublin ended the same way it started. With a meeting. But this time, on a Sunday evening at Trinity College, I was able to help an elderly woman, who grew up in Ireland but now lives in Canada, get back to her family. And again, an interesting conversation that I will carry with me through life.

Thank you Conul for a great week and I hope to have the opportunity to come back to Ireland again sometime!

On the rooftop at TU Dublin

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