9 Feb 2025

Changing Roles, Not Missions: Why I Moved from Teaching to an Academic Library

This guest blog post is written by Holly Meade-Kennedy from Maynooth University Library.

The sun shines on Maynooth University library, it shows a double staircase in an open plan area with indoor plants.
Maynooth Library: picture credit Alan Monaghan
In April 2024, I joined the Engagement and Information team as a Library Assistant in Maynooth University Library.

One theme that has continuously arisen in my reflections over the last year, is the close link between teaching and working within the Academic Library environment.

Following the passing of my beloved dad in 2021, the classroom - which had always been a safe haven for me as both student and teacher - suddenly became a place that represented a trojan workload I did not have capacity for in that chapter of my life. As I was also completing my third degree at the time as well as working full time, I began to rethink the path I was on. I have always loved learning and am a self-confessed nerd, so it was embarrassingly enjoyable for me up to that point to spend hours planning lessons and correcting (quite literally) hundreds of essays in a single weekend. I pushed myself in every way I could to be the best student and teacher I could be simultaneously.

But one thing an earth-shattering event like grief does best is cause you to reassess your life choices up to that point. I knew I was working as hard as I could, but I hadn't stopped to check in with myself as to whether that work remained fulfilling to me. Being a teacher can often become an armour of identity we wear - and it's good to remind ourselves that we can take that off. We can hang it up and take it back out if it ever feels like a good fit in the future.

The element of teaching I cherished was the human connection. Selfishly, I loved the impact I could have on others by giving them my time and sharing lessons I had learned from others. Long days, difficult situations, endless red tape are all washed away when a student hands you a card at the end of a semester and thanks you for helping them see something differently, or learn something new.

I've always joked to other teacher friends that teaching is similar to childbirth - the pay off is so heart-warming it causes you to forget all of the tears and pain that were involved along the way and somehow you agree to do it again!

My dad used to take me on walks through the beautiful grounds of St. Patricks University Maynooth as a little girl, and as a sixth-year student in 2012 I put that same place top of my CAO form. I spent three years studying here and the library was a place I felt calm, safe and supported throughout my degree. The quiet of the second floor, the view of grounds, the inevitable Starbucks visits - my love of the MU library always stuck with me.

Four students sit at a desk in MU library with the sun shining in the window behind them, book shelves filled with books surround them.
Students in Maynooth Library: picture credit Alan Monaghan

So as I took a walk through MU in late 2023 one afternoon on my way home from teaching a class on Feminism Studies in another college - a cause I had grown passionate about as I learned from the brilliant Dr. Sinead Kennedy of the MU English Department - it dawned on me that there was another way I could interact with students without the added pressure of being directly responsible for their education. 

I began thinking about the possibility of working in MU Library. A few weeks after that day, a job was advertised for the role of Library Assistant and I took it as a sign from my dad that he had taken that walk with me in spirit a few weeks before and had pointed me in this new direction in a place we both knew and loved.

Once I started in the role, it was clear to me there are so many similarities and overlaps between teaching and librarianship and I feel there are many teachers who may have come to the end or even a pause in their teaching journey - and I would love them to be motivated and reassured by this blog that there is life beyond teaching and library life might just be the right fit for them.

The skills many teachers possess - information literacy, research skills, source evaluation, adaptability and patience - all of these are transferable to roles within a library, particularly student-facing roles. The goals are also shared - a desire to help students succeed and supporting their academic journey. 

However, the level of responsibility is the main difference and that can be the key thing that may attract teachers to the library. It was a positive change for me to be able to let go of formal teaching and lesson planning - but in truth it is an adjustment to adapt and let go of the authority. In the classroom you are the expert as the teacher, but in the library you're empowering students to seek out the expertise of others. At first this change can be strange, but the key is realising the change of authority comes with a release of responsibility and that can be a huge weight off your shoulders.

There are changes that require upskilling as you must learn about library systems and processes - but there are more overlaps than differences. Like teaching, every day is unpredictable and varied which keeps it interesting. You may spend ten minutes helping a student learn how to search for journal articles for an assignment and follow it up by creating some social media content highlighting the library's latest offerings. 

The biggest change for me was the idea that once I left the Library at the end of the day, work was over. There was no correcting, responding or reviewing required. There was no learner records to uphold. No material to prepare. No lesson to plan. In my experience, I got to have the enriching interactions with students without the follow up work I had become so accustomed to. This change of pace was so welcome, and the quiet of the library makes for a peaceful and calm working environment.

Having been on a grief journey, I am passionate about mental health awareness and I acknowledge the huge amount of pressure teachers are under with demands seemingly increasing all the time. It can be a hugely rewarding and positive career - but equally it can be demanding and draining. To me it felt teaching was a give in - if it is what you've trained in and if you're lucky enough to be good at something there's a tendency to box yourself in to being just that. But change is always possible and often even positive.

There were also many welcome surprises in my new role - who knew working in a Library wasn't just about shelving books? In fact, we have a team of shelvers who expertly take care of that. I focused on student interactions as part of the Information and Engagement team. 

A diverse group of four students and a teacher are gathered around a table in a modern library. The students are engaged with a laptop, smiling and laughing. The teacher, a middle-aged woman in a white blouse, is giving a high-five to a male student in a navy blue shirt. The library has bookshelves filled with books, large windows, and bright lighting, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Students having high five with teacher by Kampus production on pexel.com

One thing I loved about my new role that I know other teachers would appreciate too, is the ability to learn new skills. I've learned so much by getting involved in initiatives like the Athena Swan Library Self-Assessment Team and taking up different training. If you're willing to throw yourself in at the deep end, there is so much to learn at a comfortable pace.

Teachers understand that patience is key, and we are adept at pitching information at the right level. We can easily identify a student who may be struggling and point them in the direction of more help, and our experience with multi-tasking means we can manage busy work environments with confidence. I've felt my class-room management experience stand to me during a very small amount of more difficult interactions over the last year as I have been able to communicate calmly and effectively. All of these attributes make for not only an effective teacher, but an approachable and helpful Library Assistant too. 

Like teaching - networking within the academic library community is important to build a community of like-minded peers and if you're lucky you will find helpful mentors too along the way. I can genuinely say I have been blown away at the support I've received from management in MU Library so far. I've felt embraced as a new member of the team and everyone has taken time to get to know me and help in any way they could. 

Soon, I'll be starting a new position in the General Collections Department with a particular focus on E-Resources. This shows opportunity for career progression is possible and unlike teaching, the path to progression can be quicker in some cases within the Academic Library environment as there are so many varied paths to expand into. 

We choose a job at some point in our lives, but the trick is to keep asking yourself 'do I still choose this?' and remembering you always have a choice. So if the classroom no longer feels like the right place for you, maybe try the library!

Posted on Sunday, February 09, 2025 | Categories:

27 Jan 2025

Libfocus Link-out for January 2025

Welcome to the first Libfocus link-out edition of 2025, an assemblage of library-related things we have found informative, educational, thought-provoking and insightful on the Web over the past while.

5 images: Two seated people talking, a blue circle with AI written in the centre being touched by a hand, a bin filled with crumpled up paper, a person holding out cupped hands that have paper cut outs of people in them, colourful cups spelling out welcome
Canva stock images clockwise from top: ckstockphoto, Marchmeena29, Elnur, munghoodstudios, platongkoh

Lending out a person instead of a book? Abington looks to ‘human library’ to foster conversations.
Kenny Cooper writes about the success of the Danish Human Library movement in this article for WHYY. Aimed at fostering conversations between people who might not normally interact, Human Library events have taken place in over 80 countries since 2000.

Building a university library service where everyone feels welcome.
In this article for Times Higher Education, staff from Cardiff University write about how University libraries can make their services more inclusive and sustainable. Tracey Stanley, Sara Huws and Susan Cousins explain how they translated their EDI goals and strategies into practical actions.

Libraries & Well-Being: A Case Study from The New York Public Library.
This report sets out to establish a relationship between public libraries and the well-being of library patrons. By aligning with positive psychology and positive humanities research, and drawing connections to prior research on public libraries’ impact on community building, social and cultural capital, and civic engagement, we construct a relationship between library use and individual well-being

The State of Library Marketing in 2025: Survey Reveals New Obstacles and Frustrations.
The struggles and goals of libraries shifted in some major ways during. This report from Angela Hursh (of Super Library Marketing: Practical Tips for Library Promotion) sets out the  state of library marketing as we begin 2025.

 ‘WithdrarXiv’ database of 14,000 retracted preprints launches.
Preprints are an important form of Open Access publishing. However, many preprints are withdrawn and Dalmeet Singh Chawla in Nature looks at why that happens.

Using Open Data to Sharpen Science Stories.
Many breaking news stories are based on the availability of open data sources, reports Alice Fleerackers in the Open Notebook.

Using AI to supercharge your library's web presence, marketing, and social media.
In Information Today, David Lee King provides a brief introduction to how libraries can use AI tool to boost marketing efforts.

Libraries as drivers of policy initiatives on a large scale.
Newly released IFLA commissioned report focusing on library functions required to deliver successful large scale projects.

Arkansas Act 372 Declared Unconstitutional in District Court | Library Journal.
Lisa Peet looks at the recent Arkansas District Court decision that declared laws which would expose librarians and booksellers to criminal penalties for provision of LGBTQ+ and sex education materials as unconstitutional.

The endangered library | New University | UC Irvine.
An opinion piece by Isabella Ehring for UC Irvine News on the loss of support for libraries in the wake of shifts in e-books usage and OpenAI.

Libraries and/as Extraction.
The Canadian Journal of Academic Librarianship is delighted to release their latest special issue, Libraries and/as Extraction, co-edited by Maura Seale, Nicole Pagowsky, Rafia Mirza, and Karen P. Nicholson. Taken together, the essays in this special issue home in on how extraction functions as a logic or organising principle of current forms of capitalism within academic librarianship: how libraries extract, and how libraries are extracted from, sometimes discretely, sometimes mangled together in a Gordian knot.

White Paper: Building an AI Literacy Framework: Perspectives from Instruction Librarians and Current Information Literacy Tools.
While information literacy frameworks and standards have traditionally helped librarians plan their instruction sessions, these structures do not address AI. From the analysis of interviews with instruction librarians about AI literacy, Sandy Hervieux and Amanda Wheatley identify the main themes and concerns related to AI for academic libraries and develop a robust framework for AI literacy.

12 Dec 2024

Libfocus Link-out for December 2024

Welcome to the December 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.

Six images show: a large wave with papers floating in it about to crash onto a boat of people; the book cover of Maus by Art Spiegelman featuring two mice in trenchcoats under a mouse face with a swastika through it; two woman sitting at a table; a magnifying glass over text; a graphic of a man with symbols and question marks over his head; two children holding signs that say book! and I am a reader
Images featured in this month's link-out articles

‘Systematic reviews’ that aim to extract broad conclusions from many studies are in peril.
Junk papers written by paper mills are threatening to diminish the value of systematic reviews, reports Holly Else in Science.

Podcast on “Thesis for sale”.
What do you do if somebody else publishes your thesis as a book? Hear from Andrew Vonasch on the Human Robot Interaction podcast whose PhD thesis was “pirated” and sold on Amazon.

Top 100 list of banned books 2024.
Wondering what to buy the bibliophiles in your life this Christmas? Look no further than this Journo list of 100 books that have been challenged, banned or burned over the years for alleged obscenity, sexual content, religious reasons and more.

New research report: OER in public libraries.
The Library Futures report, “Keeping an Open Mind: Awareness, Use, and Perspectives of OER in Public Libraries,” takes a first look at how public librarians in America are using and perceiving OER. Tova Gaster outlines how public libraries are opening doors to a world of educational resources that are otherwise locked behind proprietary licenses.

Strength in numbers: How donors, friends, and volunteers drive library advocacy.
For libraryjournal.com, Jonna Ward looks at uniting key stakeholders behind public libraries in the US to advocate for funding, for service expansion, and for general support for their library in challenging times.

Let’s talk about toy books!
Yasmeen Khan, Graduate Trainee Resource Description Assistant at Oxford Libraries looks at the ‘Toy Book’ collection at Osney, a selection of legal deposit material requiring special care for a variety of reasons.

A library specific guide to Bluesky for academic libraries and librarians.
During November 2024, the social network Bluesky underwent a significant transformation. What had been a platform where a few libraries set up experimental profiles with mixed results, suddenly became a space where many libraries were achieving substantial engagement. In short, Bluesky has reached a critical mass, with enough users leaving Twitter and joining the platform for it be considered a legitimate X-replacement. This guide is a good place to start if you or your library wants to make the most of Bluesky.

10 Tips toward accessibility.
Elizabeth B. White provides some tips on making instructional material accessible using principles of Universal Design for Learning in American Library Magazine.

How to identify AI-generated text: 7 ways to tell if content was made by a bot.
In this Mashable article, Chance Townsend looks at strategies for evaluating text and determining if it has been AI generated.

What characterises LIS as a fragmenting discipline? 
In the Journal of Documentation, Pertti Vakkari characterises library and information science (LIS) as a fragmenting discipline both historically and by applying Whitley’s (1984) theory about the organisation of sciences and Fuchs’ (1993) theory about scientific change.

Who cites the contributions by information science?
Kalervo Järvelin and Pertti Vakkari endeavour to find out which research topics and methods in information science (IS) articles are used in other disciplines as indicated by citations.


6 Dec 2024

A Culinary Tour of Carlow Town: How to create an AI-generated blog post

Alana Mahon O'Neill is a library assistant in DCU Library. She attended the CONUL Training and Development AI and Libraries seminar which took place in the University of Galway on the 28th November 2024. At this event she won the blog series contest and she has shared her winning blog post with us below.

It's an AI-generated blog post called A Culinary Tour of Carlow Town which demonstrates how to get AI to do what you want through a series of well thought-out prompts. 

Learn more about the process in AI and Libraries 2: Enhancing Library Marketing with AI Tools published by Eileen Kennedy in the Hardiblog. 

Picture of a woman standing in front of a garden of plants
Alana Mahon O'Neill picture credit Claire Mason

Task 2 – AI generated Blog

Prompt:

I want you to write a blog post about the three best restaurants available in Carlow town. You should reference (and link) some reviews about the restaurants that have been shared online. I would like for you to write in a neutral style of voice and with a few words sprinkled in here or there in the Hiberno-Irish dialect to appeal towards an Irish reader. I want you to be informative, but also tell a story and convince the reader to visit. Feel free to have fun and crack some jokes. The target audience is an Irish native, who would like to eat familiar, tasty food that is good value and of excellent quality. 300 words maximum.

OpenAI's ChatGPT first response:

Culinary Tour of Carlow Town: Top Three Picks for a Great Bite

Carlow might be a small town, but it packs a mighty punch when it comes to food. Whether you're a local or just passing through, there are some stellar options for a hearty meal that’ll leave you delighted and perhaps even planning your next visit.

1. Mimosa Bar de Tapas

A beacon for tapas lovers, Mimosa offers a warm welcome and plates as colourful as a Spanish fiesta. Known for their steak tartare and perfectly seared steak, Mimosa's dishes are rich in flavour and served with flair. Pair that with the attentive staff, and you’re in for a treat. It’s also known for its little extras—complimentary drinks and sweet surprises often make diners feel extra special. Gastroranking OpenTable.

2. Teach Dolmain

If you’re after something a bit more traditional, Teach Dolmain is a brilliant choice. This pub combines hearty Irish staples with a touch of modern finesse. Their portions are generous, their prices fair, and the staff offer service with a smile—no wonder locals rave about it! It's the spot for comfort food done well, with a side of Carlow charm OpenTable.

3. Lennons @ VISUAL 

Situated within the VISUAL arts centre, Lennons offers a bright, modern dining experience. Known for its fresh and locally sourced ingredients, this restaurant serves beautifully presented dishes that are as tasty as they are Instagram-worthy. It’s the perfect place to relax over a leisurely lunch or a sophisticated dinner Gastroranking OpenTable.

Next time you’re in Carlow, be sure to give one of these spots a go. Whether you’re sharing tapas, digging into a comforting Irish classic, or indulging in an artisanal dish, you’re guaranteed a belly full of happiness. Sláinte!

Alana's comments:

The links just go to a list of restaurants in Carlow, not to any specific restaurant page, or review as I had asked. However, this is also a limitation of the website design.

Mimosa Bar de Tapas also mentions a steak dish twice! What if it mentioned a single dish for each restaurant…

2nd prompt:

Great, now I want you to mention a specific dish for each restaurant that is also served there.

OpenAI's ChatGPT second response:

A Culinary Tour of Carlow Town: Top Three Picks and What to Order

Carlow's dining scene is a treasure trove of delicious options. Here’s a closer look at three standout restaurants and the dishes you simply must try when visiting.

1. Mimosa Bar de Tapas

For a taste of Spain with a modern twist, Mimosa delivers in spades. Their Steak Tartare, served with egg yolk and crispy toast, is a firm favourite. The bold flavours and delicate textures make this a standout choice, perfect for those seeking something a bit adventurous but utterly rewarding. Gastroranking OpenTable.

2. Teach Dolmain

If it’s traditional Irish fare you’re after, the Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew at Teach Dolmain is an absolute must. Tender beef, rich gravy, and a side of creamy mash or crusty bread make it the ultimate comfort dish—ideal for warming the cockles on a cold day OpenTable.

3. Lennons @ VISUAL

Lennons is the spot for fresh, seasonal delights. Their Pan-Fried Hake, served with herbed baby potatoes and a lemon caper sauce, showcases their commitment to locally sourced, high-quality ingredients. Light, zesty, and satisfying, it’s a dish that makes a statement without being over the top Gastroranking OpenTable.

Each of these dishes tells its own story, and together, they paint a picture of Carlow’s vibrant food scene. So, pull up a chair, tuck in, and let these culinary gems work their magic. 

Sláinte!

Alanna's comments:

I checked out the menus available for these restaurants, and the steak tartare is not an available dish at Mimosa Bar de Tapas. Lennons does not serve Pan Fried Hake, as it may be an old dish, or out of season. Teach Dolmain does not have Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew as a staple main course. Is ChatGPT ‘hallucinating’?

3rd prompt: 

Can you provide for me a link to a review that mentions the dish "Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew" that was served at Teach Dolmain.

OpenAI's ChatGPT third response:

I wasn’t able to find a direct link to a review specifically mentioning the "Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew" from Teach Dolmain due to technical issues with accessing some sources. However, reviews frequently praise their hearty Irish dishes, including stews, on platforms like TripAdvisor and Restaurant Guru. You may find detailed mentions there by browsing through customer comments.

Would you like me to try searching further or assist in another way?

Alana's comments:

So, there is a limitation when it comes to the information it processes and produces. It admitted to potentially making up the dish. Therefore, I will need to check out a current menu at these restaurants and mention exact dishes in the prompt.

4th prompt: Can you re-write the blog post previously presented, and this time use these dishes instead: for Mimosa Bar de Tapas use "Churrasco Beef Bavett", for Teach Dolmain use the dish "Pan Fried Haddock", and for Lennon's use "Pan-fried Cod".

OpenAI's ChatGPT fourth response: 

A Culinary Tour of Carlow Town: Top Three Picks and Must-Try Dishes

Carlow’s food scene might be small, but it’s mighty, offering a delightful range of flavours for those looking for a memorable meal. Here’s a guide to three standout restaurants and the dishes that make them shine.

1. Mimosa Bar de Tapas

Step into Mimosa and find yourself whisked to the Mediterranean with a creative Irish twist. Their Churrasco Beef Bavette is the star of the show—succulent, marinated beef cooked to perfection and served with chimichurri for a burst of fresh, zesty flavour. It’s the kind of dish that keeps regulars coming back for more Gastroranking OpenTable.

2. Teach Dolmain

A classic Irish pub with a modern edge, Teach Dolmain is known for hearty portions and fresh ingredients. Their Pan-Fried Haddock is a revelation: flaky fish with a golden, crispy crust, served with a side of buttered vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes. It’s a wholesome, comforting dish that showcases the best of local produce OpenTable.

3. Lennons @ VISUAL

Housed within the VISUAL arts centre, Lennons combines style and substance. Their Pan-Fried Cod, paired with seasonal vegetables and a delicate white wine sauce, is a testament to their focus on simplicity done well. Fresh, flavourful, and beautifully plated, it’s a dish that feels like a celebration of the sea Gastroranking OpenTable.

These three gems offer not just meals but experiences. Whether you’re sharing tapas with friends, tucking into traditional Irish comfort food, or indulging in fine dining with a local flair, Carlow delivers. 

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a fork, and dive in. Sláinte!

Alana's comments: Finally, this blog post after being cross-examined is now suitable for publication!

A Culinary Tour of Carlow Town: Top Three Picks and Must-Try Dishes!

Published 22nd November 2024 by Joe Bloggs

Carlow’s food scene might be small, but it’s mighty, offering a delightful range of flavours for those looking for a memorable meal. Here’s a guide to three standout restaurants and the dishes that make them shine.

1. Mimosa Bar de Tapas

Step into Mimosa and find yourself whisked to the Mediterranean with a creative Irish twist. Their Churrasco Beef Bavette is the star of the show—succulent, marinated beef cooked to perfection and served with chimichurri for a burst of fresh, zesty flavour. It’s the kind of dish that keeps regulars coming back for more.

2. Teach Dolmain

A classic Irish pub with a modern edge, Teach Dolmain is known for hearty portions and fresh ingredients. Their Pan-Fried Haddock is a revelation: flaky fish with a golden, crispy crust, served with a side of buttered vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes. It’s a wholesome, comforting dish that showcases the best of local produce.

3. Lennons @ VISUAL

Housed within the VISUAL arts centre, Lennons combines style and substance. Their Pan-Fried Cod, paired with seasonal vegetables and a delicate white wine sauce, is a testament to their focus on simplicity done well. Fresh, flavourful, and beautifully plated, it’s a dish that feels like a celebration of the sea.

These three gems offer not just meals but experiences. Whether you’re sharing tapas with friends, tucking into traditional Irish comfort food, or indulging in fine dining with a local flair, Carlow delivers. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a fork, and dive in.

Sláinte!


This blog post was created with the assistance of AI, specifically using OpenAI's ChatGPT. It was used to choose the most popular restaurants against popular review sites such as Gastroranking and Open Table. It was also used to plan the structure of the blog post, establish a tone, and for its flow of language. All content cross-examined and verified by a human (Alana).





Posted on Friday, December 06, 2024 | Categories:

30 Nov 2024

Libfocus Link-out for November 2024

Welcome to the November 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.

Five images: A woman sitting down in a library is speaking with a woman and a security guard, graphic of colourful book shelves, a magnifying glass over a Google Scholar search page, green cover of a book with the title The Greek Mythology, a hand touching a button that says AI under a red circle with a line through it
Images featured in this month's link-out articles

Turning the page: understanding the barriers to library use and how to encourage engagement.
In this article for DCMS libraries, Polly Hollings and Amelia Byrne look at the findings of a UK survey around potential barriers to public library use. The results can be used by staff in academic and other libraries to help them support increased engagement with their services and spaces.

Ancient to Modern.
Susan Kristol writes about the fascinating history behind the Loeb Classical Library series in this Washington Examiner article. The library was established in 1911 to make the works of the great writers of ancient Greece and Rome more accessible. A digitisation project in the 2000s made over 500 volumes from the series available to a new generation of readers and researchers.

We’re Harvard Library Workers. We Stand in Solidarity with the Study-Ins.
An Op-Ed piece for the Harvard Crimson written by two staff members from Harvard Library, Maya H. Bergamasco and Jonathan S. Tuttle discussing their thoughts on recent Pro-Palestine ‘study-ins’ in Harvard Libraries and the consequent reactions of library management.

Report: Resisting Hate and Navigating Agitation: Irish Public Library Staff Stand United Against Reactionary Challenges to LGBTQ+ Materials.
A new report from UCD by Dr. Páraic Kerrigan, Prof Eugenia Siapera, with colleagues Dr Claire McGuinnesss, Prof Crystal Fulton, Mx. Faye Carrie and Mr Feargal Keenan on reactionary responses to LBGBTQ+ resources in libraries.

How to get started with academic Bluesky.
In this post on the LSE Impact Blog, well known librarian Ned Potter gives tips on how to start on the social media platform Bluesky.

Google Scholar is not broken (yet), but there are alternatives.
Kirsten Elliott points out alternatives to Google Scholar which operate from an open research ethos and are free to use.

A Librarian Against AI.
Violet Fox has written a 40-page zine titled A Librarian Against AI; or, I Think AI Should Leave.
The zine is a decidedly unmeasured response to incessant AI boosterism. Its main audience is library workers, but it was written in the hope that everyone who’s interested in accurate, unbiased information might get something out of it. It’s also heavily illustrated with quotes from the television show I Think You Should Leave, but you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy the zine.

Why use of new AI enhanced tools that help with literature review should be discouraged for undergraduates.
Aaron Tay considers the use of AI among undergraduates when writing a literature review and provides a detailed analysis of such tools and the potential risks.

MIT Press Looks at How to Move Forward With OA Policies.
A comprehensive insight into how open access may affect research and researchers in the future, how to measure their impact, and address emerging challenges.

Can Google Scholar survive the AI revolution?
Smriti Mallapaty qualifies that many of Google Scholar’s advantages — free access, breadth of information and sophisticated search options — are now being shared by other platforms. “Up until recently, Google Scholar was my default search,” says Aaron Tay, an academic librarian at Singapore Management University. It’s still top of his list, but “recently, I started using other AI tools”.

Digital Scholarly Journals Are Poorly Preserved: A Study of 7 Million Articles.
Martin Paul Eve constructed a database of preservation information from original archival sources and then examined the preservation statuses of 7,438,037 DOIs in a random sample. This work reveals an alarming preservation deficit. Only 0.96% of Crossref members (n = 204) can be confirmed to digitally preserve over 75% of their content in three or more of the archives that were studied.

26 Nov 2024

Top Tips and Wisdom from Government Librarians

This guest post is by Amy Bond, Assistant Librarian & Information Specialist in An Bord Bia / The Irish Food Board. 

The Government Libraries Section of the Library Association of Ireland is made up of members working across government departments, semi-state agencies, and other support organisations. Many of these librarians are working as solo librarians or within small teams, making a big impact on their wider organisations while building up vast knowledge over decades of public service. We believe this knowledge is a precious resource and wanted to capture the wisdom of our members. Instead of hoarding these gems of insight among our own group with hope that librarians across other sectors can also learn from our collective knowledge.

To help give structure to our expertise we leveraged the framework of CILIP’s Professional Knowledge and Skills Base wheel, organising our tips around the pillars falling under professional expertise and generic skills. You can learn more about this tool on the CILIP website here.


A horizontal row of books on their sides with shelves of books in the background
Assorted book lot by Jessica Ruscello on Unsplash

Collection Management and Development

Develop collections your users really want and align development to strategic priorities. Ensure you measure the value and impact of your collection annually. Collect quantitative and qualitative proof points to ensure that it’s fit for purpose.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Ensure collections are easily accessible in available formats for increased engagement.
Lauren Sneyd - Assistant Librarian, Bord Bia

Consult regularly with your users to ensure that collections meet current needs and make sure they know how to access resources.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

If working in a smaller organisation, find ways to be clever with limited resources. Work closely with users to make sure that the resources you are providing access to are meeting their needs and providing good value. Look at what useful resources out there may be available for free or open access.
GLS Member

Review your collection regularly to ensure the material is relevant and current. Ensure resources are available in accessible formats for all users.
GLS Member

Data management

Leverage technology to mine your data for causation insights and once you find the so what in your data use it to tell engaging stories. E.g. Our Librarians save library users xxx amount of time, xxx amount of money, we help inform xxx decisions etc.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Utilise data to tailor collections and activities to areas of interest
Lauren Sneyd - Assistant Librarian, Bord Bia

Monitor usage of resources and services and use the data to drive decision making and show the impact of your service.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

Use evidence-based decision making in your management and development of both print and electronic collections. Query the data to ensure it's offering a clear picture of use of resources.
GLS Member


Information exploitation and use

There are up to five generations in today's workforce, build an understanding of their information needs and consumption preferences and exploit information so they can search for and use it in the right formats for their needs.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Keep up to date with what projects are going on in your organisation or key areas of interest and highlight information resources that may be beneficial to them.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

I am working on curating our offering of platforms and defining more closely what should go into each platform, making data easier to find.
GLS Member

Information governance and compliance

Ensure your governance and compliance policies are well developed, up to date and widely communicated, taking into account privacy, copyright, IP and licensing, ownership and accountability. If you're not responsible for creating governance policies in your organisation, offer to get involved and share your expertise in relation to information governance and compliance.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Ensure that users are aware of information governance policies, such as copyright, data protection through in-person/online briefings, intranet posts or posters at copying machines.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

Ensure policies for different information areas such as collection development, copyright and records management reinforce each other and that your expertise provides input into the review and development of policies (if not under your ownership).
GLS Member

Policies, while important, can be lengthy and cumbersome to reference. I am working on creating a "quick reference" checklist to ensure the integrity of information.
GLS Member

Information management

Organise your information in a way that makes it easily accessible, ensure professional standards in cataloguing classification, metadata and thesauri and subject indexing are practiced.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia 

Be a leader in information management, ensuring information is easy to find, up to date and reliable.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

I am working through de-mystifying the process and removing the fear associated with "getting rid" of information, re-aligning the focus to easily finding relevant documentation
GLS Member

Review access from the perspective of a new library user.  Ensure resources are accessible.
GLS Member

Knowledge management

Build Knowledge Management Strategies that help:
1. Convert tacit to explicit knowledge
2. Demonstrate the value of KM
3. Make knowledge easily discoverable
4. Foster collaboration
5. Take account of culture, people, processes and technology as an enabler, NOT the solution.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Share learnings from training courses or conferences with all staff.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

Seek ways to support staff in your organisation to share their knowledge. E.g. facilitate 'knowledge share' sessions for different business areas to share their expertise, or for projects to feedback to staff on key learnings. Another example may be to facilitate staff members to share learnings from conferences and seminars.
GLS Member

Taking opportunities for Micro-learning at Staff Meetings, Innovation Seminars, Newsletters and Intranet leverage.
GLS Member

Four people sitting at a table, three of them are looking at a woman who is standing and putting coloured squares of paper on the wall.
Woman placing sticky notes on a wall by Jason Goodman on Unsplash

Literacies and learning

Always lean into Bloom's taxonomy when designing the objectives and outcomes of your learning and literacy programmes. As new technologies emerge use what you already know and transfer it to new literacies, information literacy, meets digital and AI literacy.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Constantly evolve to meet user needs in a variety of learning styles and keep up to date with the latest trends.
Lauren Sneyd - Assistant Librarian, Bord Bia

When trying to engage users in information literacy training, always try to tie it to some real part of their life, whether that's professional, academic, or personal, so that they can see immediate tangible benefits to these skills.
Amy Bond, Assistant Librarian, Bord Bia

Running a journal club is a great way to get staff reading and critically appraising literature.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

Our organisation has started to assign time to research and development in the company of a senior staff member, utilising our library space and online resources.
GLS Member

Records management and archiving

1. Create - Understand why you're creating a record and use that to drive how you manage it; choose concise, objective, meaningful and standardised naming conventions; use version control to avoid duplication and review schedules to manage timeliness.
2. Organise - classify in a systematic way and store in secure or collaborative digital paces depending on who needs access.
3. Dispose - review your retention schedule and archive or dispose in a secure manner as per policy.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

When trying to improve records management within a team or organisation it is not enough to understand the records themselves, but you need to understand the workflow behind them, and why these records are being created. For this reason, it needs to be a deeply collaborative process.
Amy Bond, Assistant Librarian, Bord Bia

Records management is a team effort. Get a representative from each team in the organisation to be a champion for records management. They should have a good understanding of their records, how they are stored and the retention periods. The representatives can meet regularly to share experiences.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

Gaining buy-in from senior management is key to successfully embedding good Records Management practices. If a particular business area or team is experiencing issues implementing good practice, sit down with them to explore why this is so, and help them to come up with a process that works for their needs. Often good practice is about navigating organisational culture and human behaviour, rather than just developing good policies and procedures.
GLS Member

Simplify records management, relevant to your own organisation. Make it section specific in relevance. General guidance causes confusion.
GLS Member

Research

Follow Bord Bia’s Seven steps of Knowing how to best use information to deliver maximum business value:
1. Start with a good research question
2. Understand the best sources available to meet your needs
3. Execute good search strategies/prompts to retrieve the best search results
4. Evaluate your sources
5. Manage your sources for easy retrieval
6. Develop insights and implications
7. Reflect, conduct a lessons learned to drive continuous research improvement.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Use the CRAAP test to evaluate the quality of information - Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
Lauren Sneyd - Assistant Librarian, Bord Bia

When conducting desk research on behalf of library users, don't get started until you have a clear understanding of the purpose of the search request. Without this, it will be difficult to deliver resources to answer the information need. Spending time clarifying goals upfront will save time on follow up searches.
Amy Bond - Assistant Librarian, Bord Bia

The librarian/information specialist can play a key part in the research process by carrying out or assisting in the design of a research question, conducting literature searches or peer reviewing literature searches. Ensure your users are aware of your skills in this area.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

A laptop a phone and a notebook on a table beside a torso and arms of a person. In the background an out of focus woman is visible.
Black smartphone near person by Headway on Unsplash

Customer focus, service design and marketing

Gather library, knowledge management impact stories and use this authentic user content to market and promote your services. Design new services your users want, so understand their pain points and needs, then pilot new services with a small group of users to test before launching, act on feedback launch and continue to measure and evolve.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Create engaging visual content to market and promote your services and, if possible, carve out distinct brand assets so your content will be instantly recognisable to users.
Lauren Sneyd - Assistant Librarian, Bord Bia

To deliver strong marketing you need to take time to develop a plan that sets out who are your target audiences, what are the goals and objectives of your marketing efforts, and what are the key messages that you want to deliver through your marketing. Only when this work has been done can you create effective strategies and tactics, and understand what success looks like for these.
Amy Bond - Assistant Librarian, Bord Bia

Get regular feedback from your users through surveys or focus groups. Focus groups can be really useful for getting more in-depth views of users and you can gain a better understanding of their needs.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

Make it simple to pick up and put down. Reduce barriers to entry as much as possible.
GLS Member

Use cross-promotion strategies to market your library. Collaborate with colleagues across your organisation and contribute to different projects and initiatives.
GLS Member

Leadership advocacy influencing and personal effectiveness

Practice a growth mindset, that of a lifelong learner, who provides strong visible leadership of self, community, team, and the unknown. If you want to instil a growth mindset culture in your people, role model the behaviours you wish to see and always keep an eye to external forces which help you to see the bigger picture of what's on the horizon. Practice the ability to influence key stakeholders in line with an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.  Practice gratitude and appreciation for human potential and use the power of conversation to bring diverse groups of people together to make sense of complex issues and those of strategic importance. Join Library and Professional associations like the LAI, CILIP, ALA, IFLA and seek out professional development opportunities and networks that help you hone your leadership skills. Consider applying for the LAI Fellowship award to display your CPD at this level.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Get involved in different committees/working groups either within or outside of your organisation and show how valuable your information skills are to others.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

Create space for learning. Physical and mental space. We are a time-poor society of convenience. It requires a culture shift return to thirst for knowledge that is not as instant as a google search. Managers and Boards need to put a focus back on time carve out for continuous learning.
GLS Member

Strategy planning and management

Adopt a stop, start, evolve practice to ensure you plan, execute and measure according to strategic priorities.  Remain attuned to rapid external changes to ensure you manage uncertainty and pivot as needed.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Set clear, achievable goals and be willing to be flexible.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

Strategy is a start point. Too often we hear "It is in the strategy" but the strategy is a framework to create more meaningful content. Strategy is a start not a stop. It can change and evolve. It does not need to be static. A static strategy will cause a static organisation mindset.
GLS Member

Technology and communication

Keeping up to date with advances in technology and communication will come easier to those who practice lifelong learning. Adaptability is key, so be open to on the job, self-directed and formal learning, reverse mentoring and experimentation to keep up to date with advances that can elevate how your collections and services are developed, managed and made more accessible to more people in more ways possible.
Mairéad McKeown - Knowledge Manager, Bord Bia

Join librarian networks and groups to keep up to date and learn practical strategies for managing resource acquisitions. Take opportunities for formal training e.g. in negotiations and informal learning opportunities eg. from colleagues and at relevant conferences.
Jill Corish - Assistant Librarian, Houses of the Oireachtas

Make time to explore new technologies. The tools we use are constantly changing so make sure you are signed up to relevant newsletters or journals to keep yourself up to date.
Noeleen Murtagh - Information Management Executive, FSAI

Find different ways to get your message across - you may reach more people if the message is delivered through different mediums. E.g. email to staff, a piece in the internal staff newsletter, and verbal updates at staff meetings.
GLS Member

Leverage what you have and add additional technologies with scepticism. Too often we have too many platforms, and not enough development of each one to cater to the needs of the staff.
GLS Member

Keep up to date with tech developments and take time to trial new features. Seek feedback on new or enhanced products from colleagues. LIS networking groups offer the opportunity to discuss resources, best practice, strategies and ideas with other LIS professionals.
GLS Member


You can learn more about the work of the GLS and how to become a member on the LAI website here. You can also follow us on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

References:

www.cilip.org.uk. (n.d.). Accessing the Professional Knowledge and Skills Base (PKSB). [online] Available at: https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/PKSB.


Posted on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 | Categories: