Libraries In Ireland Research Articles

Supporting the Barrister Profession in Northern Ireland: 100 Years and Counting

AbstractThis article by Niamh Burns, Senior Manager for Library & Member Support Services at the Bar of Northern Ireland, provides a brief overview of the history of the Bar of Northern Ireland and an explanation of the Bar Library model and the services it provides. She provides an insight into some of the current issues facing the barrister profession in Northern Ireland, then focuses on what the Bar of Northern Ireland's Library & Information Service is doing to support members of the Bar Library in meeting some of their challenges.

KEBIJAKAN PENGEMBANGAN KOLEKSI: AKUISISI KOLEKSI DI PERPUSTAKAAN PERGURUAN TINGGI TRINITY DUBLIN

This article aims to investigate the collection activities carried out by the Dublin Trinity College Library as part of the collections development process. The method used in this article is a qualitative method, and the data collection technique uses literature studies. Dublin Trinity College Library is one of the higher education libraries in Ireland which has a collection of more than 6 million printed volumes with a collection of journals, manuscripts, maps and music. The collection's acquisition as a collection development undertaken by the Dublin Trinity College Library was a purchase and a grant. Purchases are made independently with predetermined criteria such as collections that support teaching, learning, and research at Trinity Dublin College. And acquisitions through grants consist of providing copies of archives and documents published by the Commonwealth of England, namely the British and Irish intelligence.

Neoliberalism and public library policy in Ireland, 1998–2011: From the first government policy document to the first general election after the Great Recession

This article discusses the influence of neoliberal ideology on public libraries in Ireland, from the first government policy document published in 1998 to the first election after the recession in 2011. The context of the rise in importance of the idea of information and the parallel acceptance of the principles of the free market for providing public services are examined. The Irish government policy documents from the period are analyzed. A critical awareness of these changes is needed in the library and information science field to recognize and oppose policies that are detrimental to the public provision of a library service.

Do Library Schools Adequately Prepare Students for Cataloguing in Irish Law Libraries: an Investigation

AbstractIn 2008, BIALL held a pre-conference workshop in Dublin entitled “Back to Basics: Cataloguing and Classification”. The workshop raised some interesting questions about the quality of cataloguing training provided by library schools and law libraries. Although cataloguing in British law libraries has been the subject of research, no study has yet explored cataloguing in Irish law libraries. This study by Clare O'Dwyer redresses this lack of information by focusing exclusively on the Irish context. The perceptions and expectations of cataloguers are examined using a multiple case study design combining interviews and questionnaires. The libraries selected for case study are representative of the three main types of law libraries in Ireland: a professional society law library, a government law library and a law firm library. Following analysis and discussion of the research findings, the study concludes with a series of recommendations regarding the curriculum for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and further training of cataloguers in Irish law libraries.

The status of health librarianship and libraries in the Republic of Ireland (SHELLI): a mixed methods review to inform future strategy and sustainability

This paper summarises the main points of a review of the Status of Health Librarianship & Libraries in Ireland (SHELLI). The review was commissioned to gain a broad understanding of what was happening in practice in Ireland; acquire knowledge about international best practice, and to inform strategic plans to develop and sustain health libraries and librarianship in Ireland. A Mixed Methods approach was used: a literature review; an online survey distributed to health librarians; Semi structured interviews with key stakeholders; a focus group drawing participants from the survey. All evidence was triangulated. New roles for health librarians needed development and the changing educational needs of health librarians warranted attention. Increased collaboration across institutional boundaries needed more consideration, especially in relation to access to e-resources. Marketing of library services was crucial. Irish health library standards, needed to be updated and enforced and a proper evidence base established. The literature provided a number of examples of potentially useful initiatives. A strategic plan of action was drawn up in three areas: (i) to identify champions and promote visibility of health service libraries, (ii) to establish a body of evidence and (iii) to support service development and staff mentoring.

La Cosmographia d’Aethicus Ister. A propos d’une édition récente

The article reviews the valuable edition of Aethicus Ister’s Cosmographia recently published by M. Herren (Turnhout, 2011), which is characterized by several corrections and brilliant conjectures. It scrutinizes the editor’s hypothesis concerning the dating of the work (placed shortly after 727) and its nature (a collection of excerpts written during a tour of various libraries in Ireland and Italy and converted into a coherent ensemble at Bobbio), reviews the details of editor’s and translator’s choices, and offers the identification of further sources.

The Law Society of Ireland Library; Serving the Solicitors' Profession in Challenging Times

AbstractMary Gaynor gives a brief outline of the historical context of the establishment and development of the Law Society of Ireland library service. She describes core services to solicitor members and trainee solicitors. The impact of the economic recession on the number of solicitors entering, and staying within the profession, is discussed in the context of how the library has adapted to meet the changing needs of its users.

A national document supply co‐operative between healthcare libraries in Ireland

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a co‐operative that facilitates interlending and document supply between health libraries in the Republic of Ireland.Design/methodology/approachThe development and expansion of the service are described from its origin in 1991.FindingsThe paper finds that the co‐operative has been a great success. Many documents could be supplied within the country, at a faster response rate and at a lower cost than by other methods. The number of journals in the scheme has increased from 1,009 to 7,283. Total number of article requests within the co‐operative has risen to 19,293.Originality/valueThis is the only article to give an up‐to‐date overview of an important national resource‐sharing health co‐operative in Ireland.

Local studies collections online: an investigation in Irish public libraries

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate how public libraries in Ireland are using their websites to present local studies collections online.Design/methodology/approachAll the websites of public libraries in Ireland were evaluated against a checklist of 50 criteria by one of the authors. An analytic description was provided of the four highest‐ranking websites and semi‐structured interviews were held with staff in these library authorities.FindingsSeveral interesting trends in Irish local studies and their online presentation were identified. Overall the websites were well‐presented and had a strong sense of branding. Users of these websites typically come from the Irish diaspora in Europe, the US and Australia. Library 2.0 “tools” had been adopted by three of the four authorities investigated, adding value to their websites. Recommendations for future developments are included.Originality/valueThis research should add to the relatively sparse literature available on local authority local studies websites.

An Innovative Northern Ireland Library Service: the Antrim County Library and the North Eastern Education and Library Board 1959–1995, with a Comparison of the Recent History of Library Services in the Area

The first UK public libraries, established under the Public Libraries Act (1850), were essentially urban institutions. The needs of village and rural residents were barely taken into consideration until county library authorities were authorized in 1919. Methods and routines developed in cities and towns were adopted, although they were not designed for residents spread thinly across wider areas. From 1959 to 1995, when it reverted to standard UK methods, one authority, the Antrim County Library, absorbed in 1973 into the North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB), developed unique alternative library processes. The article, to a large degree a historical witness statement, compares the history of the NEELB, and its Antrim County Library forerunner, between 1959 and 1995, with the recent history of library services in the area.

Leadership is Central to the Organizational Success of Libraries

A review of:
 
 Mullins, John, and Margaret Linehan. “The Central Role of Leaders in Public Libraries.” Library Management 26.6/7 (2005): 386-96.
 
 Abstract
 
 Objective – To provide an understanding of the concept of leadership as perceived and practised by a group of international public library leaders, thereby contributing to the existing body of literature on this topic.
 
 Design – Qualitative study employing in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 3 subjects and 27 e-mail interviews based on 30 structured questions formulated from a review of the literature.
 
 Setting – Nottingham and Rotherham, two cities in th Public libraries in Ireland, Britain, and the east coast of the United States during 2003/04.
 
 Subjects – Thirty senior public library leaders.
 
 Methods – Thirty top level library leaders, 50% of whom came from outside Ireland, were selected based on the following rationale concerning their institutions: have a history of providing publicly funded public libraries; are under-researched; and, accessibility for the authors. Irish librarians were chosen based on their national profile, geographic convenience to the researchers, and availability/cooperation. Only library leaders or deputy leaders were considered. Interviews for 27 candidates where scheduled via e-mail and 3 were arranged through face-to-face meetings. Participants were asked 30 structured questions drawn from the current literature on leadership. Responses were recorded electronically and later transcribed for analysis via a grounded theory approach that categorized the data. This method of analysis endeavours to provide theory based on research observations that begin from qualitative data and then go through a process of sifting and categorization, which leads to a hypothesis.
 
 Main results – Nine broad categories emerged from the "grounded theory analysis." The paper deals with only 1 - the central role of the library leader. In response to queries by the authors, 67% (20) agreed that leadership took precedence over all other factors as a determinant for organizational success. Ten (33%) disagreed and were evenly split as to their reasons. Five said it was an important factor, and five felt leadership did not take precedence over other drivers of success. The study reveals that leaders do have an impact in determining organizational culture, with 63% saying the leader determines the culture, and 37% stating the leader only contributes to the culture of an organization. National cultural differences affect this point of view, for example 73% of the Irish public librarians, 60% of the British public librarians, and 40% of the American public librarians stated that it is the leader rather than the staff who determine organizational culture. Another core finding reveals that not all CEO's are leaders and not all librarians are leadership material, which points to the need for more classic leadership training. 
 
 Conclusion – Based on the study's findings, the authors hypothesize that leadership is a central component in the strategic and operational practices and success of public librarianship. Transformational, rather than "leader centric" methods of leadership encourage growth of organizational change and success.

Stories, borrowers and school libraries in Ireland

This article considers the present position of and future for school libraries in the Republic of Ireland. This is discussed in the context of two reports published in Ireland during 2002, The borrowers at school and What's the story? The reading choices of young people in Ireland. The availability of books, funding for school libraries and the encouragement of reading are viewed in the light of changing curricula in schools and national initiatives for the promotion of reading. The contrasts between government concern about literacy levels and actual funding and practical support for libraries and reading is highlighted.

Slide libraries in Ireland: an undervalued resource

A recent survey has examined the current position of slide libraries in Ireland, with particular regard to cataloguing, organisation, staffing, funding, facilities, training and computerisation. Despite the existence of a number of substantial slide collections, little training is available for slide librarians; the Association of Visual Arts in Ireland (AVAIL) plans to study possible solutions to this problem as part of a planned series of professional development seminars to be held over the next eighteen months.

Public Libraries in Ireland II. Public libraries and the visual arts today

In recent years increased interest in the visual arts has led public libraries to increase stock to support this area, to organise exhibitions and to make connections with other arts-related bodies. The recognised extent, quality and value of the public library network lie both in its service to users and in good-quality and centrally located buildings. Imaginative links have been made between the library service and other cultural institutions in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe, particularly in the many thinly populated areas of the country which could otherwise be isolated from the cultural facilities available in the larger conurbations.

Public libraries in Ireland I. Archbishop Narcissus Marsh and the foundation of the first public library

Founded 300 years ago, Marsh’s Library in Dublin – Ireland’s first public library – is described by its librarian as a ‘treasury of the European mind’. The outstanding collections, in their purpose-built 18th-century accommodation, are still accessible to the public. They include Irish books and manuscripts and books on subjects such as travel, botany, music and natural history. Recently the catalogue of printed books has been computerized and made available on the Internet.

The National Gallery of Ireland Library

The National Gallery of Ireland Library has recently re-opened to internal and external readers after a number of years. The concentration so far has been on reader services, while a major revision of the cataloguing and classification procedures is being undertaken. New projects to organise the Gallery’s Archives and make them more accessible for research, and to open a sponsored Centre for the Study of Irish Art in 2002-3, show the Library’s revived interest in reaching its potential users.

Irish university libraries: recent developments and future prospects

The background for university libraries in Ireland is almost identical to that in other EU countries: rapid expansion in student numbers and materials price inflation not being matched by reciprocal funding. Among positive steps to combat this EU programmes are noted and co‐operative initiatives, notably the IRIS and ALCID projects are discussed. National developments are examined, including the activities of the Information Society Commission and moves towards a national library/information policy. The effects of the Universities Act 1997 are also considered. Future strategy is discussed, particularly the pressures for collaboration and distributed systems and their relevance specifically to research libraries considered.

Directory of libraries in Ireland. Pp 143. Second edition. Dublin: Library Association of Ireland; [Belfast]: Library Association, Northern Ireland Branch. 1988. IR£6. - Directory of Irish archives. Edited by Seamus Helferty and Raymond Refaussé. Pp 112. Dublin: Irish Academic Press. 1988. IR£19.95 hardback, IR£9.95 paperback.

Directory of libraries in Ireland. Pp 143. Second edition. Dublin: Library Association of Ireland; [Belfast]: Library Association, Northern Ireland Branch. 1988. IR£6. - Directory of Irish archives. Edited by Seamus Helferty and Raymond Refaussé. Pp 112. Dublin: Irish Academic Press. 1988. IR£19.95 hardback, IR£9.95 paperback. - Volume 27 Issue 105

A history of literacy and libraries in Ireland: the long traced pedigree. By Mary Casteleyn. pp viii, 255, Aldershot: Gower. 1984. £19.50.

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A History of Literacy and Libraries in Ireland: The Long Traced Pedigree. Mary Casteleyn

<i>A History of Literacy and Libraries in Ireland: The Long Traced Pedigree</i>. Mary Casteleyn