Information & Library Management
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Item Is there a place for libraries of things in Irish public libraries?(Dublin Business School, 2024-09-05) Hunter, Alison; Trevor HaughThe aim of this research study is to understand whether there is “a place for Libraries of Things in Irish public libraries”; to investigate the strategy, barriers and drivers involved in implementation of Libraries of Things (LoTs) in Ireland, and to consider whether a model for offering LoTs might be adapted to the current situation in Irish public libraries, based upon the research findings. Qualitative data for the study was gathered by interviews with 7 senior public librarians in Ireland, and a comparative interview with an American librarian. Findings suggest that there is wary support for LoTs, amongst Irish public librarians. The main concerns identified were risk, staffing, funding and space/storage. Many Irish libraries currently offer “Things”. The research shows that there is already a place for Libraries of Things in Irish public libraries, but that this is currently dependent on individual local authorities, and not an explicit national strategy.Item Dublin City Library users’ awareness and perceptions of public library services(Dublin Business School, 2023-08) Baldwin, Esme; Browne, AndrewIrish public libraries have changed drastically in the past 25 years. Guided by a series of national public library strategies, Irish library authorities joined within the national consortium of Libraries Ireland to provide linked services throughout the country. The linked system and its facilities receive a lot of use and focus by library authorities but have not featured in much academic research since their respective launches. To address this gap in research this study was designed to measure levels of awareness and perceptions of recent service developments locally and nationally. This was completed with a questionnaire aimed at Dublin City Library users. The survey found that active library users are more likely to be aware of national services than non-users. Local services from Dublin City Libraries could be promoted more to users as awareness levels were much lower than for national services. Despite lower awareness, all services included were positively perceived by respondents, though future research could investigate public reception on a deeper level.Item Pop Culture and Information Literacy Teaching: Considerations from and for Irish Academic Librarians(Dublin Business School, 2023) Botelho da Silva, Francisca Isabel; Bustillo Esteban, MartaIn the current information landscape, promoting Information Literacy (IL) skills is of the utmost importance, especially within academic settings where searching and evaluating information are integral to student success. Academic librarians play a vital role in transmitting these skills to students, as they employ diverse engagement methods to increase student’s confidence and engagement. By conducting interviews with academic librarians in Ireland who have had experience with IL teaching, this research aimed to discuss one particular educational tool, popular culture, so as to address a geographical and contextual gap found in the literature. The findings suggest that despite potential limitations and the many factors that dictate its success, popular culture has been found to be quite beneficial by Irish academic librarians, mostly due to its accessibility and ability to showcase the transferable nature of IL skills to students, making it a valuable method for those looking to create engaging teaching moments.Item A Case Study of Two County Libraries' Motivations in Archiving/Collecting Local Irish History and Folklore(Dublin Business School, 2019) O'Leary, Lisa; Isabelle CourtneyThe aim of this dissertation is to investigate the motivation behind why local Irish history and folklore is being archived/collected in two example county libraries. This study employed an inductive, qualitative research approach utilising a three-case case study methodology. The primary data was gathered via three semi-structured interviews with open-format questions, interviews were transcribed, and subsequent coding and analysis was thematic in nature. This research found that a fundamental motivating factor for archiving/collecting lies in the power and social memory of the archive/collection which embodies the significance of its existence and cultural identity which impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. Additionally, the material type often affects whether material is archived/collected, and while there are relationships between the libraries, libraries and the NFC, and archivists and librarians, connections are informal and inconsistent. In conclusion, much evidence of a complex motivation and collection of material, with informal but nonetheless interconnected relationships was established.Item A sense of sexual community and history across time: Irish Queer and LGBT archives(Dublin Business School, 2020-08) Morgan, Gerard; Thornley, ClareThis study examines the status of LGBTQ+ archives in Ireland, conducting qualitative semi-structured interviews with 4 people involved in such archives, in various capacities over several years; founding and maintaining archives, negotiating partnerships with state institutions and continuing to consult with these, or working within institutions, where there have been efforts to expand upon collections or initiate projects to increase LGBTQ+ representation. The results illustrate difficulties encountered by community archives, often volunteer-run and lacking resources, and the value of creating networks locally and internationally, to develop practices and establish models for access and preservation. Findings also reveal frictions that can result from community archives entering relationships with institutions, highlighting a need for continued engagement to avoid misrepresentation and misinterpretation, and ensure continued accessibility, while also identifying limitations within institutions themselves. The results were analysed in the context of a literature review which examined the experiences of such archives in other countries. The research expands the knowledge and understanding of the experiences of LGBTQ+ archives in Ireland.