libfocus

The 'Death of a Library' by @ajemmon.bsky.social @dculibrary.bsky.social received the 4th & final special mention from the @aslibraries.bsky.social Blog Post Competition judges. She looks at the destruction of libraries with a focus on the film The Handmaiden www.libfocus.com/2026/10/deat...

'The Last Patron Before Closing' - exploring how pop culture shapes perceptions of Libraries and Librarians through the lens of the film John Wick. Author @blaithinhurley.bsky.social received a special mention in the @aslibraries.bsky.social Blog Post Competition. www.libfocus.com/2026/10/the-...

Save the date! We are thrilled to announce that the Academic and Special Libraries Conference is returning on 9th April 2027. Add the date to your diary to join us next year in the @ria.ie in Dublin. Our #ASL2027 conference theme announcement and call for papers is coming soon!

"From Ancient Egypt to Magical Archives" explores how libraries are portrayed in video games as spaces of discovery, storytelling & adventure. Lisa O'Leary @ucclibrary.bsky.social received a special mention in the @aslibraries.bsky.social Blog Post Competition. www.libfocus.com/2026/10/from...

'The Librarian and the Machine' is a thoughtful and engaging examinination of the relationship between libraries and technology. Grace O'Connor @dculibrary.bsky.social received a special mention for this entry to the @aslibraries.bsky.social Blog Post competition. www.libfocus.com/2026/10/the-...

We're excited to share the winning & highly commended entries to the A&SL Blog Post Competition! Over the next 3 weeks @libfocus.bsky.social will publish 4 entries that received special mentions from the judges, building up to the announcement of the 1st place winner in early November - the TENSION!

New post "Why We Still Need Librarians and DJs in an Age of Algorithms. @martinoconnor.bsky.social reflects on the shared role of librarians and DJs as curators, connectors and guides, and why human recommendation still has value in a world of endless choice. www.libfocus.com/2026/09/why-...

Did you love a book by an Irish Author or with work by an Irish illustrator that was published this year? If the answer is yes then get your vote in today for the LAI Author / Illustrator of the year award!

New article by Libfocus guest author Holly Meade-Kennedy: "Artist Una Watters and The Cost of the Marriage Bar on Irish Libraries." www.libfocus.com/2026/08/arti...

Our August 26 link-out is out. Check it out at libfocus.com

We're delighted to see entries for the A&SL Blog Post Competition arriving in already. Make sure you get your submission to us by 31st August to be in with a chance to win €100, €75 or €50 and to get your blog post published in @libfocus.bsky.social

Summer is well underway. Our July link-out has some interesting LIS news! Manu Kapur argues that employers will need those who can reason – not only with AI but, more importantly, against it. There's more. Check it out over at www.libfocus.com

If retirement is on your horizon, give this guest post by Helen Fallon a read. Written for librarians, but the advice applies to anyone thinking about life beyond work. Thoughtful, practical and timely. 🔗 www.libfocus.com/2026/07/beyo... #Retirement #LifeTransitions #PlanningAhead

Read our response to the House of Commons Education Cttee’s Reading for Pleasure report. It’s clear: school and public libraries run by trained library staff are essential to build a reading nation. CILIP is ready to work with Govt to turn these recommendations into action. https://ow.ly/Bpif50ZpWx9

The Odyssey: a story shaped to be retold 📜📖✨ Meet experts from The University of Manchester and John Rylands Library to explore the oldest known surviving copy of Homer’s Odyssey in book form on parchment and find out why the story has resonated with so many through the centuries.

Don't miss the chance to wax lyrical about how library work and workers have been portrayed on TV, in films, in books, in video games and more. As well as the not so shabby prizes, you'll also get to see your article published on the libfocus blog - so break out that laptop and get writing!

In our latest guest post Nadina Yedid shares how a “library without walls” is creating a community-led lending service for Argentina’s diaspora in Ireland. She tells a story of innovation, flexibility and putting people before systems. www.libfocus.com/2026/07/buil...

In this guest post, Margaret Irons, Librarian at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies explores why Research Data Management (RDM) is becoming essential for library professionals, sharing her takeaways from a recent micro-credential in #RDM & #DataStewardship. www.libfocus.com/2026/06/deve...

New Libfocus post by Cathal Madigan, Library Assistant @tudublin.bsky.social, reviewing the @lirheanet.bsky.social LIR Annual Seminar 2026, which explored Supporting Emerging Literacies: how do libraries design and deliver new literacy programmes? www.libfocus.com/2026/06/lite...

To mark #Bloomsday, Alana Mahon O'Neill writes about the Ulysses Book Club in DCU. Over a year two local Joyce enthusiasts led a group of DCU staff and community members through the influential novel where they discovered its vulgarity, silliness and intricacies www.libfocus.com

Our latest guest post is from the HSLJ editorial team who highlight the latest issue of the journal and put out a call for submissions for their Winter issue. Congratulations to libfocus team member @eilisoneill.bsky.social whose co-written article features this month! More at www.libfocus.com

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the A&SL and HSLG Summer Networking Evening in @ria.ie yesterday. We enjoyed a talk by the inspiring Jane Burns about how librarians can use their skills to thrive across different sectors. We hope you got your murderous librarian badge!

We're delighted to share that the Communications Undergraduate Journal (in collaboration with DCU School of Communications) was among entries that received a Highly Commended distinction in the Jennifer Burke Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning! #EdTech2026 @dublincityuni.bsky.social

Many thanks to everyone who joined #JanewayOA26 online and in person, and to all the speakers, for two wonderful days at Dublin City University discussing Janeway, open infrastructure, and community-led scholarly publishing.

I think this is probably the first place other than @openlibhums.org annual report that mentions @plos.org are contributing to @janewayolh.bsky.social and will be utilising it as part of their workflow. It’s pretty incredible that a project I started with @eve.gd has come so far.

Summer is well on its way. Our May link-out has some interesting LIS news! James O'Sullivan talks about the qualified nonsense and dangers of AI detection. Barry Andrews writes about publishers ripping off public libraries (no surprise there). There's more. Check it out over at www.libfocus.com

New Libfocus post by @stephaniechen.bsky.social @ucclibrary.bsky.social, based on delegate input at @aslibraries.bsky.social conference reflecting on what librarianship means today & for those in the profession: evolving roles, skills, and focus on access and users. www.libfocus.com/2026/05/what...

Lauren Sneyd's guest post looks at the key messages delivered at the HSLG conference 2026 on the theme 'Finding Strength in Difference'. The presenters offered timely insights into how libraries can navigate rapid technological change. Find out more at www.libfocus.com

Our latest guest post, by Dina Gorelik (MLIS student, @ucdischool.bsky.social) is now live A reflective review of the Academic & Special Libraries Conference 2026, exploring open scholarship, data-driven decision-making & the future of librarianship. www.libfocus.com/2026/05/revi...

Get your roundup of library and information news from this month's link-out! Learn about DigitalArc and Opaque Publisher, airport libraries, library promotional strategies and much more over at libfocus.com.

Our latest guest post, by Alexander Kouker, explores the history of the scholarly journal (a brief spiel). Check it out over at www.libfocus.com/2026/04/trac...

It's almost April already. This month's link-out has all the library and information news you need! Amber Dance makes the case that every scientist needs a librarian. Check it out and more over at www.libfocus.com

Submissions are now open for the LIR Annual Seminar 2026. Focusing on supporting emerging literacies, it takes place in person at the Asiera offices, Dublin 1, on 13th May. Submit your abstract by 31st March! www.libfocus.com/2026/03/call... #LIRAnnualSeminar2026

This month's link-out has all the library and information news you need! Carlo Iacono convincingly argues that our "inability to focus isn’t a failing. It’s a design problem. Check it out and more over at www.libfocus.com

Don't miss the chance to attend #ASL2026 for FREE! LIS students and library sector workers - apply for 1 of 2 bursaries by 24th February to join us in @ria.ie on 24th March AND have your conference review published in @libfocus.bsky.social or An Leabharlann! More info: aslibraries.ie/asl-2026-bur...

Our latest guest post, by Michelle O’Donovan of @ucclibrary.bsky.social explores how Conversation Cafés are building meaningful connections between students, and are bringing them together over a cup of coffee and a chat (while introducing them to the library) www.libfocus.com/2026/02/the-...

This month's link-out has all the library and information news you need! A University library closure prompts outrage, the importance of librarians sharing what they do, AI, academic journals, the @warmwelcomeuk.bsky.social, mental health for library workers and more over at www.libfocus.com

Don't miss the chance to go to the always brilliant #ASL2026 for free, network with library sector colleagues and have your conference review published online. Apply by 24th February!

If you’re looking to ground yourself in a topic with fact-based research, librarians are still your best friends. “There’s information,” the librarian said to me, “and then there’s the right information.” nautil.us/viva-la-libr... #libraries #skybrarians #publibs

Researchers dismayed as NASA's largest research library closes in Maryland 📜📚 www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/r...

"As I have been working on an inventory of our medical instruments..." Archivists really do have the coolest jobs in libraries. From University of Louisville Libraries 📚 uofllibraries.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/f...

Calling all LIS students and unemployed library sector workers! Don't miss out on our discounted €50 tickets for #ASL2026 on 24th March in @ria.ie, Dublin. Join us for networking opportunities, insights into library innovations and best practices and more. Register at aslibraries.ie/asl-conferen...

Find out how to submit an abstract for the CONUL Conference with this guest post by the @conulconference.bsky.social committee. Submit your abstract by 20th January and you could be presenting at #CONUL2026 in Galway on 27th and 28th May. www.libfocus.com/2026/01/call...

Our first guest post of 2026 is from the editorial team of the Health Sciences Libraries Journal. They highlight the articles featured in the latest issue of the journal and share details about the deadlines for the Summer 2026 issues. www.libfocus.com

Submit your abstract for #ASL2026 by 19th January and tick off the first of your New Year's Resolutions! Don't miss the chance to present on the theme 'Reimagining librarianship: Purpose, practice, possibility' on 24th March 2026 in @ria.ie in Dublin. More info: aslibraries.ie/asl-conferen...

Happy Christmas and New Year to all our lovely followers and to everyone who has engaged with us here and visited us at libfocus.com. The blog has published more than 40 articles this year, huge thanks to all our contributors. Find out what our most read article of 2025 was at tinyurl.com/4e6jsp6p

In our final guest post of 2025, Bennery Rickard @hselive.bsky.social looks at #HSELibraryDay which took place on 24 September 2025. Careful planning and promotion resulted in 50 events across the country highlighting libraries and librarians in the health service. www.libfocus.com

Tickets are now on sale for #ASL2026! We can't wait to see you in @ria.ie in Dublin on 24 March 2026. With @niamhtumelty.bsky.social and @lizjolly.bsky.social as our keynote speakers, this is an event you don't want to miss. Registration and conference information at tinyurl.com/8s2kfz62