The Library and Information Research Group is delighted to bring you a series of CPD events during 2023, which include a programme of online events introducing LIS practitioners to workplace research and a series of research methods lunchtime webinars:

Library and Information Workplace Research events series

Please note the date changes from our previous post

These events are open to all who are interested in developing their research skills and undertaking LIS workplace research. You can register for individual sessions, or all four to get a complete picture of the workplace research environment.

The sessions are outlined below, along with dates for your diaries. You can register for individual sessions, or all four to get a complete picture of the workplace research environment. As well as the skills development and workshop elements of the sessions, participants will also hear from LIS practitioners from different sectors who have themselves already gained practical skills in these areas will talk about their experiences.

Each session is £20 for CILIP members, £30 for non-members (or whole series £60 for CILIP members, £100 for non-members). There is also a number of complimentary places available on each session for students, unwaged and under-represented groups.

Each session will run virtually on Zoom. Register below for the full series or individual events.

Session 1 Getting started with research and evaluation Friday 12th May 2023 – 09:30-12:30

Getting started with research and evaluation. Library and knowledge services workplace research. Facilitators: Alison Brettle (University of Salford); Leo Appleton (University of Sheffield). Guest presenters: Cliodhna O’Reilly, Fingal Libraries, Dublin; Becky Scott, University of Hertfordshire and Pip Divall, Clinical Librarian Service Manager, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Session 2 Research methods Friday 8th September 2023 – 13:30-16:30

Research Methods Library and knowledge services workplace research. Facilitators: Alison Brettle (University of Salford); Leo Appleton (University of Sheffield). Guest presenters tbc.

Session 3 Writing a research proposal Friday 13th October 2023 – 13:30-16:30

Writing a research proposal. Library and knowledge services workplace research. Facilitators: Alison Brettle (University of Salford); Leo Appleton (University of Sheffield). Guest presenters tbc

Session 4 Writing for publication Friday 17th November 2023 – 13:30-16:30

Writing a research proposal. Library and knowledge services workplace research. Facilitators: Alison Brettle (University of Salford); Leo Appleton (University of Sheffield). Guest presenters tbc

 for the full series or individual events

Research Methods Lunchtime series (1 hour sessions, online + recorded, free of charge)

• Focus groups - Facilitator Leo Appleton - Fri. 19 May 12:00-13:00 Register here
• Surveys and survey design - Facilitator: Alison Brettle - Fri. 16 June 12:00:13:00 Register here
  
• Statistical analysis for LIS researchers - Facilitator: tbc - Fri. 1 September Register here
• Introduction to research data management for librarians - Facilitator: Cath Dishman - Fri. 15 September 12:00-13:00 Register here

What role will you be playing in the committee?

I am the new Awards Officer, working with the committee to develop and provide awards that grow research expertise, capacity and impact of LIRG members.

What is your day job?

I am the Senior Information Specialist and manage a team of information specialists based in a research department (Academic Unit of Health Economics) within the University of Leeds. My role involves designing literature searches and managing references for all types of evidence syntheses, advising on systematic review methods, literature searches to support researchers apply for funding, and teaching information skills to postgraduates and CPD students. I’m also a manager within the health economics department, leading knowledge and data management processes.

What do you hope to bring to the committee?

My experiences of supporting grant applications, plus working alongside researchers should bring relevant skills for reviewing awards applications. I’m looking forward to opportunities to share research skills and knowledge, supporting developments in library and information science research.

When you aren’t working what do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy being creative in many ways such as baking, sewing, home decorating and am a keen though not too successful gardener (I blame the slugs). Music and going to gigs is my much noisier hobby!

I am delighted to share with you a second post about CILIP Conference +Expo 2022. This time from our LIRG bursary winner Rachel Salzano. Rachel is a PhD student at Edinburgh Napier University in the Centre for Social Informatics. She is working on a doctoral study titled "The Influence of Culture on Perceived Use of the Public Libraries by Newcomers" and blogs about her experiences on her Librarian Sans Library blog.

Rachel’s post Attending 2022 CILIP Conf + Expo talks about her experience as a first time delegate and her key takeaways from the Conference. Whilst you are there why not check out some of her other posts.

As I said in my last post (and Rachel agrees), if you haven’t attended CILIP Conference before check out the programme and bursary opportunities next year.

We’re delighted that LIRG are exhibiting at this year’s CILIP Conference + Expo, on 7+8 July at Liverpool Exhibition Centre.

Come and see us on our stand to find out more about what we do and enter a competition to win a free place at one of our future events. We’d also like you to tell us what future training/events you’d like us to offer, so come along and let us know what you would like to see on our programme.

There is nothing like the CILIP annual Conference + Expo on the calendar for library and information professionals - a unique chance to be in the room with hundreds of like-minded colleagues, sharing experiences and knowledge from all sectors and gaining insight from thought-leaders. 

You can look forward to two days of a comprehensive programme that will appeal to professionals in all sectors, no matter what stage of career. The content will encourage discussion, knowledge sharing and cross-sectoral learning, and provide delegates with the practical skills and knowledge to positively influence the future. Topics under discussion include media and information literacy, working towards Net Zero, decolonising the curriculum, data driven decisions, evidencing your impact and intellectual freedom.

Keynote speakers include Sayf Al Ashqar, Director of Libraries from Mosul University, and Krystal Vittles who is Deputy Chief Executive from Suffolk Libraries.

See the programme and book your ticket: https://cilipconference.org.uk/

The Library and Information Research Group (LIRG) supports and raises the profile of library and information science research and its use by CILIP members and the wider community.  We encourage 'research into practice' by providing activities and publications for LIS practitioners and researchers.

The LIRG committee meets monthly via zoom.  Committee members are from a range of different backgrounds and library sectors and include both practitioners and library academics providing a lively, diverse and friendly group. 

We are currently looking to recruit a new Awards Officer to our committee to look after and oversee the awards and bursaries that the group administrates during the course of the year.  Training and support in the role will be provided by existing committee members and CILIP as appropriate. If you are looking for professional engagement and you want to gain additional skills and develop your career further, then this is a great position to do that in? Being part of a cross-sectoral CILIP committee is a great way to engage with your profession and to network with information professionals from all sectors.

General requirements for committee members include:

• Commitment to LIRG mission of conducting research and/or putting research into practice within LIS setting
• Team work and communication skills
• Current awareness of issues affecting the LIS sector and the role of research and evidence-based decision-making in practice.
• Experience of working in an LIS setting.
• Commitment to attending LIRG committee meetings (1 hour per month)
  

To view the full job description, please see: https://informationprofessionaljobs.com/jobs/awards-and-prizes-officer-uk-wide/906-1/ 

If you are interested in being a part of LIRG and the role of Awards Officer, then please get in touch with Leo Appleton, chair of LIRG.

CILIP is committed to championing diversity, inclusion and representation. We particularly welcome applications from people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, candidates who identify as LGBTQ+, people with experience of disability and those who are neurodiverse, who have historically been under-represented on our committees.

Free memberships for library and information workers from ethnically diverse backgrounds

As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, the CILIP Board has set an organisation-wide goal of 20% ethnically diverse representation on all of CILIP’s boards and committees by the end of 2022. To facilitate this, we are offering up to 150 complimentary memberships to library, knowledge and information workers from ethnically diverse backgrounds who are duly selected to join a committee before the end of 2022. This offer is open to CILIP members and non-members.