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Library and Information Studies at the University of Brighton
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SHARP 2008
Published by Nicola Smith | Filed under Library History, Uncategorized
I spent much of last week at the SHARP (Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing) annual conference held at Oxford Brookes University. The theme of the conference was Teaching and Text and there were a wide variety of responses. I really enjoyed the conference, the lovely thing about SHARP is the range of people who come, I chatted to librarians, archivists, historians, literary scholars and cultural historians. I took part in a panel organised by Toni Weller on behalf of LIHG (Library & Information History Group), our title was Searching for culture: etiquette, self-education & the aspirant classes. Toni and I were joined by Lauren Christos from Florida International University.
We were not the only LIHG members contributing, Peter Hoare, formerly the Librarian of the University of Nottingham spoke about libraries for the English visitors to Florence and Sarah Bromage from the Sapphire Project based at Napier University in Edinburgh spoke about her work on the Wayzgoose Project.
Share ThisResearch matters too…
Published by Juliet Eve | Filed under Announcements, Research
One of Information Matters bloggers, Juliet Eve, has recently set up a ’sister’ blog, ResearchMatters. The blog is designed to do two things: firstly to highlight and reflect upon research issues within the library and information world, with a particular focus on research into practice; and secondly, to suppport students taking their research methods module and completing their research dissertation as part of their MA in Information Studies. Useful research texts, resources etc. may also be of more general interest to anyone interested in LIS research.
Share This‘Botticelli, swill buckets and Paris Hilton’
Published by Juliet Eve | Filed under Announcements
yes, it can only be … University Challenge. This year we are very pleased that a team from Brighton University has made it through to the televised stages of the competition. Filiming will take place in Manchester in June. And, what is a quiz team without a librarian? One of our current MA Information Studies students, Beth Hewitt, has been selected for the University of Brighton’s team. Beth (pictured) says: ‘Having already demonstrated enough knowledge of Botticelli, swill buckets and Paris Hilton to have passed the auditions ,the team will be going to Manchester on the 21st June to take part in filming. It’s been an ambition of mine to go on the show for a long time so it is incredibly exciting to be finally doing it. It is also terrifying(!) I’m just hoping all those years of pub quizzes will finally pay off…’
We wish Beth, and the other team members (Stephen Blenkin (Captain), Ben Jordan and Jolyon Dales) the very best of luck.
Share ThisBIALL 2008
Published by Martin De Saulles | Filed under Web 2.0
On Thursday and Friday of last week I was at the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians annual conference in Dublin. They invited me to talk about Web 2.0 as well as developments in library and information courses and what we have been up to at the University of Brighton. I really enjoyed the 2 days and had some interesting discussions with the organisers and some of the 400 or so delegates.
For the Web 2.0 session on Thursday I made a short presentation (download slides HERE) and then sat on a panel with Sue Hill of Sue Hill Recruitment. Sue’s presentation was particularly interesting as she confessed to knowing next to nothing about Web 2.0 several weeks before but had become very interested in it while doing research for the session. She informed us that her company would be experimenting with blogs, RSS feeds etc over the coming months and using them to help share knowledge internally as well as promote their services externally.
On Friday morning I gave a presentation titled “The Future of Information Work: developing university courses” (download slides HERE). This was based on my experiences of working in the development of new courses at our university as well as my broader observations about possible future directions for the provision of university courses and the profession in general.
BIALL is certainly a dynamic group of library and information professionals and I hope to keep in touch with some of the people I met there.
Share ThisAcademics are from Mars, practitioners are from Venus?
Published by Juliet Eve | Filed under Announcements, Research
On Thursday 12th June, I was invited to be a keynote speaker at SINTO’s (the Information Partnership for South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire) AGM and Members Day, held at Sheffield Hallam University. The subject of their Member’s Day was Research into Practice, so I was very pleased to be asked to talk about this issue, as I like to get up on my soapbox about it as often as possible (see article, co-authored with Noeleen Schenk, who undertook the research with me, in CILIP’s Update in June 2007). My talk was based on research carried out in 2006 for the AHRC, one of their sector interaction studies to examine the impact of funded academic research on practice in the library and archive worlds. An overview of the project and findings was published in Library and Information Research, and a copy of the article can be downloaded from the University of Brighton’s institutional repository. The Update article, and my presentations on the topic over the last couple of years, have in part been an examination of the highly persistent culture gap between academics and practitioners in the LIS world (and not just in our area; similar studies in education and marketing reveal identical issues), and a ‘call to arms’ to do something about it - both on the part of academics, and practitoners. Sadly, there is usually an aspect of the ‘preaching to the converted’ at these events, as those already engaged with this issue are those who come to seminars on it.
To quote my own article:
‘Practitioners, why don’t you ask researchers to help you find solutions in the same way you might ask a colleague? Can you really afford not to engage with research and the wider debates and demand to be treated as a professional?
Researchers, what is wrong with seeking out practitioners in the same way you seek out fellow researchers to discuss your research and test ideas? Can you really afford not to disseminate your ideas and research results as widely as possible?
National organisations, we need a co-ordinated research policy and strategy, which emphasises relevance to practitioners as one of the criteria for funding research, and sends out a key message to the profession and the wider world: without a thriving research culture, we will not become a thriving profession. ‘
This is not to say that there are not some excellent examples of good practice out there - some academics are highly committed to multiple forms of dissemination, and some practitioners not only find time to research, but ensure they publish it too. Organisations like the Library and Information Research Group (of which I have been a committee member since 2001) do a lot of good work in promoting academic/practitioner partnerships and research in all its forms (for example, the student prize for best dissertation, and the LIRG Research Award). However, what emerged (again) at the SINTO Member’s Day was the lack of co-ordinated, national leadership in this area. This issue is being taken forward by LIRG and a number of other organisations. This is a continuation of the discussions initiated by the British Library, at the seminar they organised in November 2007, papers from which were published in a Special edition of LIRG’s open access journal, Library and Information Research.
The other keynote speaker was Ian Rowlands, from UCL, one of the researchers on the JISC/BL study into the ‘Google generation’. What particularly struck me from Ian’s talk was the finding from a market research study that (contrary to popular rhetoric, though in line with similar results emerging from a variety of research) only 20% of this generation are ‘wired up’, with 60% designated as ‘average Jo/es’, and another 20% have already become ‘digital dissidents’ (possibly in reaction to their ‘Crackberry’ - first time I’d heard the phrase - parents). This seems to me to be highly significant, and a potential warning for those developing services and policy on the back of the rhetoric, rather than the research.
Which brings me full circle, to the need for research to support library theory, policy, and practice. It’s nice to see that the Public Library Group conference, currently hotly debating issues of leadership and governance, has apparently highlighted the need for research and evidence to support practice, according to the Out of the Stacks blogger, Abigail Luthmann, who won a sponsored place to the conference this year, and is a former graduate of our MA Information Studies degree (shameless plug!).
The Members day was rounded up nicely by two excellent presentations on current research - firstly, by Lix Brewster who has just won the SINTO Bob Usherwood Prize, awarded to a student at the University of Sheffield, for the ‘postgraduate dissertation that makes a significant contribution to improving professional practice or understanding related to co-operation and partnership working across sectors in the SINTO area’. This is another good example of promoting practice-focused research. Liz won the prize for her work, Medicine for the Soul: bibliotherapy and the public library. The study investigates the experience of bibliotherapy in the public library from the staff perspective. A PDF file of this dissertation is available from Sheffield University’s database of student dissertations. Bob himself (who always showed exemplary practice in disseminating his own research and has been a long-standing contributor and champion of this issue) was chairing the day. Secondly, two enthusiastic and committed information advisors from Sheffield Hallam’s Learning Centre presented the results of their work introducing information literacy skills to first year undergraduates - and promptly got badgered by Bob and myself about when and where they were intending to publish it…
To round up the day, a panel discussion attempted to debate some of the issues raised - not terribly successfully, but there was definite support for national leadership in this area. As happens so often, I did not feel terribly inspired or confident about an imminent change of culture, but I did leave Sheffield cheerful (as I always do when I get out of the office and chat to colleagues about research), and with an emerging research idea…
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Official opening of National Chess Library
Published by Juliet Eve | Filed under Announcements, Courses
Today saw the official opening of the National Chess Library at University Centre Hastings (UCH). The collection was officially opened by Charles Clarke, MP, whose father, Sir Richard Clarke, donated his private collection of chess books to the British Chess Federation (now the English Chess Federation), to start the National Chess Library.
Part of the afternoon’s events included the presentation of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Europe award for the best student dissertation to Francess Warrell, who undertook research for her Masters dissertation into marketing of the collection. Frances completed her MA Information Studies at the University of Brighton last year, and has gone on to take up a post at the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum (see posting April 15th).
Frances is pictured below, with her dissertation supervisor, Dr. Nicola Smith, who teaches on the MAIS course in Brighton and is leading the Community History strand on the Joint Honours programme offered by UCH which will run for the first time this September (currently available as Joint Honours with Sociology or Joint Honours with English Literature). Details of all courses available at UCH are available here.
Also pictured below, (flourishing their wands and playing with a Harry Potter chess set), are Margaret Wallis, Head of Co-ordination and Development at UCH, and Sarah Eatwell, UCH Information Services Manager.
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What makes a good lecturer?
Published by Juliet Eve | Filed under Announcements
‘They are a presenter, a public speechmaker, a spokesperson, a debater and perhaps a storyteller’…
One of our undergraduate library students, Ellen Waters, was one of the students highly commended in the 2008 essay competition, “What makes a good lecturer?” hosted by the Higher Education Academy - Subject Centre for Information and Computer Sciences. As well as suggesting the above requirements, Ellen’s essay provided a very well written and informative reflection on the good (and poor) experiences she has had during her three years here. Other aspects she identifies include: ‘the ability to make their subject interesting and memorable; the ability to relate the subject to current issues; and lecturers need to ensure their presentation skills, and preferably their presentations, are attention-grabbing and memorable.’
Details on the winners and the competition can be found at the HEA-ICS website here.
Ellen has just finished her degree with us and has already secured a job as a Property Information Officer. We wish her the best of luck, and thank her for all her contributions as a student with us.
Share ThisLIHG go to York Minster Library
Published by Nicola Smith | Filed under Library History
I’ve just got back from the LIHG (Library & Information History Group) spring meeting at York Minster Library where we heard two talks; one from the Minster Librarian, John Powell and one from Peter Freshwater on the history of the collections of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, both of which were very interesting. The Minster Library itself is fascinating and well worth a visit.
I’d not been to York for about 10 years and the visit also gave me the opportunity for a bit of bookshop browsing. If you’re thinking of visiting York I can recommend the Bar Convent as a very pleasant, central and inexpensive place to stay.
The LIHG have a new chair, Toni Weller and it’s Toni’s aim and that of the rest of us on the committee to raise awareness of library and information history and increase the membership of the LIHG. It’s with this in mind that several us are participating at the forthcoming SHARP (Society for the History of Readership and Publishing) Conference at Oxford Brooks University in June. I’m part of a panel with Toni and Lauren Christos from the FFlorida International University. The conference theme is Teaching and Text and my paper is Librarians and the intellectual ministry: public librarians as public educators, 1890-1925. Toni will be speaking on the use of etiquette books by the aspirant middle classes and Lauren on the role of travelling libraries in the American West. Other LIHG members will contributing papers on travel guides and the social life of Edinburgh printers.
Share ThisSLA prize for student work on local chess collection
Published by Juliet Eve | Filed under Announcements
This year’s SLA Europe (Special Libraries Association) prize for best student dissertation has been awarded to Frances Warrell for her research into the National Chess Library, a special collection at UCH (University Centre Hastings), part of the University of Brighton. Frances used McCarthy’s 4 Ps of marketing as a framework to inform a marketing policy for the collection. The work was undertaken for her dissertation as part of her MA Information Studies degree at the University of Brighton. She will be presented with her award by members of the SLA at the official opening of the National Chess Library by Charles Clarke MP, on June 10th 2008.
The SLA Europe are currently sponsoring a number of student awards at LIS departments around the UK; this is the second year the prize has been awarded. Last year’s winner, Ben Bose (see posting from May 2007) has gone on to work with a local company, icrossing (formerly spannerworks).
Share ThisThe Hollywood Librarian: UK premiere
Published by Juliet Eve | Filed under Announcements
Last night, colleagues and I attended the UK premiere of The Hollywood Librarian, a feature-length documentary looking at libraries and librarians in real life and as seen by Hollywood. The event was sponsored by CILIP, organised by the Sussex branch, and attended by the film’s writer and director, Ann Seidl. The film itself was funny, moving, uplifting and passionate - the best piece of advocacy for libraries, librarians and what we do that you could hope for. A trailer for the film is available, and the Hollywood Librarian website includes a form to complete if you are interested in screening the film (UK distribution is being co-ordinated by a member of CILIP’s Sussex branch committee).
Come to our Open Day
Published by Martin De Saulles | Filed under Announcements, Courses, Open days
We will be having an open day on Thursday 6th March. It will be an informal drop-in where anyone interested in our postgraduate library and information courses can call in for a chat between 3pm and 7pm. You will also be able to see our campus.
For more information visit:
http://www.brighton.ac.uk/cmis/news/2008/mar6-pgdropin.php
For a map of how to find our campus visit:
http://www.brighton.ac.uk/cmis/maps/moulsecoomb.php?PageId=603
I hope you are able to come and see us.
Share ThisWatch our video
Published by Martin De Saulles | Filed under Announcements, Courses
If you want to know more about our courses, the people who teach on them, our campus and our students then watch this video.
Share ThisMicrosoft + Yahoo!
Published by Martin De Saulles | Filed under Innovation
For detailed and incisive comments on this story read Danny Sullivan’s Searchengineland post. My view, for what it’s worth, is that while the deal may make sense from the defensive perspectives of Microsoft and Yahoo!, it will do little in the longer term for either of the parties or their shareholders. It reminds me of some of the alliances/takeovers carried out in the 1990s’ and early 2000’s in the telecoms/Internet sectors. Like many mergers and takeovers they usually resulted in value destruction for shareholders. Just think back to AOL/Time Warner, eBay/Skype, AT&T/NCR. Although Google is experiencing some wobbles at the moment, I am not convinced that a Microsoft/Yahoo! combination will present more of a threat to Google than they do seperately at the moment. Google has the advantage, which should not be underestimated, of being one company with a single culture. Meshing the different cultures of Microsoft and Yahoo! so that they can operate in a focused and coherent way will be extremely difficult. History is not on their side.
A blast from the past
Published by Martin De Saulles | Filed under Uncategorized
How have things changed for librarians since the 1940s? This US film will show you.
Share ThisWeb 2.0 in Libraries
Published by Martin De Saulles | Filed under Innovation, Web 2.0
I gave a talk at University Centre Hastings (UCH) to the Sussex Sub-Branch of CILIP South East way back in November 2007 on the subject of Web 2.0 in libraries. My original post with links to the slides and relevant Web sites can be found HERE. I have just received a recording of my talk - it is an MP3 file and rather large (31 MBytes) - click HERE to download it. I have trimmed off the questions and answers section at the end because the microphone did not pick up the questionners’ voices and so my answers do not make a lot of sense - I will remember next time to repeat the question before answering it. Paul Benham from UCH has kindly written a summary of my talk which can be found HERE.
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