Invitation to TeachMeet 10.30-13.00 May 31st, Glucksman Library, University of Limerick

Does your library deliver information literacy sessions?  Do you ever wonder how really useful these sessions are for the attendees?  Would you like to exchange ideas with your peers and perhaps find ways to improve what you do?  If so, then read on...

A TeachMeet, for those who haven’t come across them, is an informal get-together, where teachers meet to discuss ideas and share experiences. A library TeachMeet is a meeting of people who teach within the context of library and information services.

The first (lib)TeachMeet was held last year in Cambridge, England, and since then they’ve spread very quickly throughout the library world with meetings taking place in Brighton, Liverpool, London and Huddersfield.  TeachMeet is a fun and informal way for librarians and information professionals to share new ideas.  We’re looking for speakers willing to give a 5-minute or 2-minute presentation about ‘techie tools and/or teaching tips’, and for enthusiastic colleagues who are keen to learn something new and/or engage in discussion.

Everyone is welcome, librarians, information assistants, head of your organisation or a junior assistant…we’re looking forward to seeing you. If you wish to contribute, the only rule is that your presentation mustn’t be trying to sell us anything, and you must stick to the timeslot. 

You can use PowerPoint or you can just talk, and/or show something from the web.  Anything that will kick-start a discussion will be very welcome.

Please join us for the inaugural Irish version of the TeachMeet, which we are calling EDU-LIB. The first EDU-LIB meeting will be on Tuesday 31st May from 10.30 – 13.00 in the Glucksman Library, University of Limerick. See:  http://educatorlibrarian.blogspot.com/. 

Please RSVP to either:  Micheal.OhAodha@ul.ie, Sinead.Keogh@ul.ie, or Donna.odoibhlin@ul.ie before 17.00hrs on 25th May to secure your space.

Librarians' experiences of the teaching role

A Canadian national survey of library staff involved in instructional work recently found that one third of those staff see the instructional element of their work as a duty or expectation, while a small proportion view it as an imposition.The study found that

substantial barriers exist in the form of external challenges over which library staff have little control (e.g. difficult administrative environments, challenges posed by ever evolving technology, and difficult users), and the intrapersonal challenges experienced as a result of personal characteristics and a perceived lack of preparation for the teaching role.

You can read more about the findings and the recommendations at

Julien, H. and Genuis, S.K. (2011) 'Librarians' experiences of the teaching role: A national survey of librarians', Library & Information Science Research, 33(2), pp. 103-111. doi:10.1016/j.lisr.2010.09.005

First EDU-LIB meeting

The first EDU-LIB meeting will be held at 10.30am on Tuesday 31st May 2011 at the Glucksman Library, University of Limerick. This initial gathering will function as an informal opportunity for librarians who teach to get together, to share teaching tips and experiences and to discuss how teaching demands are changing the nature of their day-to-day work.
If you are interested in sharing any aspect of your teaching experience and in discussing the impact of the teaching role on library services, then please join us.

AGENDA

10.30 Welcome and Introduction

10.45 Three minute introductions from participants

11.15 Discussion: Librarian as Educator

12.30 Future EDU-LIB meetings