Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

libfocus

@libfocus.bsky.social

990 followers 1.6K following 40 posts

A communal blog with a broad and open-minded take on the subject of library and information management. We love guest posts! https://www.libfocus.com/

www.libfocus.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · 2d

Congratulations to Arran Bradstock from Maynooth University Library! Arran's blog post 'A Story for the Ages: A Tale of Engagement and Impact' was highly commended in the CONUL Training and Development Library Assistant Blog awards. Read it now over at www.libfocus.com

libfocus - Irish library blog

Libfocus is a communal blog with a broad and open-minded take on all subjects relating to library and information science.

www.libfocus.com

3 3

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · 2d

libfocus - Irish library blog

Libfocus is a communal blog with a broad and open-minded take on all subjects relating to library and information science.

www.libfocus.com

3 3

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · 5d

Congratulations to Hayley Brabazon from @dculibrary.bsky.social whose blog post 'What a TikTok ‘Thirst Trap’ Taught Me About Library Outreach in the Age of Disinformation' was highly commended in the 2025 @conultraindev.bsky.social Library Assistant Blog awards. Read it now over at www.libfocus.com

A photo showing a group of students in a classroom looking at an image on a large screen.

Reposted by libfocus

A&SL @aslibraries.bsky.social · 8d

Join us for an exclusive tour of Chester Beatty Library from 6.30-7.30 pm on Wed 5th November! The tickets are FREE and available to current members of the @aslibraries.bsky.social group. Places are limited so reserve your ticket now at tinyurl.com/v4vrx9fy

A class exhibition case containing three rectangular items. There are books behind glass walls on display on each side and a statue is visible in the background

2 4

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · 9d

Well done to Rebecca Cairns from @ria.ie whose article 'Drawing from nature: The botanical drawings of Eileen Barnes' has won 3rd prize in the 2025 @conultraindev.bsky.social Library Assistant Blog awards. Read it now over at www.libfocus.com

Image of botanical drawings depicting various plants

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · 14d

Well done to Alana Mahon O'Neill from @dculibrary.bsky.social whose article 'How I learned to stop worrying and love Leganto' has won 2nd prize in the 2025 @conultraindev.bsky.social Library Assistant Blog awards. Read it now over at www.libfocus.com

Sepia image that shows a tiny stick figure standing in front of a square at the centre of four patterned weaving paths

1 3

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · 16d

Congratulations to Claire Dunne @ucdlibrary.bsky.social winner of the 2025 @conultraindev.bsky.social Library Assistant Blog Award! Read her blog post 'Shells, Shorthand, and Skipping Classes: Documenting Prize Bookplates in the John Manning Collection of Children's Books' now at www.libfocus.com

Two rows of colourful books with white slips of paper in them

1 3 10

Reposted by libfocus

UCD Library @ucdlibrary.bsky.social · 21d

Job alert!✨
We are looking for a multimedia designer - a role creating visual content for digital & physical displays, utilising skills in graphic design, video production & editing to enhance UCD Library comms & engagement initiatives.

Apply by 12 noon 7 Oct at www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jo... #jobsIE

UCD Richview Library - a brick library with clock, leafy hedges and a brick path leading to the library.

1 4 7

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · Sep 15

With items from @jstor.bsky.social @brisunipress.bsky.social @policypress.bsky.social @scholarlykitchen.bsky.social @wcet.bsky.social @arl.org @hannahshelley.bsky.social @richove.bsky.social @theguardian.com @reemasabrina.bsky.social @amlibraries.bsky.social

1 2

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · Sep 15

Unlike the current Irish weather our link-out is always reliable, bringing you the latest library & info news each month! Get up to date on the wicked scholarly publishing system, the endurance of libraries & the war on knowledge, AI & Open Access, the Google Graveyard and more at www.libfocus.com

Five images clockwise from top left: Two hands shaking, A smiling man sitting with a book in this hands, white shelves with green potted plants on them, graphic of hand taking a book off the shelf, an open book with blue sparkling lights above it

1 2 6

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · Sep 6

New on Libfocus: @helenfallon.bsky.social writes about her current project supporting prison libraries in Malawi.

A powerful reminder of how libraries transform lives.

www.libfocus.com/2025/09/pris...

Three people in Malawi Prisons uniforms stand in a library. A woman in the foreground reads an open book on a wooden table, while two men stand behind her, smiling and holding books. Shelves filled with books line the background.

A man in a tan uniform stands in front of a chalkboard, smiling and pointing to a physics textbook he is holding. In front of him, a table is stacked with boxes of exercise books and piles of school textbooks, including titles on chemistry, mathematics, geography, and English grammar

Two people stand smiling inside a shop. A woman in a cream and black dress holds a ream of paper, while a man in a tan uniform and cap also holds it. Shelves behind them display stationery, electronics, and office supplies

2 5

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · Aug 15

With articles from @versobooks.bsky.social @fortune.com
@scholarlykitchen.bsky.social @nlireland.bsky.social @publisherswkly.bsky.social

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · Aug 15

Our August link-out is here and it's jam-packed with the latest #library and information-linked news! Get the latest updates about AI, publishers in crisis and librarians working with journalists. Look back on Live Aid and discover how #libraries inspired Martin Luther King www.libfocus.com

5 images: clockwise from top: A robot hand holding a pen, wavy line, a picture of two men (musicians Paul McCartney and David Bowie), a woman looking at a screen, a person standing in front of a stack of books

1 6

Reposted by libfocus

DCU Library @dculibrary.bsky.social · Aug 8

Visit the Sadako and Paper Cranes exhibition in Cregan Library, which marks 80 years since the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima.

Produced by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, exhibited in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Ireland & SALIS

tinyurl.com/4bh7xsv6

@dublincityuni.bsky.social

Two people standing in the Cregan exhibtion space viewing the exhibition Sadako & the Paper Cranes

The title poster for Sadako & Paper Cranes, hope riding on the wings of cranes by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

5 12

Reposted by libfocus

Colleen [Redacted] @librarycolleen.bsky.social · Jul 30

E-books are on the line as Congress considers future of library funding 📚
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

E-books are on the line as Congress considers future of library funding

Like checking out library e-books? Trump, Congress could make it harder by cutting federal funding for libraries.

www.usatoday.com

2 5

Reposted by libfocus

infoDOCKET @infodocket.bsky.social · Jul 28

Documentary Explores Historic Struggles, Lasting Impact of Black #Librarians in America (via @wttw.bsky.social) news.wttw.com/2025/07/23/d... #libraries #publiclibraries

Documentary Explores Historic Struggles, Lasting Impact of Black Librarians in America

“Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Librarians” connects the history of public libraries, civil rights and literacy to the current political attacks on the public library system.

news.wttw.com

1 9 11

Reposted by libfocus

Colleen [Redacted] @librarycolleen.bsky.social · Jul 30

OCLC explains the lay offs, "Artificial Intelligence and other technology changes require different skills and provide opportunity for efficiencies..." 📚
www-nbc4i-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.nbc4...

Dublin-based nonprofit lays off 80 central Ohio workers, cites AI and federal cuts

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) — A Dublin-based organization that manages the Dewey Decimal System and partners with libraries worldwide has laid off dozens of central Ohio employees, citing the rise of…

www-nbc4i-com.cdn.ampproject.org

6 9 12

Reposted by libfocus

UCC Library @ucclibrary.bsky.social · Jul 30

UCC Library is currently hiring for Two roles:

Learning Support Librarian
Deadline: 5 August, 12pm

Head of Special Collections & Archives
Deadline: 19 August, 12pm

More info and applications:
www.ucc.ie/en/hr/vacanc...

Job advertisement featuring two open positions: 'Learning Support Librarian' with a closing date of 05 August 2025, and 'Head of Special Collections & Archives' with a closing date of 19 August 2025. The text 'We are hiring a' appears at the top in green. The background shows a modern building with large windows and surrounding trees

15 14

Reposted by libfocus

UCC Library @ucclibrary.bsky.social · Jul 28

UCC Library is recruiting a Head of Special Collections & Archives.

Lead the development, digitisation, and promotion of our rare books, manuscripts & archives.

Apply by 12pm, 19 Aug: www.ucc.ie/en/hr/vacanc...

30 27

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · Jul 28

Calling all library assistants in CONUL Libraries - have you submitted to the @conultraindev.bsky.social Library Assistant Blog awards yet? Only 3 days to go to be in with a chance to win 1 of 3 prizes including the top prize of €200 AND be published in @libfocus.bsky.social conul.ie/library-assi...

Hands typing on a keyboard below the text: CONUL consortium of national and university libraries training and development

Entries for the 2025 Library Assistant Blog awards for an article in the style of a blog post are now being accepted.

The competition is open to staff at all library assistant and equivalent grades in CONUL Training & Development member libraries.

The theme of your blog entry must be library related. This could include any aspect of your current work; your ideas on a particular library development; some training/developmental activity you undertook; an event/innovation in your library; a particular item in your library’s collection; your library building etc.

The closing date for entries is the 31st July 2025.

1st Prize €200

2nd Prize €150

3rd Prize €100

Please see the following Blog Guidelines and Judging Criteria for further details.

2 3

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · Jul 18

Today's guest post is by Anne Charlotte Danhiez from the Robert de Sorbon Library in France. Learn about her thought-provoking and inspiring visits to CONUL Libraries as part of the @conultraindev.bsky.social Erasmus Library Staff Mobility Week in Dublin #ErasmusDub25 www.libfocus.com

Sixteen people standing or sitting in a row, facing the camera.

2 6

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · Jul 7

Featuring posts from @hannahshelley.bsky.social @timeshighered.bsky.social @insidehighered.com @theguardian.com @virtualtreasury.bsky.social and more

libfocus @libfocus.bsky.social · Jul 7

Always on the lookout for the latest info and #library news? In our July link-out you'll learn about language bias in scholarly publishing, essential skills for library staff, AI & technology in #libraries, the pioneering Irish project recovering lost historical records and more at www.libfocus.com

a woman in a floral shirt says a little more information please on netflix

Alt: a woman in a floral shirt says a little more information please on netflix

media.tenor.com

1 3 3

Reposted by libfocus

UCC Library @ucclibrary.bsky.social · Jul 4

📢 UCC Library is hiring a Learning Support Librarian

Lead on study skills, digital tools & academic support and supporting student success.

📍 Permanent, full-time
🗓️ Apply by 05 Aug 2025 12pm

👉 www.ucc.ie/en/hr/vacanc...

#LibraryJobs #UCC #AcademicLibrarian #Hiring

1 7 7

Reposted by libfocus

Martin O Connor @martinoconnor.bsky.social · Jul 2

Who remembers the first search engine?

(HT: @irishnostalgia account across on Instagram)

A humorous Instagram post from the account “irishnostalgia” featuring a photo of an old-fashioned library card catalog—rows of wooden cabinets with hundreds of small drawers. Above the photo, bold text reads: “Who remembers the first search engine.” The caption adds, “…and after 15 minutes you find out that someone’s borrowed the source you were looking for! ..Come back next week!! 😭” The post is accompanied by hashtags related to books, libraries, and nostalgia.

4 6 49

Reposted by libfocus

DCU Library @dculibrary.bsky.social · Jun 27

We officially left Twitter this week after 16 years on the platform. For those of you who followed us there during the good times (or for anyone who likes a good meme), we've compiled a video of our favourite Twitter moments. We're looking forward to finding friends old and new on Bluesky.

13 46