HSLG2015 conference presentation by Jane Burns

1. Evolution or ExtinctionEvolution or Extinction
Transferable Skills of Librarians in ResearchTransferable Skills of Librarians in Research
EnvironmentsEnvironments
HSLG Conference - May 14-15 2015HSLG Conference - May 14-15 2015
Jane Burns
Health Professions Education Centre, RCSI
School of Information Studies, UCD

2. http://calvinandhobbes.wikia.com/wiki/Dinosaurs
• RITE Skills/ Competencies
• Transferability/Discoverabilit
y
• Evolving/Emerging Roles
• A different perspective
• Next Steps – Professional
development

3. RITE Skills/ Competencies
TechnologyEducation
InformationResearch

4. RITE Skills/ Competencies
Research
• Supporting others
• Undocumented observational
• Documented observational
• Formal work/ education
related
• Published Research
R

5. RITE Skills/ Competencies
Information
• Databases/Online
resources
• Broad General
Knowledge
• Financial, Project
Management
• Informal
Information
Resources
• Committees/Collab
oration
I

6. RITE Skills/ Competencies
• IT Applications &
Uses
• OA & DMP & DMD
• Behind the Scenes
(Meta data/
Coding)
• Online
Contextualisation
Technology
T

7. RITE Skills/ Competencies
Education (CPD)
Research Methods Training
Systematic Reviewing (Cochrane/BEME)
Panel of Experts
Research Systems (NVivo/ SPSS)
Publishing /Peer Review
Presenting & Lecturing
Bibliometrics & Impacts & Rankings
E

8. Competencies for Health Librarians
Health Librarian as Educator
Training & Education
Bibliometrics / Citation
Management
Impact Factors
Systematic Reviewing (ex.
Cochrane/ BEME)
Communication
Management & Organisational
Skills
Leadership
Legal
Technology
Understanding of the healthcare
environment
Critical Appraisal
Lawton, A & Burns, J. A review of competencies needed for health librarians – a comparison of Irish and international practice.

9. Transferable skills
Library Environments Research Environments
Knowledge of Research
Methods/Resources
•
•
Searching, Knowledge of Resources
and functionality
•
•
Problem solving, Understanding of
Digital Platforms (OA, etc.)•
•
Broad approach to challenges.
Transferability of skills
•
•
•
•
Information Skills•
•
Technology Skills •
•
Education (CPD)•
•
Formal work/ education related

10. Challenges
Fire Fighting leaves you exhausted
Limits to time and resources
CPD (news skills are not often recognised as
relevant to current roles- who funds this?)
Narrow focus from above, below and sideways
Personal Resistance / Confidence/ Lack of Interest
Dilution of the Profession

11. Opportunities
 A broader perspective and active engagement can alleviate
some Fire Fighting
Refocus & Control of time
CPD – what is of interest- makes it worthwhile
Narrow focus from above, below and sideways - at least you
see them coming
Personal & Professional Development
It is evolving & changing- not all in our control

12. Opportunities: Research Impacts & Measurements
OA/Repository Development
Beyond the storing of defined entities (research papers, but other
research outputs and resources)
Involvement with Data Management Plans & Data Management
Development
New opportunities for the management and identification of data
resources
Understand how research is measured/monitored- be a part of the
organisations research story
Links from Research to Funding & Rankings


13. CASE STUDY

LIS Professional with over 20 year experience in different
environments including Third Levels, Government, Educational,
Science, Digital Media and Health Sciences.
Trajectory took me to new but related discipline Digital Humanities
Move into Health Sciences- CUH & then RCSI (Research Role)
Remained Anchored to LIS Profession (Network of Colleagues,
Committee Work, An Leabharlann & UCD SILS)
Challenges and Opportunities
Hopeful for our profession – know we can evolve (AGAIN) and make
a difference to the way that people understand, research and access
health information.


14. Next Steps
Remain anchored to one another (teach & learn as we go)
Long view of CPD – SF/ Own time – New Models
Embrace the Research Cycle in a formal way (Research,
Publish, Promotion
Add to the development of Digital Professionalism
Managing Online Research Presence: ORCID, DOI and
Repositories

15. Next Steps
Remember we know more than we think we know – identify new
areas within organisations to embed, advise, collaborate and
lead.
Experts in the area of information management in multiple
formats and multiple disciplines.
Domain of Influence & Connectivity, nationally & globally
Develop within the Profession- LAI isn’t perfect but it is us.
(ALAI/FLAI).
Be open to new opportunities…Serendipity awaits!


16. THANK YOU
Jane Burns
MBA, MLIS, MPHIL, FLAI
Twitter: JMBurns99
janeaburns@gmail.com

17. Bibliography
 Glen, E. & Rolland, B. Librarians in Biomedical Research: New Roles & Opportunities. Information Outlook, Dec. 2010
 Harrison, J. et.al. The Status of health librarianship and libraries in the Republic of Ireland (SHELLI)2013.
 Lawton, A & Burns, J. A review of competencies needed for health librarians – a comparison of Irish and international
practice. Health Information and Libraries Journal December 2014
 Powell, et. al. Library and information science practioners and research. Library & Information Science Research. 2002
 Williams, et. Al Leadership Competencies and the importance of research methods and statistical analysis. Library &
Information Science Research, 2003.
Presentation
Open access and research data management: Horizon 2020 and beyond This event was funded by FOSTER through
the European Union’s 7th Framework Programme, UCC, Teagasc, Repository Network Ireland
http://www.libfocus.com/2015/04/foster-open-access-and-research-data.html
UCD LibGuides
Research Data Management LibGuide http://libguides.ucd.ie/data
Bibliometrics LibGuide http://libguides.ucd.ie/bibliometrics
