New Issue of Irish Library News

July issue of Irish Library News available here

IFLA Guidelines On Information Literacy

IFLA Guidelines on Information Literacy are now available here


Abstract

The International Guidelines on Information Literacy have been compiled by the Information Literacy Section (InfoLit) of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) with the aim of providing a pragmatic framework for those professionals who need or are interested in starting an information literacy program. The guidelines will aid information professionals engaged in educational programs, i.e., basic and higher education, in their efforts to meet their current information needs. However, most of the concepts, principles and procedures can be applied with minimal adaptation to any library setting. Information professionals working in all types of libraries should have as one of their main institutional goals the facilitation of users’ efforts to acquire information competencies. Information skills are vital to the success of lifelong learning, employment, and daily interpersonal communication of any citizen, such as when a person needs information about health services for someone in his/her care, or a student requires specific information to complete an assessment.

New Issue of GLINT

The latest issue of GLINT, newsletter from the Government Libraries Section of the Library Association of Ireland is now available.

The issue includes the following articles:


Official Publications on Government Department Websites by Johanna Archbold
Cardbox Database Software to update an Intranet by Mary Doyle
Publishing Government E-Information: GLS seminar by Joseph Donnelly
BIALL Annual Study Conference by Joseph Donnelly
Snippets

Academic Writing Blog

Hellon Fallon, of NUI Maynooth, has set up a blog for library staff involved in writing for publication. It aims to stimulate discussion about writing and publishing and provide a forum for notification of calls for papers, book chapters and other publishing opportunities.

Anyone can participate in the discussion and post to the blog, all that is needed is a gmail account. The blog is at anltcwriters.blogspot.com

Connacht Landed Estates Project

The Connacht Landed Estates project, funded by the Irish Council for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences, under its Thematic Projects (Research Infrastructure) Grants, undertook the research for, and the publication of, a comprehensive and integrated resource guide to landed estates and gentry houses in Connacht, c. 1700-1914. The aim of the guide is to assist and support researchers working on the social, economic, political and cultural history of Connacht from c.1700 to 1914.
The project involved the distillation and collation of data from a broad range of historical sources, and the concise codification of these data on an estate/name basis. The optimum use of the data determined that the database be published in electronic form. Full details of the sources used can be viewed under Reference Sources in the database. See the Help link for further details on the creation of the database.
The Project was hosted by the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences at the National University of Ireland, Galway.



http://www.landedestates.ie/

Constructing a Thesaurus Online Course

Aslib are now offering a distance learning, online course in 'Constucting a Thesaursus'.

• you can learn in your own time
• you are allocated a tutor who will give you personal attention and monitor your progress throughout your course
• your tutor will give you as much encouragement and direction as you need to be able to complete your training successfully
• you will be asigned pratical projects which will be assessed by your tutor
• you will receive the Aslib Certificate of Achievement on successful completion

The purpose of this course is to give participants the understanding and skills necessary for them to construct a thesaurus, having decided on the appropriateness of a thesaurus for a particular purpose, and the best form of such a thesaurus.

Links

Aslib's Open Learning Page Home

Page for 'Constructing a Thesaurus' Course

RSS feeds of library interest

A selection of RSS feeds of library interest have been added at the bottom of the left side of the blog. These will list the three most recent items or articles that have been added by the various blogs or webpages. Clicking on the title will take you to the article. Currently listed are:

• TCD Digital Services Librarian Blog


• LAI Blog


• RSS4Lib (An aggregator of library interest)


• UCD Reader Services Blog

If anyone would like a feed added please contact the SDC committee at libsdc@tcd.ie.

Tonic

TONIC is an easy-to-understand, practical guide to using the Internet produced by Netskills. Use of Tonic is free but users are required to register.


TONIC covers the whole range of introductory internet topics for you to explore, in an easilydigestible form.
THESE TOPICS INCLUDE:
• Exploring the internet
• How to access databases,
free software and online
information services
• Searching the world
wide web
• Communicating via the
internet using email and
news services


QUIZZES
There are short quizzes enabling
you to test your knowledge and
understanding of what you've
learnt.


ACCEPTABLE USE
TONIC may be used freely for noncommercial academic and training purposes.



Flyer for Tonic (Pdf)

Homepage for Tonic

Possible Courses

The Staff Development Committee is gathering information as to the level of interest that exists for the following two possible courses. If you would be interested in attending a course of this type, could you please indicate this via email specifying which course/s you would consider useful. As always any further suggestions or comments anyone might have are more than welcome.

The committee's email address is libsdc @ tcd.ie

The Reference Interview
A four-week, web based, instructor led course Run by the RUSA (Reference and User Services Association, affilitated with the American Library Association)
10th Sept - 17th Oct


Team Work Skills
Run by ANLTC To be held towards the end of the year, in Cork


Please remember to inform the librarian's office, for the purposes of flexi-time, if you are going to be attending any training courses or events. A detailed procedure for course application will be available online soon.

IT Skills

Online Excel tutorial from microsoft

LIR E-resource Library Innovations Page

The LIR HEAnet User Group for libraries aims to explore and develop awareness of electronic information resources and to promote the use of HEAnet in exploiting these resources. This section is dedicated to highlighting examples of how libraries, at home and abroad, are using new technologies to enhance their services and resources. Examples of the use of these technologies are broken down into the following areas:

• RSS Feeds
• Blogs
• Video Casts
• Online Chat
• Podcasts
• Wikis
• Immersive Social Environments

Link