CPD – Health Sciences Libraries Group

Saoirse de Paor, teaching & learning librarian at Maynooth University library, gave a presentation at the joint HSLG & A&SL networking evening. She has kindly agreed to share her slides of the presentation. Taking your Social Media to the Next Level!

With her social media and communications hat on, Saoirse de Paor spoke of the different ways that social media platforms can enhance how libraries engage and interact with their users and how it can further promote library services, supports and resources in a new and innovative way.

From working in social media-specific roles and the experience gained from running student initiatives and online campaigns on behalf of Maynooth University Library, Saoirse has gained an insight into the many social media tips and tricks that can help others in the profession to increase visibility and outreach strategies as well as helping to foster connections, partnerships and collaborations.

From developing a brand, to using multiple means of engagement, she will give you the tools to take your library’s social media to the next level!

Saoirse de Paor, BA, MLIS, ALAI.

Saoirse works as a Teaching & Learning Librarian at Maynooth University Library. Her interests include information literacy, development of online learning resources as well as social media promotion and outreach.

Saoirse is the social media officer for the Library Association of Ireland as well as a member of the Communications team for the Career Development Group (of the LAI). She sits on the Digital Communications team of Maynooth University Library and manages various social media campaigns and initiatives as a member of the Teaching & Research Development Team. She also co-led the Irish Communications team at IFLA’S World Library International Congress 2022 in Dublin.

Twitter: @SaoirsePeri

LinkedIn: Saoirse de Paor

The Health Sciences Libraries Group is excited to announce a new continuing professional development opportunity for library staff and information specialists based in Ireland. We are launching a literature search peer review buddy scheme across Ireland as a means of informal peer learning on literature searching. It is a way to help librarians conducting literature searches to form connections, encourage networking, and also to enable expertise sharing between individuals to improve the quality of their searches.

We are putting a call out to interested people to register and be paired with another librarian. People of similar experience will then share a recent literature search they have undertaken and review the search before meeting up virtually to discuss their searches. The search is not a current search and there is no time or other pressure, rather it’s an opportunity to have a peer look at your search and comment or recommend, and to do the same for someone else.

What is involved? Once you have registered your interest, you will be paired with another participant. You and your peer review buddy will be asked to arrange an hour long online meeting. Prior to this meeting, you should send each other a recently completed search strategy, to be reviewed and discussed. Guidance on how to peer review search strategies will be provided, and we will ask you for some feedback on the scheme.

Why should I sign up? Peer reviewing of search strategies is a great way to keep your skills fresh. It’s also a good opportunity to network with other librarians and form more personal professional connections.

Sounds like a great idea! Where can I sign up? Please complete this form https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/H8M2MT/ by 9th June 2023

What is the timeline involved?

9th June 2023: Registration for the Literature Search Peer Review Buddy Scheme closes.
16th June 2023: Participants are paired and notified of the pairing. A prompt sheet on reviewing a literature search will be provided.
19th June – 28th July 2023: Participants liaise with each other, share a search, arrange a 1 hour virtual meeting to discuss searches and complete the evaluation form.

Will the scheme run again? If the scheme proves successful and there is enough interest, it will be run again and will be open to different approaches in future rounds.

Any questions? If you have any further questions or comments on the scheme, please contact Breeda Herlihy, Mercy University Hospital Librarian, b.herlihy@ucc.ie