Librarians share their top tips for increasing visibility and value.
Genevieve Larkin MA, MLIS Secretary of the Career Development Group of the Library Association of Ireland & Assistant Librarian, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin shares her view:
- Join a library committee and get to know other librarians and information professionals
- Become a member of professional associations – i.e. the LAI and CILIP Ireland
- Think about applying to become an associate of the LAI or chartering with CILIP
- Set up or contribute to a blog on aspects of your work or CPD
- Use Twitter to connect with others and talk about the work that librarians do
- Apply for conference bursaries and look for opportunities to present posters or talk at conferences”
Joseph Greene, Research Repository Librarian, University College Dublin talks about increasing visibility through open access:
“I’ve always said that Open Access works from two levels: the grassroots where it started, and the top-down strategy that makes it most effective. I suggest starting with the grassroots, building up a critical mass of champions on the ground who can help when you’re ready to speak to the top levels of the institution. Having direct contact with such a broad array of researchers across an institution is an enviable position by many in upper and middle management, who go to great lengths to achieve that. But even more, we start out with the authors’ (our users) trust, which is very hard won. We win that trust through service. Service is our greatest advocate.
Beyond our own institutional walls, simply participating in community discussion lists can put your institution on the map in a national and international context. You become the go-to person by putting yourself out there. Go with respect for the community – collectively and often individually they will know far more than you – but go with the confidence that in time and with the right amount of care, you will have just as much to give back through your experience”.
The Invisible Librarian 