{"id":30190,"date":"2013-07-01T08:30:50","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T12:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=30190"},"modified":"2019-01-03T17:32:49","modified_gmt":"2019-01-03T23:32:49","slug":"margaret-irons-founder-of-libraryjobs-ie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=30190","title":{"rendered":"Margaret Irons …Founder of LibraryJobs.ie"},"content":{"rendered":"

This interview is over 1 year old and may no longer be up to date or reflect the interviewee\/interviewees’ positions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Naomi House\u2019s interview with the\u00a0Founder of LibraryJobs.ie, Margaret.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"margareti\"<\/a>Naomi:<\/b>\u00a0 How did you come to work for\u00a0(or start) LibraryJobs.ie<\/a>?
\nMargaret:<\/b>\u00a0 LibraryJobs.ie<\/a> had been on my mind for years. I even bought a domain name many years ago but it just never got off the ground.
\nMany conversations with my friend Barry and years later it came up again. Barry had successfully gotten http:\/\/dublinstartupjobs.com\/<\/a> up and running and it looked like it was time to get serious about LibraryJobs.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Barry Gildea is a fantastic web designer and a college friend. He can be contacted via his website here www.brickisred.com<\/a>\u00a0 It seemed like a no-brainer to collaborate on this project after years of discussing it periodically.\u00a0 So last summer we got around to it again and LibraryJobs.ie<\/a> was softly launched.\u00a0 I have felt the need for such a site for many years. Ireland is a small country but there was never any one place to find work in libraries.<\/p>\n

The advertising of library jobs was and is very erratic. Also any generic jobs sites in Ireland generally don’t have library related roles listed in the drop down menu. And with the downturn in the economy the advertising of jobs in print media seemed to just stop altogether. So it seemed that the job search for graduates was just getting more and more difficult.<\/p>\n

There are many job sites for librarians in neighboring UK but no dedicated site in Ireland. So I decided it was time I set one up.
\nI qualified as a librarian in 2001 and since then I have been both an interviewee and an interviewer. An employee and an employer. I also have had recent graduates and interns working with me and felt that many graduates were at a loss as to where to even begin searching for work.<\/p>\n

Working as a member of the committee of the Academic & Special Libraries Section<\/a> of the Library Association of Ireland was also beneficial. During my six years on the committee I learned a lot about branding and communication. You can read more about that here.
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

I know it has taken me many years to get this off the ground but it’s finally here and I really hope it is helping to consolidate the search!<\/p>\n

We are constantly working on making the site better for the user. So watch this space!<\/p>\n

Ann O’Sullivan (colleague & friend) is currently updating and editing the site for me as I am on maternity leave.\u00a0 Thanks so much to Ann for all her help. Here is a link to Ann’s profile on Linkedin http:\/\/ie.linkedin.com\/pub\/ann-o-sullivan\/7\/ba\/91b\u00a0 <\/a>Hopefully the baby will let me have more time to work on the site again soon!<\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/b>\u00a0 How can librarians help\u00a0LibraryJobs.ie?
\nMargaret:<\/b>\u00a0 Librarians can help by spreading the word.
\nWe are on www.facebook.com\/LibraryJobs.ie<\/a>
\nTwitter @LibraryJobs\u00a0 www.linkedin.com\/company\/libraryjobs-ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Also if fellow librarians could let us know when jobs are advertised in their home institutions that would be fantastic.\u00a0 Just drop us an email to info@libraryjobs.ie
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/b>\u00a0 Can you speak a little about your experiences with libraries? \u00a0Any favorite libraries or experiences with them?
\nMargaret:<\/b>\u00a0 One of my favorite libraries is probably the library of the Royal Irish Academy<\/a> in Dublin. It is a beautiful space and houses collections of major Irish manuscripts, books and pamphlets. I am currently librarian at the School of Celtic Studies<\/a>, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and therefore have a keen interest in the area.<\/p>\n

Sadly though I find all libraries to be fantastic. The facility of housing and organizing information for others to use and learn from is brilliant.<\/p>\n

I have worked in many different types of libraries over the years from medical to specialist research. All working on the same principles but with very different collections and audiences.<\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/b>\u00a0 Favorite book(s)?
\nMargaret:<\/b>\u00a0 Wuthering Heights<\/em> \/ Emily Bronte\u00a0 What is it about this classic? If you haven’t read it then just do!\u00a0 I’m more of a Bronte girl than an Austen fan it seems.\u00a0 I dreamed of Africa<\/em> \/ Kuki Gallman a book I picked up randomly in my public library when I was a teenager.\u00a0 It’s a touching memoir filled with challenges, pain and much hope for the world we live in. Must read it again!\u00a0 The book thief<\/em> \/ Markus Zusak\u00a0 Beautifully written and extremely touching. Read it before it comes out on film.<\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/b>\u00a0 Are there any blogs or websites we should be following?
\nMargaret:<\/b>\u00a0 Libfocus<\/a> a communal blog with a broad & open-minded take on the subject of library & information management.\u00a0 Set up a couple of years ago by a couple of bright young things. It is now THE blog to follow in Ireland and soon the world…<\/p>\n

Phil Bradley<\/a>\u00a0 The man just knows everything about internet searching.\u00a0 I had the pleasure of working with him when he spoke at our Academic & Special Libraries Section, Annual Seminar a few years ago.<\/p>\n

Naomi:<\/b>\u00a0 Any job hunting tips
\nMargaret:<\/b>\u00a0 Keep a close eye on LibraryJobs.ie of course!<\/p>\n