1. Library Network Support Services (LNSS)
Jerald Cavanagh
Institute Librarian Limerick Institute of Technology

2. What’s the project about? What will be the overall outcome?
LNSS What’s it about?
Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) is the lead institution for the Shannon Consortium, Library Network Support Services (LNSS)
What’s the project about?
LNSS coordinates the sharing of resources and expertise between the participating libraries in Limerick Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology, Tralee, University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
What will be the overall outcome?
LNSS will result in innovative support services responding to the changing expectation of library users.
It will also provide joint professional development opportunities for library staff working in the evolving information environment, through the establishment of a Regional Network for Staff Development.

3. LNSS What's the timescale?
LNSS Initiatives will be rolled out across the partner institutions (LIT, ITTralee, UL, MIC) over the next two and half years (August 2008-January 2011). The LNSS Project has 2 main strands:
Information Literacy (IL)- Under the direction of the LNSS Steering Group Select, develop, implement and evaluate a suite of IL initiatives to International IL standards for the partners libraries as a framework of support for learners over 2008 for rollout in 2009/2010. This IL initiative will consist of a web-based, self paced information literacy modules.
Regional Network for Staff development: Under the direction of the LNSS Steering Group and in collaboration with the Library Staff development Unit of the University of Limerick- Development of a Regional Network for Staff Development for sharing of professional development opportunities across the Consortium supporting skills development and innovative practice enabling library staff to manage the evolving information environment and to match the changing needs of users.

4. LNSS - LNSS Steering Group, staff , partner libraries and funding
LNSS initiatives are directed by the LNSS Steering Group comprising of
Directors of
Library Services and other senior library personnel from the four partner
institutions- LIT, ITTralee, UL and MIC
The members of the LNSS Steering Group are:
Jerald Cavanagh
(LIT- LNSS Project Leader)
Gobnait O’ Riordan (UL)
Pat Doherty (ITTralee)
Gerardine Moloney (MIC)
Brid.Foster (LIT)
Catherine Murray (ITTralee)

5. There are 3 dedicated SIF Funded staff working on the LNSS Project:
LNSS Staff
There are 3 dedicated SIF Funded staff working on the LNSS Project:
LNSS Librarian Project Coordinator (Grade VI)-
Oversees and manages the LNSS Project- responsibility for coordination and development of Information Literacy initiatives and with the Library Staff Development at the University of Limerick coordination of a Regional Network for Staff development.
Reports to LNSS Steering Group and LNSS project Leader (Jerald Cavanagh)
LNSS Administration and Accounts Assistant (Grade IV)-
Based in LIT and reporting to the LNSS Librarian Project Coordinator- provides support for the activities of the Library Network Support Services project.
LNSS Administration Assistant (Grade IV)-
Based in UL and reporting to the UL Library Staff Development Unit at the University of Limerick. Provides Administrative support for the activities associated with the work of the Library Staff development Unit in support of the LNSS Project.

6. LNSS Funding Total funding = almost 1 million euros (€990,000)
This funding is broken down as follows:
SIF requirement = €495,000
Matched funding= €495,000 =€990,000
Matched funding – consists of staff time of non SIF funded staff in partner libraries such as time spent attending training courses and any other work which is not directly funded by SIF
Information Literacy: €658,490
Regional Network for Staff development €331,510 = €990,000

7. LNSS and Information Literacy (IL)

8. What is Information Literacy?
LNSS
What is Information Literacy?
Information literacy is knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner.
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)

9. What is Information Literacy?
LNSS
What is Information Literacy?

10. LNSS

11. LNSS

12. LNSS
Why is IL important?
Information Literacy education- the catalyst required to transform the information society of today into the learning society of tomorrow (Bruce, 2002)). It is a transferrable skill promoting and supporting independence and lifelong learning and the ethical use of information.

13. LNSS IL SUITES AND STANDARDS
Information Literacy Suites are designed according to best practice with regard to Information Literacy Standards
Some examples:
ACRL Association of College and Research Libraries- American
ANZIIL Australian and New Zealand Institute for Information Literacy
SCONUL Society of College, National and University Libraries, SCONUL

14. IL and Learning Outcomes
LNSS
IL and Learning Outcomes
“Why would learning outcomes support the work of library and information services staff? A learning outcome is itself the answer to the question 'when the students leave (this event,session or course), what do I want them to know, or understand, or be able to do?' The educational importance of this question and answer process is that it focuses on what the students themselves do, not on what the tutor does. The question that is more commonly implicit in session or course design, 'what do I need to tell or show the students?', illustrates the tendency to focus on what the tutor does, not on what the students do. When teaching design starts from a foundation of learning outcomes, it is easier to focus on how students will apply what they learn, to take into account that learning is about skills as well as knowledge, and to incorporate active learning into courses and sessions”
SCONUL Learning outcomes and information literacy

15. What are the objectives?
LNSS
What are the objectives?
Select, develop, implement and evaluate a suite of IL initiatives to international IL standards for the partner libraries. This will involve developing a framework of support for learners over 2008 for rollout in 2009/2010 which will enable them to have:
Improved skills in finding, using and evaluating information
Greater awareness of sources of information
A greater understanding of academic information resources as an important component in the learning cycle.
Improved understanding of the risks and pitfalls of abusing information sources
Ability to retrieve information using a variety of media
Skills to critically evaluate information
Ability to access quality information
Enhanced transferable skills on completion of their studies.
Ensure the IL initiatives align with and contribute to each partner library’s existing IL programmer
Ensure each partner library’s requirements are represented in the design and delivery of the new IL suite.
Ensure library staff are aware of the IL suite and have the skills to deliver them;

16. A suite of Information Literacy initiatives –
LNSS
LNSS and IL
A suite of Information Literacy initiatives –
IL selection Using criteria determined by the partner institutions an online modular information literacy suite will be selected from suitable providers.
Lifelong learning These modules will help to develop information literate students and provide them with generic lifelong skills necessary to locate, evaluate and use information effectively
Flexibility Offering greater flexibility and convenience to each individual learner the IL suite will complement existing face to face Information Literacy instruction

17. What are the key outputs and agreed with the HEA for the LNSS?
outcomes for IL
agreed with the HEA for the LNSS?

18. KEY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES AS AGREED WITH THE HEA 2008-2011
LNSS
IL-
KEY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES AS AGREED WITH THE HEA A.
OUTCOMES
Thematic Area
Project name
Shannon Consortium Library Network Support Services
Project Objective
Information Literacy (IL)
Project Coordinator
Jerald Cavanagh, Librarian, Limerick Institute of Technology
Interim targets
Activity
2008/09
2010
2011
Outputs
Outcomes
Appointment of staff (All partners)
Two members of staff (1 Project Coordinator Grade VI, 1 Administration /Training Assistant Grade VI, (Grade VI to be divided between LIT an UL)
Staff appointed
Staff in place
Project co-ordination (to be carried out by appointed Grade VI and Grade IV personnel)
Project scoping exercise
Complete suite of modules for participating sites.
Continue IL rollout
Statement of needs established. Pilot modules completed
Project requirements identified.
Inter Institutional Project Development Workshop
Awareness and training of staff.
Assessment and evaluation of IL effectiveness
Project programs agreed. Staff trained and ready to deliver modules.
Clear plan for modular training and rollout.
Agreed development and rollout of Marketing Plan
Role out of IL modules across the sector.
Assessment of the effectiveness of the institutional cooperation.
IL ready for delivery.
IL ready for use.
Agree Pilot Site
IL delivered across Institutions.
Customize and develop IL modules for pilot site
Written report on the effectiveness of IL across sector and institutional cooperation
Final Report completed.

19. IL- KEY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES AS AGREED WITH THE HEA- 2008/2009
LNSS
IL- KEY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES AS AGREED WITH THE HEA- 2008/2009
Appointment of LNSS staff
Project coordination is been carried out, by the LNSS. This includes;
Project Scoping exercise
Inter Institutional project development workshop
Agreed development and Rollout of the Marketing Plan
Agree a Pilot Site
Customize and develop IL modules for the Pilot site

20. LNSS 2008- deliverables so far
IL-DELIVERABLES SO FAR AND PLANNED DELIVERABLES FOR THE COMING ACADEMIC YEAR
2008- deliverables so far
LNSS Staff appointed (August 2008)
Project scoping meetings were held with senior library staff- from partner libraries- broad IL needs were identified. (August/Sept 2008)
LNSS Stakeholder Workshop held- IL needs were clarified. IL suite were reviewed and recommendations for IL suite selection made. (October 2008)
Collaborative Marketing Strategy identified- and the development of LNSS Website is ongoing- (rollout November 2008)
Pilot site agreed (October 2008)
2009- planned deliverables
Rollout of IL suite in Pilot site
Awareness and training of staff in Pilot site
Rollout of Collaborative Marketing Plan (LIT led). Continued enhancement of LNSS Website. Promotion of IL suite in Pilot site
Customize and develop modules for all other sites

21. How has IL so far led to enhanced collaboration and capacity building?
LNSS
How has IL so far led to enhanced
collaboration and capacity building?

22. LNSS IL How has the LNSS so far led to enhanced collaboration and capacity building
Collaboration and networks- Main stakeholders identified and networks established
Project Scoping meetings held with Library Directors and other Senior Library staff- Broad IL needs identified for partner libraries
Inter Institutional Project Development Workshops- LNSS Stakeholder Workshop was conducted. (October 6th 2008)
Sharing of expertise and assessment of IL modules currently available for purchase has occurred and methods of customization is being discussed- resulting in greater awareness of range of IL suites in operation Worldwide
Collaborative Marketing Strategy.
Is being developed.

23. SIF Library Network Support Services (LNSS) Information Literacy
Enhanced collaboration and capacity building. How will we continue to do this?

24. LNSS IL Enhanced collaboration and capacity building
LNSS IL Enhanced collaboration and capacity building. How will we continue to do this?
LNSS Website- to include: a programme of events, contact list of clients, and main contacts in each institute, guidelines for clients, i.e. information on venues, travel details, list of accommodation (2008), Web 2.0 tools utilised.
More LNSS Stakeholder Workshops to determine e.g. how Selected IL suite will be tailored to meet the needs of each Institution
Inter Institutional IL Training Days- to prepare staff for rollout of new IL suite across partner institutions
Rollout of IL modules across all partner libraries (2010)- Collaborative Marketing Strategy to raise awareness of selected IL suite across partner institutions

25. Will services in the region improve as a result of this IL initiative?
LNSS
Will services in the region improve as a result of this IL initiative?

26. LNSS IL Will Library services in the region improve as a result of this IL project?
Answer: YES!
WHY?
24/7 access: designed with regard to best practice in Information Literacy Standards modular, place and time independent, self paced and available to all learners 24/7 enabling them to progress from Information novice to information literate user.
Flexibility-Offers greater flexibility and convenience to learners
Existing IL initiatives-Will compliment existing face to face or other Library instruction
Active Learning/Self assessment ; opportunity for self assessment and hence active learning in the form of online quizzes, simulations, role play, and various other interactive tools.
The Knowledge Economy: Staff will be in a better position to deliver services to students resulting in better student performance and up skilling for this Knowledge Economy

27. LNSS IL Possible pressure points/obstacles?
IL suites available: Most considered dated and overly text based. Need for more interactive IL suite employing good use of multimedia and opportunities for Active Learning- may need to be outsourced and designed from scratch or modification of existing model
Institutional requirements: Decisions will need to be made with regard to how the IL suite will be applied in each institution- will the suite be the same for each institution? Will it need to be tailored for each institution- different instances of the same suite?

28. Regional Network for Staff Development
LNSS
Regional Network for Staff Development

29. LNSS
Why staff development? Paraprofessional and professional staff need up skilling regarding new technologies and sources of information available to them.
Advantages: Will give our professional staff an advantage over others outside of this region. The better trained the Library Staff are the better they can guide the students and staff to the resources they require.
What needs to be done?The challenge is to develop an enabling network and programme to facilitate the up skilling and development of library staff to manage the evolving information environment.
The programme will share professional development opportunities across the consortium, supporting skills development and innovative practice

30. What are the key outputs and
LNSS
What are the key outputs and
outcomes for the Regional Network for Staff Development agreed with the HEA?

31. Key outputs and outcomes agreed with the HEA
LNSS
Regional Network for Staff Development
Key outputs and outcomes agreed with the HEA A.
OUTCOMES
Thematic Area
Project name:
Shannon Consortium Library Network Support Services
Project Objective
Regional network for staff development
Project Coordinator
Jerald Cavanagh, Librarian, Limerick Institute of Technology
Interim targets
Activity
2008/09
2010
2011
Outputs
Outcomes
Identify capacity Building priorities
Complete an audit of required skills. Review national and international providers. Complete network plan. Complete first 2 networking sessions.
Skills audit Completed network plan
Audit and plan
Roll out of development programme for e-library and learner focused initiatives
Complete development sessions 3-7
Complete training sessions 8-12
Completed all development sessions
Dissemination of good practice and increased skills levels
Annual symposia
1st Symposia
2nd Symposia
Completed symposia
Increased understanding and skills
Experience exchange visits
1st Series of exchange visits
2nd Series of exchange visits
3rd Series of exchange visits
Completed exchange visits
Sharing and adoption of good practice
Reflective practice pilot
Research and plan pilot reflective practice programme
Roll out pilot reflective practice programme
Pilot programme completed
Greater understanding of methodology to improve performance
Review and assessment of capacity building initiatives
Conduct assessment and review of Programme
Programme report
Full report

32. Complete an audit of required skills.
LNSS
Regional Network for Staff Development- KEY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES AS AGREED WITH THE HEA- 2008/2009
Complete an audit of required skills.
Review national and international training providers
Complete a training network plan
Complete first 2 staff development sessions
1st series of exchange visits

33. 2008- deliverables so far LNSS
Regional Network for Staff Development-DELIVERABLES SO FAR AND PLANNED DELIVERABLES FOR THE COMING ACADEMIC YEAR
2008- deliverables so far
Training needs methodology ascertained (LNSS Stakeholder Workshop). Audit of required skills commenced (October 2008)
National and International Providers reviewed (September/October 2008)
Network Plan formulated (September/October 2008)
3 Development sessions to be completed (October November/December 2008)
Exchange of experience- 1st Inter Institutional Exchange of experience (Seminar Day)
Institutional needs for Reflective practice has being be identified. (LNSS Stakeholder Workshop)

34. 2009- planned deliverables
LNSS
Regional Network for Staff Development-DELIVERABLES SO FAR AND PLANNED DELIVERABLES FOR THE COMING ACADEMIC YEAR
2009- planned deliverables
Library Staff development sessions continue
1st Symposia
2nd Inter Institutional Exchange of Experience Seminar Day
Role out pilot reflective practice program- methods of measuring impact of training employed ( as ascertained at LNSS Stakeholder Workshop October 2008)
Conduct assessment and review of Programme including review of training rolled out to date.

35. How has the Regional Network for Staff
LNSS
How has the Regional Network for Staff
development so far led to enhanced
collaboration and capacity building?

36. LNSS Regional Network for Staff Development Enhanced collaboration and capacity building
Audit of required skills (training needs assessment): Collaboration between institutions in formulating and implementation. Skills gaps identified on a cross Institutional basis
Inter Institutional Staff development sessions ( First 3 before end of 2008)
Inter Institutional Register of National and International Training providers- formed through consultation and collaboration with the stakeholders
-LNSS Stakeholder Workshop October 6th sharing of expertise and collaborative assessment of training needs. Needs identified, training schedule and network plan formulated for all institutions
Exchange of experience- initially through meetings with all stakeholders and LNSS Stakeholder Workshop. LNSS exchange of Experience Seminar days will begin before end of 2008.
Reflective practice- ways of measuring impact of training on individuals and services have been identified (LNSS Stakeholder Workshop)

37. How will we continue to do this?
LNSS
Enhanced collaboration and capacity building.
How will we continue to do this?

38. LNSS Regional Network for Staff Development- Enhanced collaboration and capacity building- how will we continue to do this?
LNSS Inter Institutional Staff development sessions continue throughout continued implementation of training needs arising from LNSS Stakeholder Workshop October 6th 2008
Symposia – 2009
Second LNSS Exchange of experience Seminar Day 2009
Continued rollout of Reflective practice pilot program- methods of measuring impact of training utilized. (2009)
LNSS Website- continued upgrading to include any opportunities for social networking (2009)

39. LNSS
Will services in the region improve as a result of this Staff Development initiative?

40. Library Network Support Services (LNSS) Regional network for Staff Development Will Library services in the region improve as a result of this Library Staff development project?
Answer: YES!
WHY?
Up skilling training priorities will have been identified resulting in rollout of vital staff development courses thereby leading to up skilling of staff in the region
Knowledge Economy Staff will be in a better position to deliver services to students resulting in better student performance and up skilling for our Knowledge Economy.
Greater cooperation and sharing of expertise between the stakeholders will lead to more seamless delivery of information services across the partner institutions

41. Library Network Support Services (LNSS) Regional Network for Library Staff Development- Possible pressure points/obstacles?
New technologies particularly Web 2.0 technology is constantly changing- regardless of how well staff are up skilled in these areas can they ever fully up to date?
Measuring the impact: How will we measure the effectiveness of training. How will we know the impact training has made on the individual, services and students?
Answer: Reflective practice techniques, employee evaluation of training, online surveys.

42. Library Network Support Services (LNSS)
Jerald Cavanagh
BSc Econ, MSc, MA Institute Librarian Limerick Institute of Technology

43. Library Network Support Services (LNSS) Bibliography
Academic and National Library Training Co-operative (2006) Report of the Sub-Group on Continuing Professional Development, December 2006 available at
American Library Association (1989), Presidential Committee on Information Literacy – Final Report, American Library Association, Chicago, IL, available at: (accessed 26 July 2004), .
Bundy, A. (2003), "One essential direction: information literacy, information technology fluency", paper presented at eLit 2003: 2nd International Conference on Information and IT Literacy, Glasgow Caledonian University, June, available at: (accessed 11 March 2004), .
Bruce, C.S. (2002), "Information literacy as a catalyst for educational change: a background paper", white paper prepared for Unesco, the US National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and the National Forum on Information Literacy, for use at the Information Literacy Meeting of Experts, Prague, available at: (accessed 11 March 2004), .
Council of Australian University Librarians (2001), Information Literacy Standards, Council of Australian University Librarians, Canberra, available at: (accessed 26 July 2004),

44. Library Network Support Services (LNSS) Bibliography
Consortium of National and University Libraries (2001) CONUL Colloquium, November 2001 accessed at
Hegarty, Nora; Lynch, Ted; Quinlan, Neil, (2003) A portrait of Olas as a young information literacy tutorial: lLibrary Review, Vol. 53, No. 9., 442.
Society of College, National and University Libraries (1999), Information Skills in Higher Education: A SCONUL Position Paper, SCONUL, London, available at: (accessed 11 March 2004