I had the privilege of speaking in the beautiful RIA on Tuesday at the A&SL Conference 2026, Reimagining Librarianship. Drawing on my transition from academic librarian, I reflected on how librarianship continues to shape my professional practice, even outside a traditional library setting. #ASL2026
What a privilege to be part of such a warm, collaborative committee. Thanks to everyone who helped us make #ASL2026 happen - here's to planning #ASL2027 (after a quick lie down)
A man and a woman looking into the camera
A last special shout out to @laibluesky.bsky.social President and @ucdlibrary.bsky.social Deputy University Librarian Lorna Dodd and @mulibrary.bsky.social University Librarian @cathalmccauley.bsky.social for their valuable support of #ASL2026
Fantastic skeeting from the librarians at #ASL2026 today, thank you all for sharing!! It looks to have been an excellent conference, so many highly relevant library topics covered @aslibraries.bsky.social
13 people standing in two rows
And that's a wrap for #ASL2026! The A&SL committee would like to thank our keynote speakers, case study and poster presenters, sponsors and attendees for their enthusiasm and engagement. Thanks also to the @ria.ie staff and our photographers for helping to make this year's conference such a success.
Sarah Cleary is the winner of the best #ASL2026 post competition with this lovely post
A woman (Niamh McHenry) standing beside a poster
A woman (Sarah Timmins) standing beside a poster
Two women (Ann Byrne and Emberly Davey) standing beside a poster
A man (Andrew Ryan) standing beside a poster
Congratulations to Niamh McHenry @librarymie.bsky.social who won our #ASL2026 poster competition! No mean feat considering the high standard of posters from Anne Byrne and Emberly Davey from Hibernia College, Sarah Timmins @mulibrary.bsky.social and Andrew Ryan from City Education Group
After a (self-imposed) hiatus from conferences last year, I'm so glad I submitted to #ASL2026 to ease myself back into it. Well done and thanks to the @aslibraries.bsky.social committee for putting on an interesting and inspiring programme ✨
A slide with a list of transferable library skills Jenny is using in her current role. Info lit research support, scholarly communication, digital and technical proficiency, user communication and outreach
#ASL2026 Case in point
A slide with title DH5001 and listing the learning outcomes of the module.
#ASL2026 Ooh! A data stewardship microcredential!
List of questions to help you answer the question: am I a data steward?
Presentation slide from @jennylibrarian.bsky.social asking are you a data steward? (I'd argue the answer for everyone is yes...yes you are a data steward so check out @sonrai.bsky.social) #ASL2026
Slide with title Am I a data steward and listing a variety of criteria which may make one a data steward.
#ASL2026 Librarians do do a lot of this.
#ASL2026 Another excellent demonstration of librarian transferable skills from Jenny O'Neill of Asiera.
A great afternoon @aslibraries.bsky.social with an interactive session about values and papers about prioritisation of decisions, change in the profession and reimagining/reframing our roles and skills #asl2026
#ASL2026 The self-inflicted mediocrity of Google ensures it will never replace librarians. Same for LLMs.
Presentation slide giving examples of UX techniques in libraries, such as graffiti walls, cognitive mapping, interviews and more.
Examples of cognitive mapping where users have drawn pictures.
Method of biannual customer/user experience weeks.
Dr Robert Whan showing some examples of UX in libraries from Queen's University Belfast (and of course there was an @andypriestner.bsky.social shout-out) #ASL2026
A man speaking from a lectern
A man speaking from a lectern
A woman speaking from a lectern
5 people seated at a table. One woman is speaking into a microphone.
Dr Bláithín Hurley @waterfordlibraries.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social discusses the position of Irish Anglican diocesan libraries in Ireland at #ASL2026. Robert Whan @nlireland.bsky.social reflects on what it means to reframe librarianship for the next generation.
#ASL2026 "Customer" klaxon. I hate the use of "customer" in a library context. Hate it!
A slide. Title: What the four libraries show. Text : Custodianship determines fate Collections are not lost through neglect alone They are lost through unclear responsibility.
#ASL2026
Good point. What's the difference between a collection and a library? Custodianship and collaboration.
"Preservation keeps books alive
Collaboration keeps libraries alive".
A woman sitting at a table
A woman speaking from a lectern to a seated audience
A woman sitting at a table
A woman speaking from a lectern to a seated audience
Genevieve Larkin examines the considerations that shaped strategic decisions in a recent service development and modernisation in @librarymie.bsky.social. Francisca Silva walks the #ASL2026 attendees through the processes involved in completing a website redesign project in @librarydbs.bsky.social.
A woman standing at a lectern
A seated audience looking at a word cloud on a screen
A slide showing photos of people and promotional signs
A seated audience looking at a projector screen
Stephanie Chen @ucclibrary.bsky.social leads the #ASL2026 attendees through a workshop that encourages them to consider their professional values. Keep an eye out for the results in @libfocus.bsky.social in a few weeks!
Anakin/Padme meme. Text: There will be interactive activities. I won't have to talk to anyone, right (repeated)
#ASL2026 More memes, please
#ASL2026 Interesting point about being lucky. I've been lucky in libraries, but as Niamh said her mother was fond of pointing out, don't confuse being lucky with making your own luck. When opportunity knocks, make sure you're sufficiently presentable to open the door!
Join a committee! @laicdgroup.bsky.social is a great one 😉 #ASL2026
Two seated people in conversation. Beside them is a screen with the text Niamh Tumelty in conversation with Cathal McCauley
A seated woman speaking into a microphone
Two seated people in conversion in front of an audience
A seated audience of people
Niamh Tumelty and Cathal McCauley's conversation at #ASL2026 explores leadership styles, how libraries can remain relevant in the age of AI, the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise and the ways library staff can gain management experience through voluntary roles.
Sunshine 🌞 finally making an appearance at #ASL2026 Ample timing ahead of this afternoon's lightening talks!!
#ASL2026 If you're interested in joining a library committee, volunteer to be the treasurer; it's the best role!*
*not really!
Two people in conversation on a stage.
Appreciate how @aslibraries.bsky.social are open to trying new things. Having the second keynote be a conversation rather than a presentation is refreshing. Love how authentic Niamh is #ASL2026
So much knowledge - both physically (and metaphorically!) in the one room. Great day so far at #ASL2026 #royalirishacademy 📚📖
