LIR Annual Seminar 2026
Supporting Emerging Literacies:
how do libraries design and deliver new literacy programmes?
ASIERA Offices, Dublin 1
Wednesday 13th May, 2026
The LIR Annual Seminar 2026 will focus on the theme Supporting Emerging Literacies and the question of how libraries design and deliver new literacy programmes.
The seminar will explore types of literacies that libraries are developing in response to changing environments and the changing needs and priorities of our users. The seminar will feature key notes, lightning talks and discussions on topics we hope will stimulate ideas on the future-readiness of libraries and on how to develop adaptive and creative library services.
The seminar will include talks on:
- AI Literacy
- Futures Literacy
- Digital and Information Literacy
- Data Literacy
- Climate Literacy
This hybrid event will be hosted at the Asiera (formerly HEAnet) offices in Dublin and will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person. We encourage you to join us in person but we understand that is not always possible.
Don’t forget to use the hashtag #LirSeminar2026
Schedule
| 10.00 – 10.25 | Registration |
| 10.30 – 10.45 | Introductions |
| 10.45 – 11.45 | Keynote: Dr Andrew Cox, Senior Lecturer at the School of Information, Journalism and Communication, University of Sheffield |
| 11.45 – 12.00 | Break |
| 12.00 – 12.15 | Ann Byrne: Digital Librarian, Hibernia College |
| 12.15 – 12.30 | Ronan Madden: Learning and Teaching Team Lead, UCC |
| 12.30 – 12.45 | Siobhán Dunne: Teaching, Research Support and User Experience, TCD |
| 12.45 – 1.00 | Patrick Keegan: Learning Specialist Librarian, RCSI |
| 1.00 – 1.45 | Lunch |
| 1.45 – 2.00 | Show and Tell Competition |
| 2.00 – 2.15 | Dr Simone Fühles-Ubach: Library and Information Sciences, TH Köln; Prof Elisabeth Kaliva: Computer Scientist and Educational Researcher, TH Köln. |
| 2.15 – 3.15 | Keynote: Ben Lee: Director, Shared Intelligence |
| 3.15 – 3.30 | Closing |
The Annual Sminar will be a hybrid event. Participants can join in person or stream the sessions online. Please see the registration page for further details.
The seminar will be free for library staff from LIR member institutions.
In-person registration
Book your place at the HEAnet Offices
Online registration
Book your place via MS Teams
Speakers
Dr Andrew Cox
Senior lecturer at the School of Information, Journalism and Communication, University of Sheffield
Andrew Cox is a senior lecturer at the School of Information, Journalism and Communication, University of Sheffield, UK. He is convenor of the IFLA Special Interest Group on AI and a former chair of ASIS&T’s AI SIG. As well as author of many recent peer reviewed journal articles on AI, he is co-author of the 2025 book, AI for Knowledge, published by CRC press. https://sheffield.ac.uk/ijc/people/andrew-cox
AI and libraries: Emerging use cases and librarian roles
We have been talking about the benefits and ethical risks of AI for libraries for several years. Now real uses and a clear role for librarians seem to be emerging more strongly. But there are still many unanswered questions.
Ben Lee
Director, Shared Intelligence
Ben has been involved in public policy research and development for 25 years. Much of his work relates to community renewal at the neighbourhood level. He is currently on the senior team at the consultancy Shared Intelligence most often engaged in designing research, supporting organisations to evidence impact, conducting policy review, and promoting futures literacy. He works with community volunteers, public sector professionals, and elected representatives. He is an expert on public libraries and was a founding trustee of Local Trust from 2012 to 2020.
Come Rain or Shine: futures literacy for libraries, and the role of libraries in building futures literacy among their users and communities.
Ann Byrne
Digital librarian for Hibernia College
Ann Byrne is the Digital librarian for Hibernia College. She has over 20 years’ experience working in academic libraries and previously held positions in TU Dublin, UCD and IICP. Ann has particular interest and expertise in digital libraries, information literacy, digital repositories, open access, and academic writing and referencing. Ann is an active member of the HECA Library Group and conference committee. Ann is also an accredited psychotherapist.
Digital literacy for all: reflections on creating a Digital literacy OER. In 2023 a small team at Hibernia College created an open digital educational resource to help foster digital literacy within our institution and beyond.
Siobhán Dunne
Teaching, Research Support and User Experience, TCD
Siobhán Dunne leads on Teaching, Research Support and User Experience at the Library of Trinity College Dublin. Prior to this, she held various research support roles in the National Disability Authority and Dublin City University, where she was a recipient of the DCU President’s Award for Innovation. Siobhán is a passionate advocate of open scholarship and widening participation. Her research interests include ethnographical approaches to understanding student learning, ethics and critical literacies. She co-organises the Ecological Emergency book club and the Climate Café for the Trinity community.
Building on the success of several library led sustainability initiatives, in February 2026, the Library of Trinity College Dublin formally launched its Sustainability Action Plan. One of six strategic themes in the plan, sustainability literacy is providing renewed opportunities to position the Library’s expertise as a trusted information resource. This talk will chart the Library’s progress in designing programmes tackling awareness of and strategies to overcome, mis and disinformation. It will also comment on the intersectionality of AI, sustainability and media literacies.
Dr Simone Fühles-Ubach
Library and Information Science at TH Köln - University of Applied Science Cologne
Dr Simone Fühles-Ubach and Prof Elisabeth Kaliva have been working together since 2020 on the “Data Literacy” research project at TH Köln – University of Applied Science Cologne.
They will present the progress and research findings of the Data Literacy Project, focusing on the contribution and collaboration of academic libraries and the impact this has on students.
Prof Elizabeth Kaliva
Computer Scientist and Educational Researcher at TH Köln - University of Applied Science Cologne
Prof Elisabeth Kaliva and Dr Simone Fühles-Ubach have been working together since 2020 on the “Data Literacy” research project at TH Köln – University of Applied Science Cologne.
They will present the progress and research findings of the Data Literacy Project, focusing on the contribution and collaboration of academic libraries and the impact this has on students.
Patrick Keegan
Learning Specialist Librarian at RCSI
Patrick Keegan is a Learning specialist librarian at RCSI health sciences institute with many years experience in varied education roles including adult education, and learning design, and of course librarianship
Effective learner and GEN AI collaboration: to bot or not to bot – a pilot workshop ran for postgraduate learners to excellent feedback. The session focused on shifting emphasis from how to use Gen AI, to GEN AI as a learner journey disruptor
Ronan Madden
Learning & Teaching Team Lead at UCC Library
Ronan Madden is currently Learning & Teaching Team Lead at UCC Library. He has previously held a number of roles, including Acquisitions Librarian and Arts & Humanities Librarian, and his professional interests include information literacy, information behaviour, and the role of libraries in teaching and learning. Ronan has published in peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings and represented UCC on the IReL (Irish Research eLibrary) Steering Group for several years. In 2025, the Learning & Teaching Team received UCC’s President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in recognition of their contribution to higher education teaching.
UCC Library’s new Digital and Information Literacy Framework represents a transformative, values-driven approach to embedding digital and information literacies across the University. It encompass all ‘literacies’, including information, digital, media, and AI. This short talk will outline how the Framework was developed, disseminated, and how it is currently being operationalised.
Location
Link to Google Maps here.
ASIERA is located at 3rd Floor, North dock 2, 93/94 North Wall Quay, Dublin, D01 V8Y6
Nearest Train Station: Connolly and Docklands
Nearest Luas Station: The Point
Nearest Dublin Bus Stop: Stop 7623, Br an Phoirt Thoir, East Wall (22, 23, 33D, 33X, 41X, 100X, 101X, 109A, 142, 151, 193, 194, 194A, 500, 500N, 500X, 501, 503, 505, 505X, 506, 507, 702, 703, 912)
Nearest Intercity Bus Station: Dublin (Busáras)
Nearest Dublin Bicycle Station: The Point
Full info: https://www.asiera.ie/who-we-are/