The annual LAI/CILIP Ireland joint conference took place on April 10th and 11th in Kilashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. The theme of the conference was ‘inclusive libraries’ and in a change from previous years, the organising committee issued a call for papers, asking library staff from across Ireland to submit proposals for papers. There was a huge response from across all library sectors which resulted in a really engaging, dynamic and interesting programme of papers and posters.
The conference began with a keynote address from Erik Boekesteijn, Senior Advisor at the National Library of the Netherlands. Erik shared examples of the kind of libraries that have impressed him internationally with a particular emphasis on how these libraries have facilitated storytelling. On day two of the conference, Rosie Jones, Director of Student and Library Services at Teeside University spoke about how libraries have a key role in breaking down hierarchies and barriers of access to education. The final keynote of the conference came from Traci Lesneski of the US based architecture firm MSR who presented on best practice in library design.
The conference also included a lively exhibition and conference dinner which was attended by both Sean Power, Mayor of Kildare and Chief Executive Peter Carey.
