Talk:Library Association of Ireland

Subheadings in Groups and Sections

Respectfully, re the subheadings (work areas, librarianship, geographical) used in the piece on LAI Groups and Sections, might their use imply that LAI divided the sections on those lines, rather than that the sections are standalone and they developed as numbers allowed etc, it might give the reader the impression that those are LAI divisions/descriptions (LAI lists the sections alphabetically on their site without subdividing)? Thanks CaitNi (talk) 08:12, 13 March 2024 (UTC)

Those gatherings of internal groups were from an old report. To address the concern / manage any question of synthesis, I have replaced them with the latest annual report's groupings. These latter seem a little odd in places - some of the "Special Interest groups" look more like sectoral groups, but there is clearly a logic at work. It also looks as if 1-2 groups, including one of the two regional sections, may have ceased.

While we're updating, it is unclear if the LAI journal, An Leabharlann, has taken a temporary break from publication. This article could be grown with more about the activities of the association, and a more complete history. SeoR (talk) 17:24, 13 March 2024 (UTC)

That makes sense, thanks for this! I'll try and get some links and answers to those questions. CaitNi (talk) 21:17, 13 March 2024 (UTC)

That would be great - you have some relevant contacts? I will check my files too, as I think I recall something about a previous similarly-named but short-lived association in the early 20th century. The LAI is an unusual beastie, a self-organised professional body, which built a whole educational structure (then dismantled it, while maintaining fellowships) while also driving many professional and knowledge-sharing structures, taking policy positions and nominating for the Seanad, all the while not becoming a trade union. Its website seems a little out of date - Wikipedia has more on its President's Medal and other awards than the site - but then it is also exceptional in not having even one part-time paid staff member. Definitely worthy of a deeper article. SeoR (talk) 14:24, 14 March 2024 (UTC)

That's excellent material already - the preceding bodies, and RL Praeger again, he did show up in many places in that period (I was working on his article last year). Looking forward to more. By the by, I found one librarian who is a member (it's apparently not so common for ordinary library assistants to join) and they said that An Leabharlann is not stopped officially but it had been struggling to secure articles (and had shrunk) and had a chance in editorship, and might have "accidentally" paused; with a history back to 1904/5, it would be a pity if it ceased. SeoR (talk) 09:44, 19 March 2024 (UTC)

Sorry, basic technical question - I've used the same reference for 2 different articles in the one journal issue, should they be separated or is it neater to just use the one ref for both, what is the standard Wiki style for that? Thanks! CaitNi (talk) 23:00, 20 March 2024 (UTC)

Nice work, and interesting to meet An Leabharlann three different ways - an unusual but valid referencing of a library listing, a reference to the page about the journal in general, and direct referencing of journal content. I tidied one a little. On the question, where two articles in a single issue are quoted, we'd normally cite the journal issue once, and then use page number or a content template to note the relevant page / chapter / other internal reference for each of the two items. Page is a feature of nearly all reference templates, as p(g) or pp, while internal referencing can be done with {{rp|xyz}}, where xyz is the page number, page number range, chapter descriptor or other internal marker. SeoR (talk) 01:56, 21 March 2024 (UTC)

The journal is nowadays called An Leabharlann : The Irish Library, and it is published twice a year, in March and October, but the October 2023 and March 2024 editions did not come out. See https://www.cilip.org.uk/members/group_content_view.asp?group=201287&id=787507. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.46.80.170 (talk) 02:36, 21 March 2024 (UTC)