5 key takeaways from ICLC 2025
1. Are we practising what we preach? The librarian as researcher
Alison Brettle introduced some early results from a Library and Information Research Group (LIRG) study on research culture, adapted from a study the Australians had already conducted, and modelling her advice they worked together to build on previous research. Some of the early headlines showed research is often being conducted by LIS professionals in their own time, and that hospital librarians are coming out of study unprepared to read and understand research. What stayed with me from the session was Alison’s call to action – Are we practising what we preach? And who is going to do the research if not us? It certainly made me consider what steps I can take to become a more engaged researcher in my own right. If anyone else wants to buddy up and tackle research together do get in touch!
2. Simple but effective – Randomised Coffee Trials are valued by staff
At Imperial College London and Chelsea and Westminster they are paired with a health organisation in New Jersey as part of the Magnet4Europe programme. The library already supported a Transatlantic Journal Club on nursing-focused research, but they wanted to do more to connect professionals and started a Transatlantic Coffee Trial, which had a really high engagement from NICU and ICU staff. We’ve been “letting things settle down” here before reintroducing our well received Coffee Trials but after 11 years in the NHS I should know that things rarely calm down, so what are we waiting for. Coffee Trials are a really simple but effective way of connecting colleagues who are looking to link with peers.
3. Three cheers for peers – some of the most valued development comes from our fellow professionals
Obviously, at a conference a big part of the learning comes from courageous colleagues sharing the innovations and experiences for the benefit of everyone’s shared learning. But one thing that really stayed with me was just how much we can learn from one another through peer review and support. Paul and Gil’s workshop on Peer Review encouraged each table to tackle a search question and discuss approaches, then the whole room fed back and shared with each other. Having the chance to chat with other searchers about how they might approach something undeniably improved my searching and as someone who rarely gets a clinical question, I was able to put the learning into practice within a couple of weeks when I was given a decidedly clinical topic to investigate. At University Hospitals Sussex this is something their team are trialling with their systematic review service. There are different levels of experience across the team and demand was outweighing capacity, so they held a workshop to develop some team Systematic Review Guidance using their shared expertise.
4. It’s gutsy, but fruitful, getting outside our comfort zones
In perhaps the gutsiest move I’ve ever seen from a fellow librarian – Lucy Wells wowed the room with her experience providing live (yes live) searching during an Orthopaedic Trauma Symposium. Working with organisers Lucy joined the panel of other experts to provide in-the-moment evidence to contribute to the debate in the room and presented on AI for search. It showed just what great opportunities are available to showcase our skills if we can only get up the courage to leave our echo chambers. Hannah McGivern also shared her story of leaving the lab and joining the library as an information specialist. Read more about her “tea trolley teaching” approach in critical care.
5. Tackling the lack of confidence – together we are better than the sum of our parts
It’s not revolutionary to say that as a group library staff aren’t the most confident bunch, but based on my two days at ICLC we’re certainly not lacking skills and experience. I think as a profession we’re really good at sharing the knowledge we have with our peers and helping one another, but it made me personally think about times I’ve felt I lacked confidence to tackle something by myself I should more actively ask my peers if they want to pair up and learn about it together. My colleague Kate and I have attempted to do this more since the conference, you can read more about her reflections next week.
Katie Nicholas
Knowledge Specialist
NHS England – Workforce, Training and Education
