Ciara McCaffrey is the University Librarian and Director of Library and Information Services at the University of Limerick, where she holds institutional leadership responsibility for the scholarly information needs of UL’s learning, teaching and research community.  She played a key leadership role in delivering the outstanding new Glucksman Library, which includes highly innovative, technology-enhanced spaces and the only Automated Storage and Retrieval System housed within a library in Europe.

Ciara actively engages with LIBER, formerly co-chairing the Digital Skills for Library Staff and Researchers Working Group, and is on a number of national library committees in Ireland.  She is an advocate of evidence-based librarianship and has conducted and published primary research that is action-oriented, with the aim of improving library services and spaces, informing practice and contributing to academic literature in the field of library and information studies.  More information and open access versions of her publications are available on her LinkedIn and ORCID profiles.

“I am passionate about the power of library buildings as social infrastructure – spaces to inspire, create, contemplate and collaborate.  I’ve seen the transformative impact a new library building can have on its users, staff, institution and region and I’m keen to share our experience and learn from others across Europe in continuing our space programme.“