Colleagues,

University College Dublin (UCD) is currently conducting new research into library staff experiences with LGBTQ+ materials and alt-right agitators, and Fórsa is encouraging members to take part. 

The aim of this project is to interview library staff at both management and non-management levels to gain insights into their work in light of alt-right agitations concerning LGBTQ+ materials.

UCD is particularly interested in understanding your experiences as library workers, the impact of this agitation on your work, and your suggestions for a toolkit that the university plans to develop to address these issues.

Participation Details:

• Interview Format: The interviews will be conducted via Zoom by a member of the UCD project team.
• Duration: Each interview is expected to last around one hour.
• Commitment: The maximum commitment required from participants includes the one-hour interview and the time needed to review the  information sheet and sign the consent form if you choose to participate.

Confidentiality and Safeguarding:

• Anonymity: All insights provided during the interviews will be completely anonymised. Identifying information, including your role, workplace location, and any specific details about encounters with agitators, will be removed to protect your identity.
• Publication: We plan to publish a report and an article on this project in an academic journal. The published data will be anonymised, ensuring no individual or library can be identified.

Your participation is integral to helping UCD further understand the challenges library staff face, and in developing effective tools to support your work.

If you are interested in participating or require further information, please email Dr. Páraic Kerrigan, Assistant Professor and Deputy Head of School of Information and Communication Studies, UCD at paraic.kerrigan@ucd.ie. More information can also be found here. 

Thank you for considering this invitation. Your insights and experiences are invaluable to this research.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.