Postgraduate Researchers

PhD Research Student - School of Media

Project title: Tracing evolving and diverging voice and values in Librarian led podcasts  

Project abstract: Podcasting as a medium has increased and diversified rapidly in recent years, reaching maturity as a format (Berry, 2016).  As podcasting has matured, the nature and motivations of podcast creators has evolved and expanded (Markman, 2012) (Markman & Sawyer, 2014). Podcast creators have emerged from all disciplines and professional backgrounds with podcasts frequently occurring within communities of interest (Berry, 2016: 12). The close connection between the creator, the content and the listenership generates an ideal space for self-examination within contained social and professional fields.            

Library and information professionals have traditionally occupied the role of media gatekeepers, curating, and facilitating access to collections. As the nature of collections and the delivery of services have transitioned from physical to digital professional discourse has increasingly focused on professional values, identity and perception (Pierson et al, 2019) (Ishii et al, 2021) (Klein and Lenart, 2020). It also exists alongside a growing re-evaluation of the values and power dynamics at the core of the profession (Leckie, Given and Buschman, 2010).  

Despite the historical role of Library and Information Service (LIS) professionals in collecting and preserving personal records, media capturing or documenting professional identity, narratives, or value discourse of LIS professionals are limited. Librarian produced podcasts appeared alongside the general increase in podcast content and listenership. While many are extensions of library services, focusing on instruction and promotion, podcasts addressing the librarian experience have also emerged. Many feature librarian interviews and examine issues of professional values, identity, and career development. More recently, a more number of librarian podcasts  have sought to document wider discussions playing out about the librarian experience and traditional LIS power dynamics. These podcasts prompt critical, occasionally confrontational examinations of the LIS field and its underlying values.  

These podcast recordings also provide a rich primary source detailing evolving and competing value positions of LIS professionals. They offer a snapshot of a specific point in time, creating an oral history of current debates from within a little documented community.  

This research aims to address the central research question of whether librarian-led podcasts document new and emerging values in the field of Librarianship? A content analysis of selected librarian podcast output will be conducted and combined with semi structured interviews with librarian podcast producers examining their professional value positions and motivations for podcast production. 

Library workers as a professional or a societal group remain largely undocumented in media histories and research. Librarian podcast interview content offers potential to trace and map changing values and power dynamics within the profession. This research also hopes to offer value beyond the LIS profession in providing an exploration of the potential of podcasting to document evolving and conflicting ideologies within other professional spheres.

Supervisors: Dr Edward Brennan, Dr Muireann O Keeffe    

ORCID profile: 0000-0002-6054-5198