All change for Dr Bruce Ryan

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Hazel Hall

Dr Bruce Ryan

After 13 years at Edinburgh Napier University, Dr Bruce Ryan’s role as Senior Research Fellow has come to an end. Last Friday, I joined Bruce for a special meal to mark his last day in paid employment at the University. Amongst the other guests were our (former) colleagues Dr Peter Cruickshank, Dr David Haynes, and Dr Rachel Salzano.

I worked closely with Bruce for over a decade when we were colleagues in the Centre for Social Informatics. Of the many projects on which we collaborated, three stand out: Continue reading →

A contribution to the RIVAL reunion

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Hazel Hall

Last month, on May 25th 2023, I enjoyed the novelty of participating at a RIVAL network event not as an organiser, but as an invited speaker. Expertly coordinated by Dr Bruce Ryan and Professor Diane Pennington, the event was funded by Edinburgh Napier University with additional sponsorship from McMaster University, Canada (the keynote speaker was Professor Brian Detlor), CILIPS, and SLIC. Continue reading →

Network development to narrow the LIS research-practice gap: Emerald EarlyCite paper now available

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Hazel Hall

Amongst the latest articles published online ahead of print by the Journal of Documentation is one on narrowing the research-practice gap that I have recently co-authored with my Edinburgh Napier University colleagues Dr Bruce Ryan, Rachel Salzano, and Katherine Stephen.

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This JDoc paper is now available for download from Emerald EarlyCite

Continue reading →

Narrowing the research-practice gap through network building between researchers and practitioners: new paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Documentation

Posted on October 20, 2022 by Hazel Hall

From a network model to a model network: strategies for network development to narrow the LIS research-practice gap has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Documentation. I recently co-authored this article with my Edinburgh Napier University colleagues Dr Bruce Ryan, Rachel Salzano, and Katherine Stephen.

In this article we discuss the applicability of strategies shown to work well in one model of network development to the development of another. It in an output of the Research Impact Value and LIS (RIVAL) project, funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh between 2019 and 2021. We used the grant to bring together a collaborative network of Scotland-based Library and Information Science (LIS) researchers and practising library and information professionals interested in maximising the impact and value of library and information science research. Continue reading →

The public library as public sphere: new article accepted for publication in the Journal of Documentation

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Hazel Hall

The public library as public sphere: a longitudinal analysis has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Documentation. I recently co-authored this article with Dr Leo Appleton (Senior University Teacher at the University of Sheffield).

In the article, Leo and I discuss the role of the UK public library as a public sphere, and the ways in which this role relates to the epistemic, community, and political functions of public libraries. The article is a major output from Leo‘s doctoral research, which he completed part-time in the Centre for Social Informatics. The findings presented in the article derive from the analysis of empirical data that Leo collected in 24 focus groups with active public library users over a period of four years. Continue reading →

Spreading the news of RIVAL at the 2021 CILIPS and SCURL conferences #cilips21

Posted on June 7, 2021 by Hazel Hall

Following the completion of our Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) funded Research Impact Value and Library and Information Science (RIVAL) project at the end of March 2021, Dr Bruce Ryan and I are each pleased to have an opportunity to speak about this work at two different conferences this week. The first is the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS) annual conference, which opened today. The second is the annual conference of the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL), which takes place on Wednesday. Continue reading →

Spreading the news of RIVAL at the SCURL and CILIPS 2021 conferences, and in Information Professional

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Hazel Hall

This year’s annual conference of the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) takes place online on Wednesday 9th June 2021. Registration are free of charge on EventBrite.

The conference will bring together SCURL members to share ideas and experiences to shape library services in the future. There will be a particular focus on adaptations and innovations across SCURL libraries during the past year, taking into account the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on library service delivery. Continue reading →

Dr Bruce Ryan to speak at CILIPS Annual Conference 2021 #CILIPS21

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Hazel Hall

My Centre for Social Informatics colleague Dr Bruce Ryan has recently been confirmed as a speaker at this year’s annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland. The 2021 conference is a two-day online event on June 7th and 8th. It will bring together library and information professionals from across Scotland and beyond to share knowledge and engage in professional development. Continue reading →

All set for #asist20

Posted on October 25, 2020 by Hazel Hall

Following three days of virtual pre-conference workshops and the annual doctoral colloquium, the annual meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology 2020 ‘proper’ opens today. The opening keynote speaker is Houman Haddad, Head of Emerging Technologies, United Nations World Food Programme (Nobel Peace Prize winner). He will present to the online audience on blockchain technology for humanitarian assistance at 09:00 EDT (13:00 GMT in the UK).

Several members of the Centre for Social Informatics are making co-authored contributions to ASIST 2020: Continue reading →

RIVAL goes virtual on 19th November 2020

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Hazel Hall

RIVAL logo After two unsuccessful attempts to postpone the third of our RSE-funded RIVAL network events, Dr Bruce Ryan and I have admitted defeat. With the support of the RIVAL project board members, we have decided to keep Thursday 19th November 2020 as the date for RIVAL event 3 and run it as a virtual meeting that afternoon. Continue reading →

Hazel Hall

Emeritus Professor, Edinburgh Napier University

Tag Archives: impact

RIVAL goes virtual on 19th November 2020