Regulatory Affairs

What We Do

We monitor and assess general regulatory developments impacting on CONUL library services and activities, including copyright, licensing, data protection and procurement

We advise and advocate on Irish and EU legislation and regulation as it applies to CONUL member libraries

We provide input on behalf of CONUL into submissions/responses to public consultations on Irish and EU regulatory affairs

We work with government and regulatory agencies on specific issues as directed by CONUL

We conduct research, provide briefings and make recommendations on regulatory matters as directed by CONUL

We improve awareness on key legal frameworks, principles and practices for CONUL and member library staffs through CPD and other channels

Our Activities

We produce documents and papers to provide practical guidance on regulatory themes

We develop and advance advocacy positions in consultation processes

We organise events to promote awareness, including seminars and training

Who We Are

Chair: David Meehan (DCU)

Deputy Chair: Vacant

Secretary: Vacant

Communications Officer: Patricia Quigley (TCD)

Members: Julia Christopher (UCD), Virginia Conrick (UCC), Aisling Keane (NUIG), Gillian Kerins (TU Dublin), Della Keating (NLI), Elizabeth Murphy (MU), Kathryn Smith (RCSI)

Member Spotlight

The Library of Trinity College Dublin

The Library of Trinity College Dublin is the oldest and the largest library in Ireland. The Library supports the learning and research needs across all disciplines of Trinity College Dublin, including arts, humanities and social sciences; science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and health sciences. It is a major research library of international repute and provides services to the College community and a wide range of external users and institutions.

It comprises six contemporary libraries as well as the 18th century Old Library which hosts regular exhibitions of its manuscripts and other treasures. The Library was endowed with Legal Deposit privilege in 1801 and continues to receive copies of material published in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Today it has over seven million printed volumes with extensive collections of journals, manuscripts, maps and music reflecting over 400 years of academic development. It also includes extensive digital images of the Library collections as well as e-books, e-journals, Open Access items and audio visual items.  For further details see the Library website.