Briony Birdi

Notable work and positions

University of Sheffield, School of Information, Journalism and Communication (formerly the Information School) - Professor of Library and Information Science; Head of School
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Sheffield - Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (until 2023)

Biography

Briony Birdi is a professor of Library and Information Science at the University of Sheffield, where she heads the School of Information, Journalism and Communication, formerly the university's Information School. After completing a modern languages degree at Hull University in 1995, she spent a year as a graduate trainee at the Taylor Institution at Oxford University, then earned an MA in Librarianship at Sheffield. She worked as a marketing manager for Waterstone's booksellers from 1997 to 1999, promoting books and reading to younger and adult readers, and then as a research fellow at the Centre for Information Research at Birmingham City University from 1999 to 2002, working on reading and literacy projects. She returned to Sheffield in 2002 as a research associate in the Centre for the Public Library and Information in Society and took up an academic post in the department in 2003. Her research and teaching focus on the social, political and educational roles of public and youth libraries, with a particular emphasis on social justice, diversity and the promotion of reading, including studies of minority ethnic fiction readership, interlending in UK public libraries, and public responses to library service reductions. Until 2023 she served as Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the University of Sheffield's Faculty of Social Sciences. She continues to be consulted on public library policy and practice by regional, national and international academic and professional organizations.

Career highlights

• iSchools Doctoral Dissertation Award, runner-up 2016 · The first academic recipient of the recognition from outside North America.
• Teaching Excellence in Social Sciences awards 2016 and 2017 · Recognized for outstanding practice in learning and teaching at the University of Sheffield.
• Head of School · Leads the University of Sheffield's School of Information, Journalism and Communication.