About IReL

Introduction

IReL is a consortium of Irish research libraries. Established in 2004, it provides participating member institutions with access to a wide range of licensed e-resources, open access publishing agreements with over twenty publishers, and open science infrastructure. IReL is based in Maynooth University.

IReL is a member of ICOLC (The International Coalition of Library Consortia).

What is available?

IReL delivers quality peer-reviewed online research publications: journals, ebooks, databases and index & abstracting services. See our Resources page for a full listing. 

How to access IReL

Staff and students of participating institutions can access IReL resources on or off-campus via their library’s website:

History

IReL was initially conceived to support researchers in Biotechnology and Information Technology in mid-summer 2004, and following on the success of this, expanded in 2006 to support research in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

High-level research is both an academic and a national economic imperative, the essential component of a strategy to develop a knowledge-based economy and to position Ireland as a world leader in this respect. As a result of initiatives funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) through the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI), and projects funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) there has been a major enhancement in the research profile of the Irish universities.

In response to an invitation from SFI transmitted via the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities (CHIU, since renamed the Irish Universities Association, IUA), the university librarians submitted a proposal in June 2002 for the development of an electronic library, or research information resource. This proposal envisaged that the electronic library would be established on a consortium basis and available to the research community throughout the sector. Following favourable approval, IReL began in the summer of 2004 concentrating on resources to support biotechnology, and information and communications technology. This first (STM) phase of IReL continued until December 2009.

The success of the Science, Technology & Medicine (STM) phase of IReL resulted in the funding by HEA of a second phase of IReL to run from 2006 to 2009 to support the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) a major boost to researchers in these areas.

In 2009 additional funds were made available for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Institutes of Technology to join selected agreements.

Following approximately 10 years based in University College Dublin and a shorter period hosted by HEAnet, IReL moved to Maynooth University in early 2016 and a new governance structure was introduced in 2017.

In early 2018, Dublin Institute of Technology became a full member of IReL, with representation on the consortium’s governing groups. Following the creation of TU Dublin (merging Dublin, Blanchardstown and Tallaght Institutes of Technology), its three campuses began accessing IReL resources as they are renewed from 2020.

A strategic review of IReL, led by the HEA, was concluded in 2019.  

A number of new members joined IReL from 2022: Ireland’s newest technological universities, its institutes of technology, and Mary Immaculate College.

Why a national approach?

A number of factors support the value of a national as opposed to an institutional approach to acquiring e-resources:

  • the inability of individual institutions to bear the cost of comprehensive information provision;
  • the collaborative cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary nature of the various research initiatives;
  • the advantage of economies of scale from consortium purchasing
  • the advantage of economies of scale from centralised negotiation and administration, especially in view of the highly flexible pricing of the resources;
  • the need to make the resource available to researchers across the sector, regardless of the institution in which they are based

In addition to ensuring Irelands competitive advantage for access to high quality research, the benefits of IReL are available to all students and staff in the universities, RCSI and the Institutes of Technology. This is particularly important in instilling a research culture at undergraduate level and is making a significant contribution to Government policy as recommended by the OECD.

How IReL is managed

IReL is overseen by its Governance Committee comprised of representatives from partners and funders. The Maynooth University President chairs the Governance Committee and MU, as IReL’s host, has overall governance responsibility for IReL, providing dedicated financial and professional support through the MU Finance Office and Library.

IReL’s staff are employed by Maynooth University. They negotiate with the publishers on behalf of the consortium and manage agreements.

Success of IReL

Researchers in Irish universities now have access to a world-class electronic library service comparable to any such service in the international research community. The range and quality of publications available through IReL compares favourably to what is available in some of the leading research libraries, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Columbia University and Imperial College London.

Since the release of the first resources in 2005, millions of journal articles are accessed each year. Researchers and students have also made excellent use of the databases and ebook collections, performing over 16 million searches in 2015 and consulting over 6.5 million ebook sections over the last nine years.

Testimonials

“The IReL service has been a key element in transforming the landscape for scientific research in Ireland. In terms of value for money it is hard to think of a better investment”

Prof. Ray O’Neill, Vice President for Research, Maynooth University

“The availability of this reference tool is vital for our research, for writing reviews and papers and for the development of concepts for new research initiatives”

Prof. Richard O’Kennedy, Dublin City University

“This is absolutely essential. Without it we will be severely affected and research will suffer tremendously. I can’t emphasise enough how important it is that this be continued even if it were to be at the expense of other things.”

Prof. Luke O’Neill, TCD (Biochemistry and Immunology)

“IReL has transformed research support in Ireland. It provides access to primary and secondary source material that is now indispensable to research. It is essential the service be maintained as a vital component of our national research infrastructure.”

Prof. Alan Titley, UCC (Modern Irish)

IReL Publications

IReL groups

IReL Governance Committee

  • Prof Eeva Leinonen, MU, Chair
  • Vacant, DFHERIS
  • Caitríona Ryan, HEA
  • Anna Lundén, National Library of Sweden
  • Susan Reilly, IReL Director
  • Jack Hyland, IReL, GC Secretary
  • Sharon Bailey, UG
  • Coral Black, UL
  • Dr Liam Brown, TUS
  • Allison Kavanagh, TU Dublin
  • Cathal McCauley, MU
  • Rachel Msetfi, MU

IReL Executive

  • Susan Reilly, IReL Director
  • Jack Hyland, IReL Manager
  • Aaron Binchy, IReL Officer
  • Aidan Mullen, Financial and Compliance Controller
  • Dr. Catherine Ferris, Open Scholarship Officer
  • Annika Lindh, OA Analyst

IReL Negotiations Group

  • Susan Reilly, IReL Director, Chair
  • Jack Hyland, IReL
  • Aaron Binchy, IReL, Secretary
  • Amanda Halpin, DCU
  • Michaela Hollywood, MU
  • Karen McCormack, MTU
  • Christoph Schmidt-Supprian, TCD
  • Hardy Schwamm, UCC
  • Kathryn Smith, RCSI
  • Maura Stephens, ATU

Terms of Reference for the IReL Negotiations Group