BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Seizing the opportunity of research-led practice
Dr Hazel HallLibrary and Information Science Research Coalition
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
About Hazel Hall and the Library and Information Science Research Coalition…
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Hazel Hall in her seconded role
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
The LIS Research Coalition aims to:
bring together information about LIS research opportunities and results
encourage dialogue between research funderspromote LIS practitioner research and the translation of
research outcomes into practice articulate a strategic approach to LIS researchpromote the development of research capacity in LIS
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
The LIS Research Coalition aims to:
bring together information about LIS research opportunities and results
encourage dialogue between research funderspromote LIS practitioner research and the translation of
research outcomes into practice articulate a strategic approach to LIS researchpromote the development of research capacity in LIS
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
The LIS Research Coalition aims to:
bring together information about LIS research opportunities and results
encourage dialogue between research funderspromote LIS practitioner research and the translation of
research outcomes into practice articulate a strategic approach to LIS researchpromote the development of research capacity in LIS
Support research-led practice of librarians and
information scientists
Support research-led practice of librarians and
information scientists
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
About research-led practice: making use of published research in services delivery…
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
To exploit the existing knowledge base for services improvementTo improve decision making for services delivery
To enhance the value of prior workTo capitalise on significant investment in previous studiesTo raise the value of previous studies through reuse
To demonstrate the value and impact of service delivery
Why research-led practice?
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/econimpact.html
Florida study: for every $1 invested in public libraries there is a $6.54 return
Florida study: for every $1 invested in public libraries there is a $6.54 return
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Improves decision-making services delivery, yet…
Exploitation of existing knowledge base for services improvement
… librarians tend to be action-oriented, relying on… experience and professional judgment to make decisions.
(SLA, 2001)
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Multi-disciplinary nature of LIS literatureAcross publications of various domains
Grey sourcesStraightforward access not always obvious, e.g. unpublished
internal studies, summaries on listservs
Valuable work is often not published at all
We suffer “evaluation by-pass” (Booth, 2006)
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Multi-disciplinary nature of LIS literatureAcross publications of various domains
Grey sourcesStraightforward access not always obvious, e.g. unpublished
internal studies, summaries on listservs
Valuable work is often not published at all
We suffer “evaluation by-pass” (Booth, 2006)
TIME
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Good on advocacyLibraries are a “good thing”
Good at measuring tangiblese.g. transactions
Demonstration of value and impact of services delivery
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Good on advocacyLibraries are a “good thing”
Good at measuring tangiblese.g. transactions
Less skilled at demonstrating value and impactThis is the evidence that politically important stakeholders
need to justify further investment
Demonstration of value and impact of services delivery
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Good on advocacyLibraries are a “good thing”
Good at measuring tangiblese.g. transactions
Less skilled at demonstrating value and impactThis is the evidence that politically important stakeholders
need to justify further investment
Demonstration of value and impact of services delivery
To what extent have innovations in your services delivery contributed to student retention, or to attracting international student fee income, or to improvements in research assessment ratings?
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
About practitioner-led research (as opposed to research-led practice): LIS practitioners as researchers…
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Few LIS practitioners publish research in international peer-reviewed journalsException – North American librarians seeking tenure
Practitioner-led research
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Few LIS practitioners publish research in international peer-reviewed journalsException – North American librarians seeking tenure
Practitioner-led research
…librarians are regarded as experts at searching for evidence to support the practice of other professionals but are very unlikely to do the same for their own practice.
Booth (2002) notes the irony of this
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
No ambiguity in job title of “research scientist”This person engages in research
Ambiguity in the job title “research librarian”Professional who engages in research?Professional who supports the research of others?
The understanding of job titles is also indicative of the irony
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
.
I primarily attempt to assist people in locating information that they need to successfully complete their scholarly endeavors.
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
1. Time constraints of the practitioner role2. Low internal support of research activity3. Limited knowledge of research approaches4. Failure to recognise research activity/skills as
such5. Poor access to external support of research
activity, e.g. funding, mentors
The research-practice “gap”
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
1. Resources set up to save LIS researchers’ time2. Advocacy to persuade services managers of need
to support research initiatives3. Resources and events to extend repertoire of
research approaches in LIS4. Efforts to improve recognition of research
knowledge within the profession5. Focus for external research support in LIS
The LIS Research Coalition is working to narrow the gap
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Research funding opportunitiesResearch funding opportunities
Studentships offeredStudentships offered
Invitation to join consultationInvitation to join consultation
Research report publishedResearch report published
Topical debateTopical debate
Report of on-going researchReport of on-going research
Training event announcedTraining event announced
Conference registration openConference registration open
New journal issue published New journal issue published
Conference offering funded placesConference offering funded places
Research report publishedResearch report published
Saving practitioner researchers’ time: Twitter feed as current awareness.
Saving practitioner researchers’ time: Twitter feed as current awareness.
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Saving practitioner time: resources on the Coalition web pages.
Saving practitioner time: resources on the Coalition web pages.
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Encouraging top-level support for practitioner research.
Encouraging top-level support for practitioner research.
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Extending the repertoire of research approaches, and plans for further events in 2010/11.
Extending the repertoire of research approaches, and plans for further events in 2010/11.
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Providing opportunities for ongoing research to be recognised.
Providing opportunities for ongoing research to be recognised.
The full One Minute Madness video can be accessed from:http://www.vimeo.com/12948960
The full One Minute Madness video can be accessed from:http://www.vimeo.com/12948960
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Acting as the focus for external support of LIS research in the UK.
Acting as the focus for external support of LIS research in the UK.
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
The hard sell: increase your engagement in LIS research with the support of the LIS Research Coalition…
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Organisational prioritiesInform practice, decisions on future services developmentsDemonstrate impact and value
Personal prioritiesJob satisfaction: intellectual stimulation & enjoyment of
learning, pride in enhancing work practice, (retention)Enhance “peer” relationships, e.g. academia Career benefits: profile/reputation, leadership development,
CPD career progression
Increased engagement in research supports
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Share good practice beyond individual servicesRaise profile of LIS
Evidence-based profession, like others – support role plusSupport claims of LIS value
To individuals: e.g. education, social mobilityTo citizens/society: e.g. enhanced local communities,
contribution to culture and heritageTo specialist user groups: e.g. information provision to
business to support economic development
Priorities at level of profession or discipline
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Find out more at http://lisresearch.org Suggestions for content welcomed
Follow @LISResearch on Twitter@LISResearch will tweet your research-related news, queries...
Review materials from the conference held at the British Library on 28th JuneSee http://lisresearch.org/conference-2010
Join us and help build the evidence base
Seize the opportunities of research-led practice and practitioner-led research
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Booth, A. (2002). Mirage or reality? Health Information Libraries Journal 19, 56-58.
Booth, A. (2006). Clear and present questions: formulating questions for evidence based practice. Library Hi Tech 24(3), 355-368.
Special Libraries Association (2001, June). SLA research statement. URL http://www.sla.org/content/resources/research/rsrchstatement.cfm (accessed 4 July 2010).
References
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
LIS Research Coalitionhttp://lisresearch.org@LISResearch
Dr Hazel [email protected]+44 (0)7969 078181
BLA 2010 – the Research Agenda
Seizing the opportunity of research-led practice
Dr Hazel HallLibrary and Information Science Research Coalition