public practitioner researchers

Public Practitioner-Researchers

How LIS research is informed by praxis

Background

• Public libraries need research

• Public librarians need research

• Public needs research

• LIS field needs public library research

“Researchers do not disseminate their research well and librarians do not consume it.” (Durrance 1991, 280)

• What is the current state of PPR research?

• Do PPRs research different sorts of subjects from academics and other librarians?

• Do they use different research strategies?

Research Questions

• Evaluated the state of LIS research, including PPRs– Buttlar 1991– Mularski 1991

• The State of PPR research activities– Powell, Baker & Mika 2002– Chapman & Pike 1993– Penta & McKenzie 2006

• Described the need for PPR research– Durrance 1991

Literature Review

• Content Analysis– 405 Articles from 11 LIS journals– Research topic– Research strategy– Researcher’s job title(s)

• Compared PPR research to research conducted by others

Study Design

• valued by LIS professionals• have significant impact • read by library practitioners • aimed specifically at public librarians• are easily accessible• focused on subjects most likely to be

relevant to public librarians.

LIS Journals

1. Began with original research subject & strategy categories from Buttlar, 1991.

2. Re-categorized as needed. 3. Categorized researchers’

professional titles.

Content Analysis

• 14 public librarians, 2 also university faculty, and 3 also LIS journal editors.

• 3.2% public librarians.• 2% solely identified as public librarians.• 2.2%-3.7% in 1991 and 3% in 2006.

ALL of the public librarians were published in the pages of Public Library Quarterly or RUSQ.

Authors

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

178

122

63

2815 14 11 6 5 4 3 5

0

5

10

15

20

25

Authors with multiple papers

Research Topics

Cataloging Metadata Information Organization

OPACS Information Organization

Users Information Behavior

Bibliographic Instruction

Information Instruction

information behavior

information organization

digital libraries/archives

librarianship

information instruction

collection management

reference

research

academic libraries

bibliometrics

youth services

public libraries

collaboration

change/futureinformation source

managementeconomics knowledge management information access all other subjects

Research Strategies

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

53 51

3227

24

1613

8 7 7 6 4 3 3 2

Public Practitioner-Researchers

8%8%

8%

17%

17%

17%

17%

8%

PPR Research Topics

academic libraries

economics

librarianship

information behavior

public libraries

reference

research

youth services

33%

25%

17%

17%

8%

PPR Research Strategies

analysissurveycase studyinterview/ observationdata analysis

Research “is a responsibility of every professional and a part of the meaning of the word professional.”(Powell, Baker, and Mika 2002, 50)

Implications

• Influence policymakers• Serve users• Discern output from

outcome• Create & understand

non-published research, such as user surveys

• Offer praxis-based information to other LIS professionals

We need PPR research

“The direct, explicit, and acknowledged influence of research on decision making in libraries is almost nonexistent.” (Hewitt 1991, 165)

• Attitudes– Public librarians– LIS community– Funders– Administrators

• Priorities– Financial– Time– Other resources & tools

• Future research

Change Needed

We need PPR research, and not nearly enough is being

published.