Download - 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.