encouraging research and publication among academic librarians
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Encouraging Research and Publication among Academic Librarians. Catherine Sassen, M.L.S., Ph.D. University of North Texas Libraries Photograph of stack of books, http:// office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=stack%20books&ex=2#ai:MP900305811|mt:2|. Outline. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Encouraging Research and Publication among Academic Librarians
Catherine Sassen, M.L.S., Ph.D.University of North Texas Libraries
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OutlineWhy
Support is Needed
Survey Methodolog
y
Respondents
Library Research
Committees
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Why is administrative support for research and publication needed?
Photograph of pages within a book, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=book&ex=1#ai:MP900403049|mt:0|
Why does career development matter for academic librarians?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=books&ex=1#ai:MP900178353|mt:2|
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Evaluation Criteria
“Publication can account for up to 80 percent of a tenure evaluation, and an insufficient publication record is the most frequent reason for librarians being denied tenure.”
Hoggan, Danielle Bodrero. 2003. "Faculty Status for Librarians in Higher Education." Portal 3 (3): 437.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=report+card&ex=1#ai:MP900174976|
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Publication Requirements Over Time – For Promotion in ARL Libraries
1980 1987 20110%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
14.7%
30.9%
60.3%
41.7%
53.1%
72.5%
All libraries [1980 (n= 68), 1987 (n = 81), 2011 (n = 73)]Faculty status libraries [1980 (n = 24), 1987 (n = 32), 2011 (n = 40)]
Sassen, Catherine, and Diane Wahl. 2013. “Fostering research and publication in academic libraries.” Manuscript accepted for publication in College & Research Libraries.
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Graduate Library Education
“Among the 49 American Library Association (ALA)-accredited LIS degree programs with online information about degree requirements as of February 2010, 61% list research methods as a required course in the curriculum.”
Luo, Lili. 2011. "Fusing research into practice: The role of research methods education." Library & Information Science Research 33 (3): 191-201. Holding books and mortarboard,
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=book&ex=1#ai:MP900442442|mt:2|
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Graduate Library Education
Only 26 percent of 815 respondents believed that their master’s degree programs in library and information science “adequately prepared them to conduct original research,” according to a 2010 study of academic librarians.
Kennedy, Marie R. and Kristine R. Brancolini. 2012. "Academic librarian research: A survey of attitudes, involvement, and perceived capabilities." College & Research Libraries 73 (5): 437.
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Time Management“… Most library faculty work a relatively inflexible daily schedule. Using the terms of faculty in other departments, this might be stated as “Library faculty carry a heavy class and advising load every term, including summers.”
Hill, Janet Swan. 1994. “Wearing our own clothes: Librarians as faculty. The Journal of Academic Librarianship 20 (2): 74. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/
results.aspx?qu=clock&ex=1#ai:MP900149124|mt:2|
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Teaching Faculty are Supported
Professor taking a question from a student, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=professors&ex=1#ai:MP900422591|mt:2|
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Support for Teaching Faculty• Bland, Carole J., et al. 2009. Faculty success through
mentoring: A guide for mentors, mentees, and leaders. American Council on Education Series in Higher Education. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2009.
• Rankin, Elizabeth. 2001. The work of writing: Insights and strategies for academics and professionals. Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education Series. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• The Journal of faculty development. 2001- Stillwater, Oklahoma: New Forums Press.
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Justification for Support
• Publication expectations• Lack of adequate preparation for research and
publication in many cases• Time management concerns• Precedent of support for teaching faculty
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Survey“USA Today has come out with a new survey - apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population.” – David Letterman
Image: Group of people smiling, waving and celebrating, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=people&ex=1#ai:MP900422879|mt:2|Quotation: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/davidlette102678.html
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Survey of Academic Library Research Committees
• Academic Writing Group• Career Development Group• Peer Mentoring Group • Professional Advancement Group • Research Work Group • Tenure Support Group
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Literature review
Reading glasses resting on an open book, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=book&ex=1#ai:MP900409038|mt:0|
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Methodology
Cup of coffee on a saucer next to a laptop on a table, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=laptop&ex=1#ai:MP900423031|mt:2|
• Online survey
• Fall 2012
• 68 usable responses
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Limitations
• Exploratory study
• Nature of the sample
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Academic library respondents
“A university is just a group of buildings gathered around a library.” –Shelby Foote.
Image: Willis Library, http://www.library.unt.edu/willis-libraryQuote: http://www.searchquotes.com/quotation/A_university_is_just_a_group_of_buildings_gathered_around_a_library./335669/
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Public or Private Institution?
88%
12%
Public
Private
N=59
20
Location?
Pacific Northwest
Canada
New Southwest
North Central
Northeast Atlantic
Southern States
4%
11%
11%
11%
23%
40%
N=47
21
How are your librarians classified?
N=59
Other
Mix of faculty and professional staff
Professional/academic staff
Faculty
5%
10%
17%
68%
22
How many full-time librarians are employed in your library?
N =52
1-19 librarians
20-39 librarians
40-59 librarians
60 or more
13%
37%
27%
23%
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What are your employment agreements?
N=59
Other
Continuing contract (defined as a contract that is reviewed periodically for renewal)
Mix of tenure and continuing contract
Tenure (defined as a permanent employment contract)
10%
17%
29%
44%
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Publication
"I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper."
--Steve Martin
Image: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=paper&ex=1#ai:MP900316879|mt:2|Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/stevemarti158620.html
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Is publication required at your library?
For promotion
Not required
For tenure or continuing contract
Not required but strongly encouraged
For promotion and tenure or continuing contract
5%
9%
12%
21%
53%
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What counts as a publication?
Book review
Book chapter in any discipline
Book in any discipline
Article in any refereed pub.
Article in any library pub.
Book in LIS
Book chapter in LIS
Article in a refereed pub. in LIS
69%
71%
72%
72%
74%
86%
88%
91%
N=58
Which conference activities count?
Paper presentation: 86%
Poster presentation : 83%
Workshop presentation: 83%
Panel member/moderator: 76%
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N=58
Meeting room table with a pen and pad set for attendants, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=conference&ex=1#ai:MP900423018|mt:2|
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What else counts?
Music/dramatic performance if related to librarian's specialty: 52% Exhibition of art if related to
librarian's specialty: 53%N=58
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=violin&ex=1#ai:MP900411848|mt:2|
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=artist&ex=1#ai:MP900341622|mt:2|
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Library Research Committees
“There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew.”
--Marshall McLuhan
Image: Earth from outer space, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=world&ex=1#ai:MP900430849|mt:2|Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/marshallmc100969.html
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When did your group begin meeting?
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
unknown
2010s
2%
3%
5%
20%
30%
41%
N=61
31
What is your intended audience?
N=68
Other
Librarians without tenure or continuing contract
Librarians & paraprofessionals
Librarians
15%
7%
15%
63%
32
How many attend your meetings?
Average: 7.6 Median: 6.3Mode: 5Range: 3-20
N=62
People meeting at work engaging in a business discussion, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=conference&ex=1#ai:MP900422638|mt:2|
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How often are your meetings held?
N=67
Other
No set schedule/meet as needed
Once every other month
Once a month
28%
12%
15%
45%
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How do you meet?Face to face: 86%Face to face and videoconferences: 6%Other: 8%
N=66
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=meeting&ex=1#ai:MP900407375|mt:2|
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Leadership
Image: Hand holding microphone, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=microphone&ex=1#ai:MP900442505|Quote: http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/42149.html
“The question, 'Who ought to be boss?', is like asking,
'Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?' Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.”
--Henry Ford
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Who leads your group?
One librarian: 61%Multiple librarians: 29%Library administrator: 6%Other: 3%
N=62
Glass of water on a conference table during a meeting, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=conference&ex=1#ai:MP900423065|
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How are leaders selected?
Other
Leaders are appointed by the library administration
Volunteers offer their services
Leaders are elected
Volunteers are recruited
8%
10%
13%
21%
48%
N=62
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How long is a leader’s term?
Indefinite: 55%Two years: 19%One year: 13% Other: 13%
N=62
Close-up of hands on the face of a clock, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=clock&ex=1#ai:MP900407422|mt:2|
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What are the leaders’ responsibilities? (pt. 1)
Maintaining online presence (e.g. wiki) to share information …
Assessing the effectiveness of the committee’s activities
Making reports to the library administration
Organizing committee activities
Scheduling meetings
25%
25%
33%
73%
80%
N=60
40
What are the leaders’ responsibilities? (pt. 2)
N=60
Other
Moderating online discussion list for committee participants
Assessing career development needs of participants
Assisting participants in making career development plans
18%
7%
12%
17%
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Activities
“Like most meaningful activities, campaigns are team games.” --Alastair Campbell
Image: Canoeing, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=team&ex=1#ai:MP900448499|mt:2|Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alastairca462019.html
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What are your group’s activities? (pt. 1)
Discussing how to balance research with other obligations
Brainstorming about research study ideas
Sharing updates on research projects
Sharing information about publication/presentation opportunities
46%
56%
57%
64%
N=61
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What are your group’s activities? (pt. 2)
N=61
Sharing info. about continuing education
Rehearsing conference presentations
Discussing readings about research/scholarly writing
Giving feedback on drafts of articles
31%
36%
41%
43%
44
What are your group’s activities? (pt. 3)
N=61
Other
Giving feedback on grant application drafts
Sharing information about grant funding opportunities
Finding collaborators
18%
15%
25%
25%
45
What are your instructional topics? (pt. 1)
Institutional Review Board
Scholarly writing
Research methods
Finding topics for research
Academic publishing
36%
44%
46%
46%
47%
N=59
46
What are your instructional topics? (pt. 2)
Other
Presentation methods
Grants
Statistical analysis
15%
19%
19%
24%
N=59
47
How are group activities chosen?
N=60
52%37%
12% Selected by participants
Selected by library re-search committee leaders
Other
48
What are the challenges?
N=56
Other
No challenges identified
Finding time for activities/research
Getting support from lib. admin.
Finding qualified leaders
Finding times for meetings
Getting participants engaged
27%
5%
9%
18%
18%
55%
66%
49
How are activities assessed?
N=50
Other
Informal assessment
Surveys on committee effectiveness
No assessment
24%
10%
36%
38%
50
What are the benefits? (pt. 1)
N=49
More national/international publi-cations
More collaboration
More peer-reviewed publications
Uncertain
8%
10%
16%
29%
51
What are the benefits? (pt. 2)
N=49
Other
None
Individuals feel supported
Better presentations/papers
33%
6%
6%
6%
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Characteristics of Effective Peer Mentoring Programs
Carole J. Bland et al. 2009. Faculty success through mentoring: A guide for mentors, mentees, and leaders. American Council on Education Series in Higher Education. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Education, p. 37-44.
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Characteristics of Effective Peer Mentoring Programs (cont.)
1. Clearly stated purpose and goals2. Support from the administration3. Clearly stated administrative structure4. Regular meetings5. Assessment
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Why Career Development Matters
• Librarians• Libraries• Profession
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Topics for Further Research
• Library research committees with longevity
• Different models of library research committees
• Librarians’ involvement in research support groups at the university level
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Bibliography
http://tinyurl.com/bsfm9se
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Questions?
Catherine Sassen, M.L.S., Ph.D. [email protected]
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