Enhancing Library and Information Research Skills: A Guide for Academic Librarians • ABC-CLIO

Gain access to the latest and most savvy research techniques for academic librarians with this robust guidebook written by industry leaders involved in setting national standards for the Institute of Research Design for Librarianship.

Staying on top of professional trends in academic library research can help turn any librarian into an expert researcher. This practitioner’s guide arms librarians with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively conduct research to enhance professional practice and perform successful inquiries. It discusses current practices of academic librarians; details the process of successfully planning, implementing, and publishing a study; and provides professional and personal development to improve research competency.

Written by professionals at the upper echelon of their field, Enhancing Library and Information Research Skills comprises seven chapters that break down the research process and focus on individual steps in performing effective research. The book teaches academic librarians how to develop a research question based on a practical problem, determine the scope and objectives of a study, and select proper research design and methods. Readers will also understand how to identify resources to support the study, set a timeline for data collection and data analysis, write a dissertation, and identify the proper venue for publication/presentation.

Features

Features the latest research practices of academic librarians–including current trends and patterns
Provides the resources, knowledge, and skills to successfully conduct research, improve professional practice, and enhance careers
Engages professionals in a sustained learning process to improve their research proficiency and impact
Includes practical information for preparing posters and presentations for conference presentations

Lili Luo, PhD, is associate professor at the School of Information at San Jose State University, where she teaches and coordinates the required research methods course. Research methods education is one of her main areas of expertise. She is an instructor for the Institute of Research Design for Librarianship, a national program that provides research methods training for academic librarians, and was awarded the 2016 Association of Library and Information Science Education/ProQuest Methodology Paper Competition Award. She received her doctorate in library and information science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kristine R. Brancolini is dean of the library at Loyola Marymount University. Additionally, she serves as the codirector for the Institute of Research Design for Librarianship, a national program that provides research methods training for academic librarians. Previously, she was the director of the digital library program at Indiana University, where she also held a number of other positions. She has published and presented actively about academic library research. She holds a master's degree from Indiana University.

Marie R. Kennedy is the serials and electronic resources librarian at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. She is codirector for the Institute of Research Design for Librarianship, a national program that provides research methods training for academic librarians. Kennedy is a published author and speaker on the topic of librarian research. She received her master's degree in library and information science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Reviews

"An informative book. . . . The introduction and conclusion of the book are excellent because they empower readers to feel that serious research is both achievable and sustainable for any librarian, regardless of institution or department."—ARBA, January 24, 2018

"VERDICT Current or aspiring academic librarians who have not taken a research methods course will find this a valuable introduction to designing and conducting research."—Library Journal, February 15, 2018

Features

Reviews

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