Chairs Program
In 2018, members of the Library Research Round Table (LRRT) held a theme-building workshop with roughly 20 LIS scholars and practitioners in anticipation of the upcoming Library Research Seminar (LRS) VII. A theme that quickly surfaced was the challenges of bridging the gap between research and practice in all sectors of librarianship. In addition to inconsistent training in research methods in LIS curricula, participants indicated that the overwhelming number of methods of dissemination (i.e. journals, trade publications, conferences, scholarly blogs) and the time needed to remain current contributed to the research-practice gap. Furthermore, some sectors of librarianship emphasize research and publication more than others, which creates unevenness across the profession for the implementation of evidence-based practice.
Join us for a panel discussion on the future of incorporating research findings into practice from the perspective of editors representing journals from academic, school, and public librarianship. Our panelists will be asked to address how they, as LIS professionals, incorporate research into their own practice, as well as their vision, as journal editors, for the practical use of the research published in their journals. In addition, panelists will discuss their own training, both formal and informal, in research methods and opportunities for practitioners to develop their research skills. Finally, panelists will be asked about potential research gaps related to practice that could be filled in the future.
Tentative panelists include the editors of the Journal of Academic Librarianship, Libri, School Library Research, and Reference & User Services Quarterly.
ALA Unit/Subunit: LRRT
Meeting Type: Chair's Program
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Closed: Open
Amanda Folk
Assistant Professor and Head, Teaching & Learning
The Ohio State University