This poster disseminated a National Science Foundation-funded study that examined the challenges faced by research enterprise professionals in supporting social science research funding, with particular attention to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Primarily Undergraduate Institutions. (PUIs). Using focus groups and a national survey, participants identified barriers and promising solutions. Findings highlight the dedication of professionals in this field and the potential for innovative strategies to strengthen and expand social science research across institutions.
The presenters of this poster have created a free, flexible, and reflective curriculum that provides library workers with the foundational knowledge and specialized skills necessary to conduct and publish rigorous original research in an effort toward diversifying and improving LIS literature and promoting lifelong learning. LibParlor Online Learning (LPOL) aims to revolutionize continuing education for librarians by offering a robust curriculum that addresses current gaps in librarian education regarding research skills and scholarly communication through a flexible and regularly updated curriculum. This poster will present the mission and vision of LPOL, showcase key resources, and explore possible paths through the curriculum. Objective 1: Identify key resources available through the LPOL curriculum Objective 2: Articulate the ways LPOL could be utilized at their organization Objective 3: Explore possible paths for engaging with the curriculum depending on the goals and institutional context of the learner.
While there has been a steady increase in scholarship about why librarians of color leave the profession, there has been very little written about those who choose to stay. This research will ask librarians currently working in academic libraries in the United States “what factors have influenced you to stay in the LIS field thus far?” This poster will provide preliminary results from this study, invite academic librarians to share their own experiences, outline recommendations for library leaders, and offer solutions to improve the working conditions of academic librarians of color.
The Librarian Parlor (aka LibParlor or #LibParlor) is an online space ( https://libparlor.com) for conversing, sharing expertise, and asking questions about the process of pursuing, developing, and publishing library research. LibParlor provides a community for new-to-research library workers as they consider a research agenda and provide support as they may face a number of challenges. LibParlor aims to address these challenges in part by collecting and showcasing honest reflections, conversations, and how-tos from library professionals engaged in library research. In providing this space, LibParlor aims to spark conversation and cultivate a community of researchers.
This poster presents the mission and vision of LibParlor, how we got started, some of the work we’ve done, and plans for the future. We share what we have learned through the formation of an online community, including the importance of having established workflows, detailed editorial policies, and clear communication between members of the team as well as writers. This poster shares our lessons learned and takeaways for others wanting to start a new group. For example, early on we spent a considerable amount of time developing internal and external workflow documents. However, now our processes are documented and clear for contributors. We would also provide recommendations for getting buy-in from major stakeholders before starting a project like this.
