public practitioner researchers

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Public Practitioner- Researchers How LIS research is informed by praxis

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Page 1: Public practitioner researchers

Public Practitioner-Researchers

How LIS research is informed by praxis

Page 2: Public practitioner researchers

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)

Page 3: Public practitioner researchers

• 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

Page 4: Public practitioner researchers

• 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

Page 5: Public practitioner researchers

• 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

Page 6: Public practitioner researchers

• 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

Page 7: Public practitioner researchers

1. Began with original research subject & strategy categories from Buttlar, 1991.

2. Re-categorized as needed. 3. Categorized researchers’

professional titles.

Content Analysis

Page 8: Public practitioner researchers

• 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

Page 9: Public practitioner researchers

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122

63

2815 14 11 6 5 4 3 5

Page 10: Public practitioner researchers

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5

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Authors with multiple papers

Page 11: Public practitioner researchers

Research Topics

Cataloging Metadata Information Organization

OPACS Information Organization

Users Information Behavior

Bibliographic Instruction

Information Instruction

Page 12: Public practitioner researchers

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

Page 13: Public practitioner researchers

Research Strategies

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53 51

3227

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1613

8 7 7 6 4 3 3 2

Page 14: Public practitioner researchers

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

Page 15: Public practitioner researchers

Research “is a responsibility of every professional and a part of the meaning of the word professional.”(Powell, Baker, and Mika 2002, 50)

Implications

Page 16: Public practitioner researchers

• 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)

Page 17: Public practitioner researchers

• Attitudes– Public librarians– LIS community– Funders– Administrators

• Priorities– Financial– Time– Other resources & tools

• Future research

Change Needed

Page 18: Public practitioner researchers

We need PPR research, and not nearly enough is being

published.