Traditionally, libraries have offered
scholar-in-residence programs to encourage researchers to visit libraries and
to make use of their collections and materials[1].
New forms of residence programs, designed to encourage the development of
research culture within the library, are emerging and gaining popularity at Canadian
academic libraries. While these programs are often developed “to help enrich
and develop the research culture at the University Library”
(Researcher-in-residence program, 2015), the benefits of these
researcher-in-residence programs extend beyond the walls of the University
Library. As the Director of the Centre for Evidence Based Library and
Information Practice (C-EBLIP) at the University of Saskatchewan (Wilson) and
the 2015-2016 Researcher-in-Residence at the University of Saskatchewan (Berg),
we want to share how we have experienced the benefits of the program, as well
as consider how researcher-in-residence programs can contribute to the research
capacity of an institution and individuals.
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Library’s Researcher-in-Residence
pursues their own research agenda while in residence. There is no expectation
to conduct research relevant to the University Library. However, researchers
make a commitment to undertake one or more activities designed to engage the U of
S librarians, which may include the following:
·
Presenting
a research seminar or outlining the research being undertaken.
·
Conducting
seminars or workshops on selected aspects of research methodologies relevant to
library and information science research.
·
Advising
individual librarians about their research in progress or about the development
of research skills and/or interests.
·
Mentoring
librarians in aspects of research work.
The U of S’s program provides dedicated
office space, access to computing facilities, and other supports-in-kind for a
visiting professional (educator or practitioner) to spend a period of time at
the University Library.
In addition to the Researcher-in-Residence program at the University of
Saskatchewan, new researcher-in-residence programs have been developed in
Canada. Each program has a slightly different focus. In May 2016, Concordia
University in Montreal, Quebec launched a researcher-in-residence program.
Concordia’s program invites doctoral students, professors, and librarians to
propose and complete a research project that addresses pre-defined themes that
align with the library’s strategic direction. In addition to funding for the
research project, the program “offers the opportunity for scholars or doctoral students to focus on an
area of inquiry in a supportive and enriching environment, and to interact with
Concordia Library staff and its resources” (Researcher-in-residence program,
2016). The program aspires to
encourage both the scholar and the library staff to “become engaged in the use of research in library
practice and the concept of evidence-based librarianship” (Concordia Libraries,
2016).
In 2013, McMaster University Library in Hamilton, Ontario hosted its first
Faculty Member in Residence, Brian Deltor. Deltor and Vivien Lewis (McMaster
University Librarian) have published about their experience with the program in
the January 2015 issue of The Journal of
Academic Librarianship. McMaster’s
‘Faculty Member in Residence’ program invites faculty members to spend a year in the library encouraging and mentoring librarians in their
research endeavours, while conducting a research project related to library and
information studies and library culture. Like the Concordia program, McMaster’s
resident is encouraged to “become actively involved in at least one library
project” either as a research study or as a member of the work team. (Libplessla, 2014). The
program hopes to advance and enhance the research agenda of the faculty member
while providing research mentorship and modeling for practicing librarians.
The focus and execution of each program are slightly different, but the goals
are much the same: to enhance the research culture in the academic library and
to help build research capacity amongst practicing librarians.
The Experience and Benefits for the Resident (From
Selinda’s Perspective)
I began my residency at C-EBLIP at the
University of Saskatchewan in August 2015, and completed the residency in June
2016. I recognize that moving across the country for a sabbatical is not
possible for everyone, but for me, the experience was well worth the effort
that the move required. I have grown and evolved as a researcher and as a
professional as a result of the residency. The researcher-in-residence program
provided me with a very productive and gratifying sabbatical filled with new
colleagues, new experiences, and new learnings.
Access to Resources: Don’t Underestimate the Photocopier
Resources-in-kind seems like a vague and
rather insignificant element of the remuneration across researcher-in-residence
programs. However, this is also the element of the program that I am most
thankful for on a daily basis. One cannot underestimate the value of an
ergonomic chair, two computer screens, and a photocopier/printer that will
print on both sides expeditiously. The productivity of my sabbatical would have
decreased significantly had I been limited to a folding chair, a laptop on a
small desk, and an inkjet printer. These amenities are also not free, so in
addition to the comfort, there is additional monetary benefit. Further, I had
access to fantastic IT support and services, reliable phone and
teleconferencing services, statistical and data assistance, and of course,
library materials. I made use of these services regularly throughout the year.
As academic librarians we are privileged to have access to abundant and rich
resources and services at our disposal and maintaining access to these
amenities during a sabbatical away from home cannot be underestimated.
Immersion in a New Culture
I have such an appreciation for the chance
to be a part of another institutional culture, even if just for a year. This
immersion has provided me with an opportunity to see different ways to be a
professional, a leader, and a researcher, as well as to see the different ways
a library can function. We are all too often immersed in our own world to see different
ways of being, and the sabbatical is the perfect time to consider these
different ways. An immersion into another institution is a great catalyst for
this process.
The University of Saskatchewan has a rich
and ever-evolving culture of research. Being a part of that culture and
contributing to making it stronger and richer was a very rewarding experience.
The University of Saskatchewan Libraries, in particular working closely with
Virginia, has inspired me and allowed me to see new ways that I can contribute
to the health and productivity of the research culture within and outside of my
own institution. Not only in the development of research culture, but across
the library as a whole, there is reassurance in witnessing that most
institutions are struggling with the same issues, all the while being inspired
to see new ways of dealing with such issues.
A Place to go Each Day (If I Choose)
For me, the process of getting up, having
a shower, dropping the child off at school, and ultimately arriving at the
office to work is a pattern that I like and within which I thrive. While I did
not want to spend my sabbatical in the same office that I have spent the last 7
years, I knew that I would benefit from having a place to go. I knew that I
need to be away from the demands and distractions of my home. Having access to
new and uncluttered space to work provided me with a retreat-like space.
In addition to the physical space, the
office also provided me with an opportunity to connect with (new) people.
Colleagues are wonderful for mentorship and professional camaraderie, but are
also essential for asking for advice on places to eat in the city, for grabbing
a coffee or lunch, or for talking about the weather or state of the winter
roads. The colleagues that I connected with at the University of Saskatchewan
also provided inspiration and support for my research, especially for my
dissertation. Colleagues are very important to cheer you on from the sidelines
and the Researcher-in-Residence program did provide me with a wonderful cheer
team!
New Fish in an Old Pond
It is a harsh reality but we often do not
see the expertise that we are surrounded by each day in the same light that we
see the new, the distant, and the fresh. Talking
with people outside of your everyday world seems glamorous, and perhaps even
more valuable. During my residency, I got to be the person who offered the
fresh and novel voice to conversations. I had discussions with University of
Saskatchewan colleagues about research projects, research programs, and
research culture that normally I do not have, or that I have so often at my own
institution that no one wants to hear any more. I was able to provide a new
voice to their conversations and that felt wonderful. Similarly, I likely
listened a little more carefully to the voices around me. I did not assume that
I already knew what my colleagues would say. Instead, I hung on every word
hoping to take away some of the great wisdom and perspective that these
librarians were sharing with me. Being the new fish in an old pond was a unique
experience where I listened more intently and was listened to more intently.
The experience and benefits for the institution
(Virginia’s perspective)
The University Library has hosted two
previous researchers in residence. Each has been a very different experience
but all have enriched our library research culture in some way. Selinda Berg’s
residency has been particularly fruitful. She is working on her PhD in library
and information studies (LIS), has extensive experience in research and
publishing, and has an open and curious personality. All combine to make
Selinda’s residency beneficial for all concerned.
New Fish in an Old Pond
I will start my section where Selinda left
off. Our old pond is quite lively in terms of research, research supports, and
research outputs. However, there is always something to be learned from a new
fish, and the University Library certainly took advantage of Selinda’s time
with us. Most notably, the drop-in visits to Selinda’s office provided
librarians with new ways of looking at their own research. Librarians took the
time to come and meet Selinda, and to speak to her about their research
projects, their programs of research, and specific issues they might be dealing
with. Having a fresh perspective to bounce things off of is helpful to
librarians at all levels of their research endeavours. Selinda brought in
previous experience from her work at Western and Windsor, and the experience of
working on her PhD. Her reputation as it pertains to the Canadian Association
of Research Libraries (CARL) Librarians’ Research Institute gave her words and
advice weight. Our librarians were thrilled to be able to interact with Selinda
on a day to day basis, and much was learned from these one on one encounters.
On a personal note, Selinda fully engaged with the C-EBLIP and was integral to
the development of the C-EBLIP Research Network. I truly appreciate my
relationship with Selinda, our friendship, and our collegial conversations.
Sharing of Skills and Knowledge
This is slightly different from the
section above in that the U of S Library Researcher-in-Residence program
requires that our researcher makes a commitment to formally engage with the
librarians in a structured way. The first such activity during Selinda’s
residency not only engaged our own librarians, it also engaged librarians from
across Canada. Selinda presented the very first pre-symposium workshop the day
prior to the 2nd annual C-EBLIP Fall Symposium: Librarians as Researchers. Her
workshop topic focused on how to turn a research idea into a research question.
Formal feedback received from workshop participants indicated that the workshop
was “very good” and “excellent,” while informal feedback gave the impression of
enthusiasm and inspiration. Early in 2016, Selinda met with C-EBLIP members for
a facilitated discussion on how we might best navigate and lead ourselves
through the exciting and ever-evolving landscape of research dissemination. We
talked about blogs and Twitter, comfort zones and new vistas, and maximizing
benefits of engagement in social media. Prior to Selinda’s departure, she will
be presenting a talk to U of S Library employees about embarking on a PhD. Our
group looks forward to Selinda’s thoughts and insight as she comes to the end
of her doctoral journey.
A Focus on Research
The identity of the
researcher-in-residence aside, just the fact that we have a
researcher-in-residence program serves to announce to the wider campus
community that our librarians are faculty members and research is part of our
assignment of duties. It also helps to remind us that research is part of our
jobs. The University Library has a service mission and an academic mission, and
so do librarians. The presence of the program and of the
researcher-in-residence puts research front and centre for us. With busy
schedules and a major focus on the work of the library, research can sometimes
be relegated to a secondary task. However, research is important not only for
academic considerations such as tenure and promotion, but also as a means to
progress the discipline of librarianship. Practicing librarians conducting and
disseminating research enhances the LIS evidence base. It provides a much
needed perspective from a practical viewpoint. The more we are able to engage
with our practice issues in a rigorous and robust manner, the better we will be
at making timely and appropriate decisions and moving our practice and service
forward. The researcher-in-residence program is a focal point, for ourselves
and for those outside of our library.
Closing
A well-run researcher-in-residence program
can be an asset to any academic library where research is a focus. The program
also enriches the resident’s experience and knowledge as a researcher.
Extending these programs beyond Canada and even beyond academic institutions
can provide opportunities for librarian researchers to be new fish in old
ponds, and can provide new energy and fresh ideas for the host institution.
Communication and collaboration are important catalysts in developing an
environment which supports and nurtures research. The more opportunities we
have to trade knowledge and ideas, share skills and philosophies, and
experience research life outside the boundaries of our home institutions, the
richer and more vibrant our own research will be.
References
Libplessla. (2014, October 16).
Open call – University library “Faculty-member-in-residence” July 1, 2015 –
June 30, 2016. Message posted to https://library.mcmaster.ca/news/26598
Researcher-in-residence program.
(2015). Retrieved from http://library.usask.ca/ceblip/activities/researcher-in-residence-program.php
Researcher-in-residence program.
(2016). Retrieved from http://library.concordia.ca/about/researcher-in-residence/index.php
2016 Wilson and Berg. This is an Open Access
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