From practice to research at Flinders University Library: sustaining a research culture
| Published date | 12 November 2018 |
| Date | 12 November 2018 |
| Pages | 615-624 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-10-2017-0110 |
| Author | Liz Walkley Hall |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,HR in libraries,Library strategy,Library promotion |
From practice to research at
Flinders University Library:
sustaining a research culture
Liz Walkley Hall
Department of Library, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to describe the mechanisms used by Flinders University Library to
sustain a culture of research. Flinders University Library has been supporting its librarians to undertake
research projects using a formal support group mechanism, known as the Research Working Group (RWG),
sanctioned and resourced by library executive since 2010. This established a culture of practitioner-based
research in the library, with the librarians developing a greater understanding of both the theoryand practice
of qualitative and quantitative methods by undertaking their own research projects. However, sustaining a
research this culture brings new challenges which this paper now explores.
Design/methodology/approach –This case study describes the methods used at Flinders University
Library in sustaining a culture of practitioner-research. This arose from a review of the formal support
structure, as well as a previous study that surveyed staff responses to the RWG.
Findings –As academic libraries face ongoing challenges and engage more broadly with research support,
librarians need experiential knowledge of research. In the case of Flinders University Library, the author has
found that, in seeking to sustain a research culture, the author has needed to adapt the support mechanisms,
including a greater emphasis on peer support, a different model of resourcing and more inclusivity for all staff
to engage with research work.
Research limitations/implications –This paper is limited by its scope as a single-institution case study;
however, there are opportunities for other academic libraries to learn from this experience.
Originality/value –Establishing a culture of practice-based research is not an easy undertaking, requiring
dedication from all parties whether management, practitioner-researchers or mentors. While there are many
examples in the literature of case studies examining the establishment of research culture, few if any take the
next steps to explore how to maintain it. This paper seeks to fill that gap.
Keywords Australia,Practitioner-researchers, Practice-based research, Academic libraries,Staff development,
Research culture
Paper type Case study
1. Introduction
Libraries need to undertake assessment and evaluation of services and resources, not only
to demonstrate their value but also to ensure we are delivering what our communities need
(Partridge et al., 2014). To do so, librarians must become practitioner-researchers, using
applied research methods to support the resolution of an immediate research question
(Watson-Boone, 2000, p. 87), to learn from their practice and create their own body of
knowledge ( Jarvis, 1999, p. 90). However, not all librarians readily become practitioner-
researchers, for a variety of reasons. These include a lack of skills and confidence (Kennedy
and Brancolini, 2011; Luo, 2011), a service-provision model of librarianship (Schrader et al.,
2011), time pressures (Clapton, 2010; Fox, 2007) and a lack of organisational support
(Havener and Stolt, 1994; Sassen and Wahl, 2014). In the Australian context, academic
librarians do not have academic status and research activity appears in few, if any, of their
job descriptions (Charing and Gardiner, 2017, p. 382). Further, for many academic libraries,
it is a case of bringing about organisational change in order to develop a culture of research
and assessment (Gorran Farkas, 2013; Jantti, 2005).
Seven years ago, Flinders University Library recognised that we were not engaging deeply
enough with practice-based research, and that our librarians lacked the incentive or support to
do so. Seeking to address this, the then library executive instigated the Research Working
Library Management
Vol. 39 No. 8/9, 2018
pp. 615-624
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-10-2017-0110
Received 17 October 2017
Revised 27 April 2018
Accepted 3 May 2018
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
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Sustaining a
research
culture
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