The loneliness of the long distance researcher
| Pages | 455-469 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831111174422 |
| Date | 06 September 2011 |
| Published date | 06 September 2011 |
| Author | Pat Gannon‐Leary,Elsa Fontainha,Moira Bent |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
The loneliness of the long
distance researcher
Pat Gannon-Leary
Bede Research and Consultancy, Gateshead, UK
Elsa Fontainha
Department of Economics, ISEG-Technical University of Lisbon,
Lisbon, Portugal, and
Moira Bent
Robinson Library, University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Abstract
Purpose – Prior research has highlighted the isolation felt by some researchers engaged in academic
writing. This article aims to examine whether such isolation might be partially overcome by
membership of an online community of writers (CoW), hosted by higher education (HE) library
services.
Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature was followed by an innovative piece of
action research based around the authors’ own long distance collaborative writing task in order to
explore the issues at first-hand. Case studies of existing online writing communities known to the
authors but not currently hosted by libraries were also undertaken.
Findings – Themes emerging include the importance of finding a medium for a CoW that is familiar
and comfortable. Motivators to join a CoW include demands that academics be research active.
Demotivators may include lack of trust and reluctance to share.
Research limitations/implications – There are still questions to be answered and decisions to be
taken about the initiation of a CoW. Further research is needed into topics such as mentoring roles and
trust-building but this work should provide a springboard.
Practical implications – HE libraries might consider a CoW as a research support mechanism.
Originality/value – The concept of a CoW is a novel one, as is the idea that such a collaboration
might be hosted by HE libraries that might consider a CoW as an innovative addition to their existing
portfolio of research support services.
Keywords Communities,Communication technologies, Libraries,Virtual organizations,
Higher education,Networks
Paper type Research paper
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
The authors would like to thank the editor(s) and referees for their critiques and suggestions.
They would also like to extend their thanks to Sabine Little, Kathy Harrington, Lynn Reynolds,
Bill Blinn and Jane Lyle from whom they collected the original information about the case
studies. This article is partially informed by the collaborative work supported by the research
project “C2LEARN – communities of learning: extending the boundaries of the learning
experience through collaboration across different universities” funded by Treaty of Windsor
Anglo-Portuguese Joint Research Programme, British Council and Portuguese Council of Rectors
(Project B-19/09), being Pat Gannon Leary and Elsa Fontainha respectively, the Northumbria
University and ISEG-Technical University coordinators.
The loneliness of
the researcher
455
Received February 2011
Revised February 2011
Accepted April 2011
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 29 No. 3, 2011
pp. 455-469
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378831111174422
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