Developing a culture of research in a health sciences academic library

Background: Librarians who perform research bring many skills, experiences, and insights to the table. The results of their research can inform practice at their libraries and provide models for others. Participating in and leading research projects provides opportunities to collaborate with other librarians, as well as with library users. Engaging in research can offer librarians a more direct understanding of the challenges that library users experience when performing research. And for those at an institution where research has an impact on librarians’ tenure and/or promotion, it is essential. Since 2009, the Health Science Center Libraries (HSCL) at the University of Florida has embarked on creating a culture of research within the library.

Description: In 2009, a change in leadership at the HSCL brought about a change in attitude regarding research performed by the library’s faculty and staff. This began an intentional shift toward supporting such research endeavors, required for tenure and promotion within the libraries. Supportive measures were developed at all levels - leadership, departmental, and individual – to engender buy-in for library-based research; support research activities through training, release time, and funding; and promote an overall culture of research. These strategies resulted in an increase in the number of presentations, publications and grants/contracts coming out of the HSCL, and anticipated changes to the tenure and promotion process that brought the libraries across campus more in line with the requirements of the rest of the University of Florida research community. This presentation will focus on the intentional strategies HSCL leadership employed for new hires and existing librarians, how to get started in research, and lessons that HSCL administration and faculty/staff have learned throughout this journey.

Conclusion: The advantages of library-based research are apparent, but a culture of research can be difficult to implement without a deliberate strategy, especially when research is a new emphasis. To develop such a culture, library leadership, as well the librarians on staff, must have a sufficient level of buy in, and such buy in is facilitated through strong institutional support, collaboration, and individual accountability.