Abstracts
Abstract
Many academic librarians and archivists (L/As) in Canada have research responsibilities as part of their jobs. For some, those responsibilities include research and scholarship in any disciplinary area, including creative works. This study explored the practices and perspectives of academic L/As in Canada with respect to research in areas outside of librarianship or archival studies (LIAS). An invitation to complete an online questionnaire was sent to over 1,800 email addresses and two listservs. The questionnaire asked about the non-LIAS topics that academic L/As have researched, their perceptions about the importance of research outside of LIAS, and barriers or restrictions they may encounter in doing this research. From the 345 usable responses, 85% of respondents have conducted research on LIAS topics, 32% have done non-LIAS research as part of their job, 29% have done non-LIAS research but not as part of their job, and 38% have not done research outside LIAS. Personal interest was the primary reason for doing non-LIAS research. Nearly half of respondents said that doing non-LIAS research and producing or performing creative works were extremely or very important. At the same time, respondents’ comments revealed a range of perspectives about non-LIAS research, including the sense that it is reasonable to have a connection between research and professional work. More attention is needed to develop a shared understanding about the place and value of non-LIAS research.
Data from the study are available in Borealis: https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/SAKC2C.
Keywords:
- academic librarians,
- archivists,
- librarian research,
- research and scholarship
Résumé
De nombreux bibliothécaires et archivistes universitaires (B/A) au Canada ont des responsabilités en matière de recherche dans le cadre de leur emploi. Pour certains, ces responsabilités comprennent de la recherche et de l’érudition dans n’importe quel domaine disciplinaire, y compris des oeuvres créatives. Cette étude porte sur les pratiques et les perspectives des B/A au Canada en ce qui concerne la recherche dans les domaines autres que les études en bibliothéconomie et en archivistique (ÉBA). Une invitation a été envoyée à plus de 1,800 adresses courriel et à deux listes de distribution. Le questionnaire portait sur les sujets non-ÉBA étudiés par les B/A universitaires, leur perception de l’importance de la recherche en dehors des ÉBA et des obstacles et restrictions qu’ils peuvent rencontrer en faisant ce genre de recherche. Des 345 questionnaires utilisés, 85% des répondants ont mené de la recherche sur des sujets en dehors des ÉBA, 32% ont mené des études non-ÉBA dans le cadre de leur emploi, 29% en ont faites mais pas dans le cadre de leur emploi et 38% n’ont pas effectué des recherches sur des sujets non-ÉBA. Un intérêt personnel constituait la raison principale pour faire de la recherche non-ÉBA. Près de la moitié des répondants affirment qu’il est extrêmement ou très important de produire ou réaliser des oeuvres créatives. En même temps, les commentaires des répondants révèlent une variété de perspectives au sujet de la recherche non-ÉBA, y compris le sentiment qu’il est raisonnable d’établir un lien entre la recherche et le travail professionnel. Il convient d’accorder davantage d’attention au développement d’une compréhension commune de la place et de la valeur de la recherche non-ÉBA.
Les données de cette étude sont disponibles dans Borealis: https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/SAKC2C.
Mots-clés :
- bibliothécaires universitaires,
- archivistes,
- recherche bibliothécaire,
- recherche et érudition
Appendices
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