There is no doubt that now, more than ever, technologies have made it easier for library researchers to connect and collaborate with one another. The increase in adoption and use of cloud-based products that support group work in higher education (such as the G Suite for Education) have also encouraged the collaborative nature of library and information science (LIS) research and publications.

In our presentation, we will present the results of our study in identifying the methods by which librarians find collaborators for research projects. Employing a mixed methods study, we collected survey data from librarians on the tools and methods they use in finding potential collaborators. We correlated self-identified methods to demographic data (e.g., length of time in the field, need/requirement to publish as part of one’s job responsibilities, change in the number of employers, and formal mentoring relationship experience). In addition, we analyzed 2013-2017 author affiliation data from selected LIS publications to ascertain trends in collaboration.

The results of this study will provide a greater understanding of librarians’ collaborative research and publication behaviors, facilitating improved opportunities for making connections. This study could also assist professional organizations, conference organizers, and LIS professionals in sponsoring and promoting research acumen opportunities for aspiring researchers.