Article
Research First? Assessing the Role of Special Collections Librarians in Academia
The Reading Room: A Journal of Special Collections
(2016)
Abstract
In academic libraries, one of the lesser-explored discussions surrounds the value and validity
of research done by librarians outside of their own professional literature (LIS). For this
study, the authors surveyed seventy-five special collections librarians to assess their research
activity; perspectives on non-LIS research; and experiences in the workplace regarding
credit for non-LIS research. The quantitative data shows a large majority of respondents
favored research outside of LIS, while the qualitative responses revealed strong opinions on
research in and out of the profession, what constitutes a superior librarian, and the tenets of
academic freedom. Almost all respondents agreed that the special collections librarian needs
to make scholarship a priority in order to succeed and advance in the profession. Given the
responses, this study should be considered a first step toward a fuller discussion of the value
of research in academic libraries.
Keywords
- Research,
- academia,
- special collections,
- archives,
- academic freedom,
- censorship,
- academic library
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring 2016
DOI
http://hdl.handle.net/10477/60390
Citation Information
Matthew Knight and Andrew Huse. "Research First? Assessing the Role of Special Collections Librarians in Academia" The Reading Room: A Journal of Special Collections Vol. 1 Iss. 2 (2016) p. 49 - 64 ISSN: 2375-6101 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/matt_knight/16/