Research (Chp. 15)

Having done some substantive research as an undergraduate and taking a course in research methods, there was a lot of familiar topics in this particular chapter. However, there was one type of research that was new and intriguing to me, which is a Delphi Study.

What I immediately began to think about was how technology can greatly change the way this sort of research is done. I image this process to be fairly time consuming as the research not only does the initial expert search and list preparation, but they also have to wait, possible weeks, for their experts to return their information to them. Using something like a google doc or a wiki could greatly reduce the wait time as participants could simultaniously see and update one document.

The other aspect of this chapter that particularly stood out to me was the conclusion. Both that LIS research is in it's early stages and that it is necessary, as research is to all professions, in order to advance the profession. Powell (2008) mentions one reason for this might be the lack of research methods courses in MLIS programs, but I also wonder about time constraints.

From what I have experienced and heard from librarians everywhere, is that this is a very demand and time consuming job. Most libraries are in the profession to serve, in any number of capacities. Although research is very important, I can see how it gets pushes to the bottom of the to do list, when it does not have the immediate gratification like readers advisory, or even collection development does. Yes, research is important and will help in the long wrong, but when librarians are so busy, I can understand how that might not be very easy to see.

Powell, R. (2008). Research. In K. Haycock & B. E. Sheldon (Eds.), The portable MLIS: Insights from the experts (pp. 168-178). Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.