SLO #2: Research

SLO 2. The student identifies, evaluates, conducts, and applies current research and thought in library and information studies and in other fields.

Research graphic. Source

Research

No research is ever quite complete. It is the glory of a good bit of work that it opens the way for something still better, and this repeatedly leads to its own eclipse (Melvin Gordon).

Librarians must be lifelong researchers. I find this to be completely self-explanatory--but how should I explain it? As a librarian, I love learning. I seek to learn new information nearly everyday. As I type this, for example, I am listening to a podcast about the history of Christmas and have several Internet tabs open with different articles that I am referring to.

(Perhaps putting my ADHD on display is not quite the best way to convey the importance of research.)

In her presentation Librarians Do Research Too!, Tenopir (2015) lists five very practical reasons for librarians to research. I am going to elaborate on each of her reasons and explain how they relate to me.

Reason #1: "[To] improve LIS practices" 

In other words, librarians must continue to research even if they are not taking classes, being graded, or being "forced" to do so. If they do not, they will not be able to improve and keep libraries relevant today and for the future. Two years ago, an editorial in Forbes suggested that libraries were obsolete and should be replaced by Amazon--librarians eviscerated the editorialist so much, Forbes removed the column. Clearly, not everyone appreciates the work that librarians do. Librarians need to be up-to-date on their research so that their job does not become obsolete.

Reason #2: "[To] partner with and understand the needs of researchers"

Again, librarians must research in order to their own jobs more effectively. Many students come to librarians only to do their homework. If the librarian does not understand the needs of researchers, if they do not understand how to operate the computer for example, they will not be able to help those who come to library to research. If the librarians are not helpful, why should patrons visit them?

Reasons #3: "[To] collaborate with librarians in different environments"

Income inequality is a problem--not all libraries have enough money to access all the resources they need. Other libraries live in wealthy communities and may not see as many patrons who are suffering from a lack of resources. All libraries should collaborate to share resources and ideas. Libraries are often community hubs, and community needs change over time. Collaborating with different librarians is a great way for librarians to share ideas and resources.

Reason #4: "[To] bring in grant money"

Speaking of income inequality--libraries are often dependent upon grant money to offer special programs and services to serve their communities more effectively. Research is required to find grant money.

Reason #5: "[To] build toward promotion and/or tenure"

Librarians are not saints, and they are definitely not martyrs. Job security and upward mobility are important, even for those who "love" what they are doing. In other to build toward promotion and improve job prospects, librarians must keep abreast of the latest research.

My Research in the MLIS Program

I have completed several research projects while pursuing my Master's degree that have cemented to me the importance of research. The very first reflection paper that I wrote for the introductory class was about the difference between "library science" and "information studies," and even though I had been a working teacher for fifteen years, I discussed how rusty my own research skills were:

. . . For the first time in over ten years, I am the one writing the paper instead of the being the one attempting to coerce a roomful of teenagers to  write an essay—a reason to be excited and grateful! I stare at the screen, waiting for inspiration to strike. . .  

I decide I need a break to find inspiration. I browse through my Facebook page  and watch a short video of dancing cats. Then I realize: I am the distracted student. I'm  the one procrastinating on my assignment. How embarrassing! This is not an auspicious  beginning for my library degree. (Eash, Library Vs, 2017).

My research skills were also utilized when I created a couple of LibGuides. In fact, my LibGuide assignment is what led to the creation of the website that you are reading right now. Jen's Rainbow Resources, originally created in the spring of 2018, contains examples of resources for LGBTQ+ young adults in Guilford County and the surrounding area. For a collection management class a year later, I added the Educator Resources page to the LibGuide. 

In 2019 and 2020, I added Supporting Trans Youth in Libraries FAQ and Neutrality and Libraries sections to the website.  The WWLD?, Anger is a Gift, Malinda Lo Booktalk, and Before You Share that Facebook Video: An Introduction to Information Literacy found on the Videos page and the Community Center Resources Study are all examples of research that I have done throughout the MLIS program that have demonstrated my love of and the importance of research as a librarian. I am always learning and encourage others to do the same.

                      My Research outside of the MLIS Program

I currently work at Barnes & Noble as a bookseller. I am working exclusively in the kids department and have been given some leeway in creating book displays. Therefore, I do research at work monthly when switching over displays. For example, this month I created a table display and list of books to celebrate Hispanic Heritage. In the past, I have created Celebrate Black Voices, a Voting Counts, Mermaids, Halloween, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg tables. All of these required research to acquire the best titles to put on the tables.

The bulk of my website are book discussions and reviews. Therefore, every time I write a post, I do some research. For example, I consult the Rainbow Book List to see if the book I'm writing about has received that honor, and I link to at least two additional reviews for each book that I review. My goal is to get others to research in addition to keeping my own research skills fresh.

Several of the posts on this site have contained extensive research that I initiated and completed on my own. Willful Machines--"What a piece of work is man" OR "Submitted for Your Approval" (Eash, 23 June 2018) contains researched elements of Hamlet and The Twilight Zone and Tattoo Atlas--"Nice is different than good" OR "All of us have some crazy in us, don't we?" (Eash, 3 August 2018) compares and quotes from Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Out of the Pocket--"All of you sports people: KEEP WORKING to eradicate homophobia in sports" (Eash, 23 July 2018) contains links to articles and resources about homophobia in sports.

My favorite example of this is a series that I wrote about AIDS. I interviewed a selection of my Facebook and real-life friends and family, asking them what they remembered about the AIDS pandemic of the 1980s-1990s. I then discussed three books with AIDS-related plots and included quotes and stories from my research. The following story from my research is included in The Porcupine of Truth--Part 2 (Eash, The Porcupine, 2018):

I lost a few acquaintances to HIV/AIDS, and one really dear friend, the last person I personally knew well who died from AIDS related complications, in 1994. He and I were getting ready to form our own theater company before pneumonia took him down for good. It was heartbreaking and devastating. 

 He did one last show at North Carolina Theatre, and I was honored to be in that show with him. He was playing the role of Otto Kringelein, in the musical Grand Hotel, a man who was dying and came to the Grand Hotel, Berlin, to live up his last few days of life. 

I still have cassette tapes from rehearsals of him singing. His big number was a song about facing death, and in real life he was facing death. He gave the performance of a lifetime. The lyrics in that song still haunt me: “I want to know that I once was here, while all my faculties still were clear...”

This story brings me to a point about research that I have not mentioned yet: research is a way to preserve stories for the next generation. If no one bothers to ask, millions of stories could be lost everyday. Librarians must research to preserve the history and folklore of their communities. 

Weaknesses of Research and the Future

One of the major weaknesses in research for anyone is confirmation bias. Librarians must be careful to not to only read editorials and news articles by people with whom they agree; this is one of the many reasons that it is important to stay connected and collaborate with other librarians. Librarians must also make sure that they are using valid sources and being informationally literate with all of the "fake news" that is out there. 

Librarians also must make sure that they are getting the most accurate and up-to-date information when they research. They need to weed their nonfiction sections of the library often to make sure of this. 

And sometimes, there is just not enough time in to do all the research that librarians should do in order to stay proficient!

In Conclusion

The common facts of today are the products of yesterday’s research (Duncan MacDonald).

I love reading; but more importantly, I love learning. My love of reading and learning is serving me well as a librarian. Librarians should be lifelong researchers in order to improve their job performance, but also to connect to their patrons.

Return to Capstone, or click on other SLOs below:

1. Ethics
2. Research
3. Information Literacy
4. Communities
5. Professional Development
6. Technology
7. Marketing
8. Collaboration

Click on the picture to return to
Jen Reads the Rainbow