LIS Research Coalition » conference

Ben Goldacre to speak at DREaM conference on 9th July 2012

Hazel Hall — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:01:17 +0000

The announcement was made at the DREaM project workshop on 30th January 2012

Today we announced that Dr Ben Goldacre will be the closing speaker at the DREaM project conference on 9th July 2012. Dr Goldacre is probably best known for the weekly Bad Science column in the Guardian, which he has written since 2003. His presentation on research, evidence bases, decision making and policy will conclude a day devoted to considering the role of research in supporting library and information services provision.

For further details, please see the media release.

EBLIP6 report: day 3, Thursday 30th June 2011

Hazel Hall — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:21:09 +0000

Our final EBLIP6 review is by Paolo Gardois, a PhD student at Sheffield University (@paologardois). Paolo reports on Thursday 30th June…

Three of the LIS Research Coalition sponsored delegates eagerly await Thursday's keynote: Dr Katie Fraser, Katrina Dalziel & Paolo Gardois

Professor Hazel Hall opened the final day of EBLIP6 in Salford with a thought-provoking keynote speech on impact. Both patrons and managers demand services that really make a difference, and impact may take different forms: from changing users’ information behaviours to assessing academic impact through bibliometric measures, or evaluating services based on specific outcome measures, especially in the academic sector. Also, impact is very difficult to measure and evaluate. The impact of research on practice, for example, is often dependent on the cumulative and indirect effect of practitioners’ exposure to research output. Impact counts, anyway! In the current economic climate, research must demonstrate that it actually has an impact on practice, and the research–practice gap should be bridged, or at least reduced. Hazel then shared with the audience evidence emerging from the LIS Research Coalition’s RiLIES project which is due to report later this year. Several factors play a key role in increasing research uptake by practitioners: quality, scale and applicability of research itself; means of face-to-face dissemination; availability of accessible textual sources to be used as a reference in daily practice; high profile dissemination partners; and – last but not least – individuals who act as research connectors, as well as social media. Hazel finished her presentation by referring to the question “What difference does it make?” appropriately citing the Smiths, whose Salford Lads’ Club photograph is now one of the most iconic in British music history.

Later in the morning, parallel section 6 focused on a range of topics: (1) web-based services to enhance users’ experience of library services; (2) analysis of electronic resources usage by patrons as a key indicator of value generated by academic library services; (3) the development of evidence-based services in academic and health libraries, and their impact on quality improvement. As budgets shrink and patrons’ expectations rise, all three sessions offered really useful tools to improve service provision and demonstrate value for money.

The session before lunch showed an innovative and interactive format: the LIS Research Coalition organised a panel session involving LIS practitioners and journal editors.

Panel members at the Meet the Editors session at EBLIP6: Professor Dick Hartley, Val Skelton, Dr Miggie Pickton, Denise Koufogiannakis, Dr Christine Urquhart

The session aimed to improve communication between the two parties and help information professionals plan the publication of their work with a better understanding of the goals and practical steps involved in editorial processes. For example, the editors advised the careful project-management of any potential publication, paying close attention to the information needs of the target journal’s audience, and not to underestimate the value of what professionals have to say to their colleagues and peers. Aiming for a high standard of work is important, but the editors encouraged members of the audience not to be obsessed with perfection: peer reviewers can help improve the quality of work submitted with their feedback. Importantly, the peer review process should be viewed as a dialogue during which both parties have a potential to learn. Also worth emphasising was the difference between research and practice-based articles: there are specific LIS journals for both categories. Even negative results, which are rarely published, are of great interest to audiences.

Dr Brian Detlor explains the content of his poster to Val Skelton

After a refreshing lunch and a final look at the posters (of amazing variety and really high quality), delegates were ready for the last two sessions of the conference. Parallel session 7 engaged the audience on a wide array of issues related to innovation and development of services, including the role of libraries in the management of scientific datasets, performance measurement techniques such as activities-based costing, methodological reflections on best practices and the uptake of an evidence-based approach in library services, and the available evidence base for evaluating the effectiveness of web 2.0 services. A specific session gauged the progress of evidence based practice in the health sector. Here topics included the value of services offered by NHS libraries, the efficient use of bibliographic databases and the impact of clinical librarianship on patient care and organizational objectives.

Then the time came for the closing address by Andrew Booth, who underlined the multidimensional and complex nature of “evidence-based library and information practice”. Virtually all the vocabulary used in the label can be discussed and modified, and the EBLIP6 conference had proved a valuable forum for the concepts to be discussed. Andrew also pondered the future of EBLIP. One key development resides in focusing less on research and randomised controlled trials and more on more on what really needs to be done to improve users’ experience in a really messy world. Andrew referred to the concept of “knowledge interaction”, which accounts for the need for genuine partnership between actors. Picking up on previous speakers’ references to music (keynotes Dr Ross Todd and Professor Hazel Hall had cited Bjork and the Smiths respectively) Andrew recited his own version of the lyrics of the Go-Go’s “My lips are sealed” to close the formal programme. Then awards were conferred and votes of thanks given. Mary Dunne was judged to have presented the best poster, and Kate Davies and Zaana Howard the best paper. Finally it was “Goodbye Salford” after a very interesting and stimulating three days.

Valuing knowledge and expertise: reporting from EBLIP6

Hazel Hall — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:30:59 +0000

This week the sixth Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP6) Conference takes place in Salford, Greater Manchester. The LIS Research Coalition is pleased to be a sponsor of the event. Coalition activities at the conference include:

provision funding for four UK delegates to attend
hosting a panel session on publishing entitled “Meet the editors”
Hazel Hall’s keynote presentation and session chairing

It was also possible for the last of the RiLIES project focus groups with librarians working in medicine and healthcare to be scheduled to take place at the conference.

The four winners of the sponsored places are reporting on each of the four days. Their reviews will be posted to this blog over the course of the week.

Winners of sponsored places Alison Millis, Katrina Dalziel, Katie Fraser & Paolo Gardois

SLA 2011 photo album

Hazel Hall — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:46:32 +0000

The LIS Research Coalition’s Hazel Hall has recently returned from the Special Libraries Association conference in Philadelphia. Her place was kindly sponsored by Dow Jones thanks to the award of SLA Europe Information Professional of the Year. It is impossible to capture in a blog post all the activity and energy of the conference, but the photos and captions here may give a flavour of the event. More photos can be found on Flickr. Hazel would like to thank everyone involved in making it possible for her to participate at SLA 2011, especially those who nominated her for the award, Bethan Ruddock of SLA Europe, and Anne Caputo of Dow Jones.

The logo for the conference incorporated the Philadelphia bell

The SLA welcome arch and registration desk

Hazel Hall attended SLA2011 thanks to kind sponsorship from Dow Jones

Other award winners from Europe included Samuel Wiggins, Natalia Madjarevic, Ned Potter and Chris Cooper

Amongst others from the UK recognised at SLA 2011 was Sara Batts as a "rising star"

Larry Prusak's paper sponsored by the Knowledge Management division was one of the conference highlights: Larry is pictured here with Linda Stoddart

SLA divisions and chapters hosted a number of open sessions

As well as the conference sessions, there was a large exhibition to visit

The exhibition included a variety of stalls

A cartoonist draws Hazel Hall's caricature at the exhibition

SLA 2012 takes place in Chicago next July

Congratulations to international award winner Colm Talbot

Jenny Gebel — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:01:44 +0000

In May we announced that we were offering a bursary to an international delegate at the DREaM project launch conference in London on Tuesday 19th July 2011 (please see the blog announcement).

We are pleased to announce the name of the winner of this award as:

Colm Talbot
Information/Library Assistant – Richview Architecture Library
University College Dublin
Follow @colmtalbot

Colm is interested in how we can adopt and adapt approaches used in other disciplines to provide greater insight in LIS research. He recently wrote up a dissertation entitled What are MLIS students’ needs, motivations and expectations? Developing MLIS student personas for his Masters degree in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) at University College Dublin (UCD). This research stemmed from an interest in how student goals were being met by the School of Library and Information Studies (SILS) at UCD. Colm is currently developing an article for publication based on this work.

Colm is especially interested in hearing the address by Professor Blaise Cronin at the DREaM project launch conference. He is also looking forward to the one minute madness session. He is keen to meet other LIS researchers from beyond his home country of the Republic of Ireland so that he can develop an international network of contacts who share his interests in LIS research.

The DREaM project launch conference takes place on Tuesday 19th July 2011 at the Conference Centre of the British Library in London. For further information about the DREaM project launch conference and registration, please see the DREaM project launch conference web site.

Discussions of the impact of librarianship research with librarians in Perth

Hazel Hall — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:46:18 +0000

Hazel Hall introduces the focus group

Today team members of the Research in Librarianship Impact Evaluation Study (RiLIES) Hazel Hall, Ella Taylor-Smith and Jenny Gebel travelled to Perth to run a focus group at the AK Bell Library.

The focus group was kindly organised by Elaine Fulton and Rhona Arthur of SLIC (the most recent associate member of the LIS Research Coalition) to take place before a meeting of the Scottish heads of public library services in the afternoon.

Jenny Gebel at the meeting

We enjoyed a lively discussion of the impact of UK funded librarianship projects on librarianship practice, with interesting points raised on ease of access (or not) to research output, roles of the librarian, the importance of context to the production and consumption of research, and the value of different dissemination routes. The data collected today will be analysed in full with that collected from the other two focus groups taking place in London on 20th June (with academic librarians) and Salford on 28th June (with medical/health librarians).

The visit to Perth also provided an opportunity to raise awareness of the work of the LIS Research Coalition amongst public librarians, and to encourage participation in the Developing Research Excellence and Methods (DREaM) project.

Focus group members discuss how research findings are disseminated

It is hoped that there will be good representation from the public library community at the DREaM project launch conference at the British Library in London on Tuesday 19th July.

We would like to thank everyone for their participation at the RiLIES project focus group in Perth, especially those who travelled from as far away as the Outer Hebrides and Shetland to contribute to the discussion.

Delegate place and bursary offered to international participant at DREaM launch conference

Hazel Hall — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:25:51 +0000

The main aim of the DREaM project is to develop a formal UK-wide network of Library and Information Science (LIS) researchers and – as such – we are looking forward to bringing together the UK LIS research community at our events. We also recognise that the involvement of international participants in DREaM events will provide excellent opportunities for UK LIS researchers to strengthen their links with colleagues from beyond the UK. We are therefore pleased to welcome delegates from abroad to the launch conference, should they wish to participate. Indeed, you may have noticed that three of our speakers and facilitators are based outside the UK: Professor Blaise Cronin from the US, Professor Gunilla Widén from Finland, and Dr Dylan Evans from the Republic of Ireland.

We are pleased to offer a free delegate place and a travel bursary of £100 to one of our international delegates at the DREaM launch conference at the British Library, London on Tuesday 19th July 2011. All interested in LIS research from countries beyond the UK – whether they be our close neighbours in the Republic of Ireland, or based at the other side of the world – are welcome to apply. The award will cover the conference fee, plus £100 to help with travel costs to the UK. The winner will be expected to source funding from elsewhere to cover additional expenses such as the balance on travel, plus subsistence and accommodation costs.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 6th June. Applications will be judged by members of the DREaM project advisory board in the same week, and the names of the winners announced afterwards.

To apply, please complete the application form.

Congratulation to the winners of sponsored places at EBLIP6

Jenny Gebel — Fri, 06 May 2011 15:50:48 +0000

The LIS Research Coalition is delighted to announce that its four sponsored places at the Sixth Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP6) Conference have been awarded to:

Katrina Dalziel, Deputy Subject Librarian (Medicine), Swansea University (@Dalziel1)
Katie Fraser, Information Librarian, Leicester University (@katie_fraser)
Paolo Gardois, PhD Research Student, Sheffield University (@paologardois)
Alison Millis, Training and Outreach Manager, Library and Knowledge Services, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (@alisonmillis)

The conference takes place in Salford from 27th to 30th June 2011. The award winners will play an active role as members of the LIS Research Coalition rapporteur team at EBLIP6 and contribute reviews of some of the conference sessions that they attend to the LIS Research Coalition blog.

For further information about EBLIP6, please see the conference web site.

Out of the comfort zone: DREaM project launch conference full programme published

Hazel Hall — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:34:49 +0000

Today we published the full programme for the DREaM project launch conference to be held at the British Library Conference Centre, London on Tuesday 19th July. Taking “Out of the comfort zone” as its main theme, the exciting schedule includes sessions that cover: the DREaM project itself; the trajectory of LIS research; research collaborations across disciplines; research approaches, methods and techniques; research dissemination (including working with the media); public engagement with research; and the building of a research network for LIS researchers in the UK. There will also be an opportunity for delegates to participate as speakers themselves in a One Minute Madness session, following the success of this format at the LIS Research Coalition conference in June 2010.

Registrations will open for the DREaM project launch conference in early May.

Apply for a Coalition-sponsored place at EBLIP6, Salford, 28-30 June 2011

Hazel Hall — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:38:23 +0000

The LIS Research Coalition is pleased to sponsor four places at the Sixth Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP6) Conference, which takes place in Salford from 27th to 30th June 2011. The places will be awarded to PhD students registered for their doctoral studies at a UK university and LIS practitioners based within the UK.

In exchange for the sponsored places, the award winners will play an active role as members of the LIS Research Coalition rapporteur team at EBLIP6, and contribute reviews of some of the conference sessions that they attend. Hazel Hall, who will be at the conference with her laptop, will add the reviews to the Coalition’s blog over the course of the event.

To apply for a place, please complete an application form (see below), ensuring that you select the one appropriate to your main status: PhD student or LIS practitioner. (If you are studying part-time while working, please use the LIS practitioner form and note your part-time student status on it.) We are interested in receiving applications from candidates who combine a keen interest in LIS research with an ability to grasp the key points of a discussion quickly. Members of our rapporteur team need to be able to synthesise points concisely in writing in order to communicate them effectively to a wider audience. Thus how you express yourself in your application for a sponsored place is as important as your reasons for wishing to attend the conference itself.

NB the awards cover the conference registration fee only. Therefore successful candidates will need to access funding from elsewhere to cover additional expenses such as travel, subsistence and accommodation. Suggested funding sources include the award winners’ home institutions/employers, and the support offered by professional bodies. For example, students will be encouraged to apply for a UKeIG Student Conference Grant. The registration page on the EBLIP6 web site lists a number of other sources of funding that are of relevance to students and practitioners alike.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 2nd May 2011. Applications will be judged soon afterwards and winners notified by the end of May.

Any queries about the awards should be addressed to Hazel Hall.

Application forms

EBLIP6 Conference Award – PhD student application form
EBLIP6 Conference Award – practitioner application form