LIS resources

This page contains links to guides and guidance that are relevant to LIS researchers in general and to researchers in specific sectors.

Toolkits and guidelines for LIS researchers

• The American Library Association’s Reference and User Services Association maintains the RUSA Research and statistics page. At the bottom of this page there are links to multiple resources on:
  • doing quantitative research
  • doing qualitative research
  • project assessment and evaluation
  • US data source sites, and
  • data gathering and evaluation.

• The Digital Engagement Guide: Ideas and practical help to use digital and social media in the public sector. An introduction can be found here.
• DREaM project resources: the five Developing Research Excellence and Methods (DREaM) project events, which take place between July 2011 and July 2012, are generating resources to support LIS researchers. These can be accessed from the DREaM project web pages.

• ESRC National Training Centre for Research Methods. a network of research groups, each conducting research and training in social science research methods. Coordinating at the University of Southampton
• HEALER research toolkit: The toolkit is intended as a starting point for those wishing to undertake a research project, highlighting issues to consider and signposting resources. Although primarily aimed at those working in health librarianship it is of value to LIS researchers across sectors.
• Social media – a guide for researchers: Produced by the International Centre for Guidance Studies, and aims to provide the information needed to make an informed decision about using social media and select from the vast range of tools that are available.
• Writing a research proposal: planning and communicating your research ideas effectively. This Library and Information Research Journal (LIR) article by Juliet Eve is designed to guide researchers through the stages in writing an effective research proposal.

Resources for LIS researchers in academic insitutions

Research Assessment 2008: Library and Information Management (unit of assessment 37)

• Quality profiles of institutions in unit of assessment 37 RAE 2008
• Submissions of the individual institutions in unit of assessment 37 RAE 2008

Research Excellence Framework (REF2014)

• Research Excellence Framework web site
• Coalition response to the REF consultation, December 2009

This page was last updated July 2012.