AHRC-commissioned report criticises poor recognition of librarians’ contribution to research
Academics and funders have been told they must do more to recognise the contributions that librarians make to research.
A team of researchers commissioned by Research Libraries UK and the Arts and Humanities Research Council found that library staff are often not recognised as partners in research. Many are also unaware of existing initiatives aimed at boosting their visibility, such as the Technician Commitment and Hidden REF.
Produced by research consultancy Evidence Base, part of Birmingham City University, the 12 July report from the team makes a number of recommendations to change the situation for library staff. RLUK and the AHRC have also promised to support this with a joint action plan.
“The report openly highlights the challenges faced by colleagues and institutions when developing innovative and cross-disciplinary research collaborations,” said RLUK chair Jess Gardner. “It also showcases the emerging strengths of library and information colleagues in leading research, and the many opportunities we can seize to further shape this role with the goal of outstanding research outcomes.”
The report calls for a change in culture to better recognise librarians’ contributions, as well as to provide them with the skills and capacity to do even more to support and participate in research. This effort should include staff research development schemes and the inclusion of research as a core responsibility of librarians in the UK, but also internationally.
Similarly, libraries and their parent institutions should explore the potential for setting up secondments and fellowships for academic researchers within the library, through which they could share experience and expertise.
“The contribution that libraries can make as research partners and leaders should be recognised and represented within their wider institutions,” the report team wrote. “This can include through the library being represented on institutional research committees and panels, and members of research offices having the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of the potential contribution that libraries can make to the research process.”
They also suggested AHRC could award targeted research development grants to library and collections staff; highlight funding calls that require library colleagues to act as co-investigators or principal investigators; and create a professional fellowship scheme to enable library staff to enhance their research skills.
Christopher Smith, executive chair of the AHRC, said “the research and innovation system cannot function, let alone flourish, without a diverse community of technicians, administrators, project managers, librarians, archivists, IT specialists and others to drive progress”.
“AHRC is looking forward to working with RLUK to progress the recommendations in the report,” he added.
Some of the recommendations are already being taken forward, with RLUK announcing it was “delighted to be working with AHRC in the creation of a Professional Practice Fellowship scheme equalling £100,000, funded by AHRC, to support and enable research within libraries”.
This article also appeared in Research Fortnight