Canadian academic librarians and the need for a systematic and comprehensive research-support model

Abstract

Expectations for Canadian academic librarians’ research have evolved, but not all librarians have access to the support systems needed that aid and enable them to conduct and publish research. A survey was sent to librarians asking about the research supports available and most useful to them. “Research” was not defined and was left to the interpretation of the participant. The survey found that supports are sporadic, possibly leading to a two-tiered research climate between “haves” and “have-nots.” It is essential for academic librarians to initiate and engage in conversation about what library research is and how librarians’ research competency may be improved. This should lead in turn to conversations about the support systems needed, which ones the universities and the libraries should provide, and how having a comprehensive research-support model would help librarians engage more with research, increase their research output, and improve the quality of their research.