A Call for Librarian-Researchers
Improve your research skills with a scholarship from the Institute for Research Design in Librarianship
The opportunity: Instruction in research methods and a year of mentoring as you conduct a research project in the field of librarianship. This grant-funded professional development program is delivered by the San José State University School of Information, Loyola Marymount University’s William H. Hannon Library, and the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium.
Cost: None. The program is free to accepted participants.
Who can apply: U.S.-based academic and research librarians who would like to conduct original research but could use a little coaching along the way. Twenty participants will be chosen for the 2017 cohort.
Deadline: Extended until January 27, 2017, for the summer 2017 program.
More information: Institute for Research Design in Librarianship website.
Do you have a research project in mind — one you’d pursue if you were more confident about the process and had the support you needed? The Institute for Research Design in Librarianship may be the answer.
If you’re an academic or research librarian in the United States, you’re invited to apply for a 2017 IRDL scholarship. Now in its fourth year, the grant-funded IRDL program annually brings together 20 academic and research librarians who are excited about conducting an original research project but are looking for some extra training and support.
Training will take place through an intensive workshop at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, from June 4 to 10, 2017. Workshop participants will receive expert instruction in social science research methods, as well as small group and individual assistance to help them design research projects and develop viable proposals. Following the workshop, IRDL instructors will continue to assist as participants carry out research at their home libraries over the 2017–2018 academic year.
There is no cost to participants: the June workshop, travel, accommodations, and food, along with ongoing mentoring during the research process, are provided free of charge.
According to Dr. Lili Luo, an IRDL instructor and San José State University School of Information associate professor, the IRDL program provides professional development opportunities for academic and research librarians to enhance their skills, improve the quality and quantity of their research, and build a professional network that supports the research process. “Ultimately,” says Luo, “we hope the project will help increase the research-mindedness of the library profession.”
Successful IRDL scholars have a passion for research, a project in mind, and a desire to improve their research skills. The 2017 cohort will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Commitment to the year-long process of participating in the IRDL research community and conducting the proposed study within the 2017–2018 academic year
- Significance of the research problem to the operational success of libraries or to the profession of librarianship
- Thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and clarity of the research proposal
- Enthusiasm for research and a desire to learn
Applications for the 2017 institute will be accepted between December 1, 2016, and January 27, 2017, and accepted applicants will be notified in early March 2017. For more information about the program, eligibility, and the application process, visit the IRDL website. You can also read more about previous IRDL cohorts and their projects in the SJSU Center for Information Research and Innovation.
The IRDL program is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Program partners include the San José State University School of Information, Loyola Marymount University’s William H. Hannon Library, and the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium.
