Mary Lambert
MLIS Capstone
SLO #2
SLO #2 The student identifies, evaluates, conducts, and applies current research and thought in library and information studies and in other fields.
The ability to conduct successful research, to gain knowledge and grow intellectually, is the culmination of a successful education. Because of this, we are taught at an early age to question that which is unknown and seek answers to satisfy our curiosities. As we continue to grow, though, we are taught more advanced skills to conduct complex research to answer more complicated questions. Although inquiring minds and talented teachers play an essential role in this, they cannot find success without the assistance of skilled librarians and their digital and print resources. Because they are often considered experts, their role in research can be challenging at times, but with proper training in various research methods, they can handle it.
Research presented itself early in my coursework as I was tasked with an Ethics, Advocacy, and Research Project in LIS 600, my first class in grad school. My project, "Identifying and Overcoming Obstacles in Performing Student Research," focused on juniors who were required to complete the English III career research paper, and their struggles to find credible resources to support their research. Although I have worked first-hand with juniors completing this project as a teacher, I knew I was only getting a partial view, so I was eager to observe the entire process as an unbiased outsider. To truly understand the problem as a whole and to see how this specific high school compared to others in the country, I reviewed several articles and case studies concentrating on high school students conducting academic research. The combination of the literature reviews and class observations was extremely enlightening. It was easy to see similarities between the students I was spending time with and those who were observed in other studies. Clearly, many high school students struggle with research across the United States.
Upon completion of the study, I was able to share my insights with the classroom teacher and the media coordinator, pointing out common obstacles and providing suggestions for working around them. Using my findings, we worked together to restructure the current plan for the project in hopes of combating impediments and assisting students in becoming more skilled researchers. This experience proved the importance of action research as it can be beneficial to everyone involved and allow for professional collaboration, something I am already experiencing in my Practicum. Because of this, I look forward to using the skills and procedures I have learned to help improve my future library.
Any librarian who is passionate about serving his/her community and attracting patrons to the library will work meticulously to keep up with popular trends in literature and entertainment. To do this, it is necessary to expand one’s horizons by visiting bookstores, other libraries, conducting interest surveys, etc. In LIS 640: Information Organization and Access, I completed an action research project entitled “Introducing Students to Dystopian Literature Through Library Displays” to discover how a school library could market dystopian literature to teenagers in a way that would keep them interested and coming back for more. Because this genre of literature was still somewhat new at the time, I also focused on finding ways to decrease the number of obstacles a student might face when conducting a catalog search for this type of literature. I used several methods to collect data and information, such as viewing young adult literature displays in various locations, investigating the size of the dystopian literature collections as well as the complexity of searching for works in this genre at three different libraries, and creating a reading interest survey and placing copies at the local public library and at a school library. After analyzing data and research notes, I prepared to create a dystopian literature display for a local high school media center. However, much to my sadness, tragic events occurred that prevented me from following through with my original plan, forcing me to improvise and create a display at home rather than at school. Although the change was abrupt and unfortunate, it is not uncommon in the professional world and it taught me the importance of being flexible, a characteristic all librarians must possess. As for the data, the results yielded from this research would benefit any librarian looking to improve services and convinced me that, for many libraries, it is all too easy to become lax and overlook new trends that appeal to patrons. This is something that simply cannot happen and something I am dedicated to preventing. How can a library attract patrons and stay relevant if it refuses to embrace changing tastes and the needs of its patrons? Through active, dedicated research, we can gain an understanding of our patrons and the ever-evolving world, and become popular centers that fulfill the desires of our community.
As a former English major, English teacher, and now a graduate student, research has played a major role in my life. As I move forward in my career as a librarian, I have no doubt it will remain a key component. Traditional academic research is something I will continue to focus on, especially in regards to young adult literature and teen services, with an overall goal to have my work published or presented at conferences. Of course, action research will be something regularly put into action to ensure the library, especially teen services, thrives and does not leave patrons wanting. It will be up to me to find the necessary funding and support to conduct said research, which I already find intimidating and distressing. However, with great dedication and evidence to prove the importance of the research, I hope to be successful in my endeavors.
Finally, research may not be something librarians conduct themselves every day, but they are often called upon to assist others and must be prepared to do so at a moment’s notice. Because of this, it is important to constantly improve our skills, actively practice conducting our own research, and be aware of changes taking place with research methods. Conducting both academic and action research during my coursework at UNCG has helped prepare me to not only assist others, but also become a leader in the field. With this said, I am excited to have the opportunity to improve my skills and put them to the test in the future, striving every day to better the library and its ability to serve the community.
Additional Academic Research
