The Institute of Research Design for Librarianship is funded by IMLS 2013-2016 to provide research methods training and support to academic librarians. Its website is at http://irdlonline.org/ There is a central summer workshop, which goes through the research process and then there is ongoing support for the librarians' chosen projects through the year (librarians have to apply to the project, with their own proposals for research). In 2014 and 15, 28 out of 46 librarian projects were to do with information literacy. Examples include exploring using vine videos for library teaching (using focus groups), looking at how engineering students manage information, investigating graduate student needs through focus groups, surveys and interviews.
Librarian participants identified benefits such as: increased research confidence; increased ability to interpret published research; becoming better at designing and conducting research; improved ability to disseminate research (including in peer reviewed journals) and ability to carry out their job or advance their career. They also appreciated the "supportive network of librarian researchers".
Photo by Sheila Webber: legs on the Charles Bridge, Prague
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