Core Values

Conducting and Supporting Research Synthesis: Librarian Roles, Competencies, and Collaborations

On Demand

ALA Unit/Subunit: ACRL

Moderator(s)

Amanda B. Click

Head of Research & Instruction
U.S. Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland

Slides Slides

Speaker(s)

Meggan Houlihan

College Liaisons Coordinator for Social Sciences, Arts, Humanities, and Business
Colorado State University
CW

Claire Wiley

Research and Instruction Librarian
Belmont University
Nashville, Tennessee
Marcus Spann

STEM Librarian
Louisiana State University, Louisiana
WT

Whitney A. Townsend

Health Sciences Informationist
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
ZP

Zahra Premji

Research & Learning Librarian
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Amy Riegelman

Social Sciences Librarian
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Are you interested in learning about research synthesis methods and how they can be used to explore a particular library & information science (LIS) topic or question? Have you been asked to support research synthesis in your disciplinary area? In this session, you will learn about research synthesis methods such as systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and how they can be used to collaborate with researchers and enhance your own LIS research. In lightning-style presentations followed by a Q&A, speakers will address systematic review competencies for librarians, opportunities for skill development, and practical considerations for supporting research synthesis projects. The session will highlight the value of librarian support for systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the health sciences and other disciplines, and the ways that librarian contributions can and should be acknowledged. In addition, speakers will discuss the use of systematic and scoping reviews in LIS studies on the open access citation advantage and business information literacy. This session seeks to make research synthesis more accessible for practitioners with varying degrees of experience.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participants will be able to identify and define potential librarian roles in evidence-based methods, in order to support research synthesis in their own contexts.
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe librarian competencies for research synthesis, in order to demonstrate the value of librarian contributions in this area.
Upon completion, participants will be able to recognize opportunities to apply scoping and systematic review methods in LIS research design, in order to advance evidence-based practice in the field.