Presentation Date
5-22-2026
Loading...
Description
Our health sciences library recently made it a strategic goal to advance our research impact which was instigated as our library faculty recently were given the option to be tenure-track faculty. To support this goal, we created a program aimed at promoting good research practices and a culture of research collaboration where library team members present their in-progress research projects to garner feedback from colleagues or library research articles to enhance our ability to critically appraise published research. Come to this presentation to learn about our program Research Works in Progress.
Abstract
Background:
In November 2020, a tenure-track option was added as an academic health sciences library faculty’s career advancement path. In all tracks, librarians are evaluated for Education/Librarianship, Research/Scholarship, and Service/Administration. One criterion for promotion and tenure in the tenure track is a requirement to achieve excellence in Research/Scholarship. Additionally, the library’s strategic plan includes a goal to advance research impact, in part by offering library personnel mentorship, providing opportunities to collaborate with peers, and reestablishing a journal club. One step in this strategy to advance research impact and support new tenure track faculty was starting a regular seminar series to discuss librarians’ current and planned research to promote collaboration and a culture of research.
Description:
To establish Research Works in Progress (RWIP) as a regular event, the library’s two tenured faculty invited all tenure track faculty to a weekly seminar. To begin, topics were chosen by tenured faculty and focused on getting started in research, including “how to” discussions on research methods and data management. Faculty also presented their own current research, whether in the ideation stage or completed. This enabled faculty newer to research to get ideas and feedback from peers, and to see what completed health sciences librarian research looked like. After completion of a new conference room that allowed more participants, RWIP was opened to the entire library faculty and staff. Any library team member can sign up for a spot on a shared Excel document to share their latest in-progress research project. Team members decide which research projects would be best to discuss, under guidance from tenured faculty, although the focus is on getting feedback from colleagues in early project stages. After a regular rhythm of meetings was established, monthly journal club sessions were added to build additional skills in reading, critiquing, and using literature. The program has been evaluated through faculty feedback, tenure advancements, and increased research collaborations and awards.
Program Conclusion:
Since RWIP was established, there has been an increase in faculty research projects. Requirements to draft abstracts for conferences, and to share those with colleagues at RWIP prior to submission, have led to increased submissions and collaborations. Faculty feedback has established that RWIP has provided motivation to work on their research projects more and to make more consistent progress. Regional research awards for faculty showcase progress towards advancing the library’s research impact. Finally, one faculty member has successfully undergone mid-probationary review, and one other is in the process. Health sciences libraries that want to promote library research may wish to establish similar programs, especially where a culture of research does not already exist.
Document Type
Presentation
Conference/Presentation Location
MLA 2026
Language
English
Keywords
library research training program
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Everitt, Leah A.; Deirdre Caparoso; Danielle Maurici-Pollock; Emily Roberts; Jon Elderdge; and Melissa Rethlefsen. "Promoting a Culture of Research through Programming: Library Research Works in Progress." (2026). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/hslic-posters-presentations/233
Slides
PromotingACultureOfResearchThroughProgrammingLibraryRWIP.txt (10 kB)
Transcript