Research Libraries UK (RLUK), in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), has commissioned a major scoping study into the role of academic and research libraries as partners in, and leaders of, academic and scholarly research. This study aims to support the longer-term development of research partnerships between academics, and academic and research libraries.
As part of this research, we invite you to take part in a survey. It should take around 10-15 minutes to complete and will ask about your experiences and perceptions of collaborative working between academic and research libraries, and members of the academic community around research projects. We are specifically interested in exploring the current role and future potential of academic and research libraries as active research partners and leaders, i.e. being recognised as a collaborator or leader in a research project (e.g. a Co-I or PI or equivalent).
We are interested in survey responses from:
- library staff who have engaged in research partnerships with academics – and library staff who have not yet done so
- academics who have engaged in research partnerships involving an academic or research library – and academics who have not yet done so
- research facilitators
- university leaders
- funders
- other stakeholders with an interest in this topic.
Although primarily UK focused, we would also like to hear about international examples of research partnerships involving academic and research library staff.
In this context, academic and research libraries may include information or cultural organisations which are integral to, or closely associated with, an academic or research library such as a university museum, gallery, archive or special collection. This study includes research in the arts, humanities and social sciences and beyond, and funded by a range of organisations.
If you would like to participate, you can access the survey by clicking this link: https://bcu.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/rluk-scoping-study
The survey will remain open until 21 March and will take 10-15 minutes to complete.
For more information about this research, which is being undertaken by Evidence Base and associates, or to find out about other ways to contribute to the study, please contact Pete Dalton, pete.dalton@bcu.ac.uk.
