It can be a daunting task to try to publish when you’re new to any profession and I think this is especially true for newly-minted librarians. Typically, LIS programs don’t emphasize research and writing as much as other fields. The simplest advice that I can pass along to you is to start small and think big.....Read more

Different types of manuscripts are organized in different ways and contain different components. Though one does not have to follow a rigid outline, following generally accepted and expected practices can help the reader understand what you are saying.....Read more

Dear Library and Information Science Colleagues, It is a great pleasure to offer introductory comments for this new edition of “How to Get Published in LIS Journals: A Practical Guide.” As I began to think about what to write, I was struck by the subtitle “a practical guide.” Indeed, much of what might seem mysterious to authors seeking to contribute to the library literature is simply practical.....Read more

At the University of Minnesota, librarians conduct workshops on the effective use of online resources to identify possible funding sources. This is a joint effort of the university’s libraries and the Office for the Vice President for Research (OVPR). During the recent ACRL 14th National Conference in Seattle, we presented a poster to share the highlights of our grant funding workshops. In sharing those highlights again, we hope to inspire other librarians to consider similar projects. The backstory....Read more

Adequate funding is vital to keeping a library alive. Beihang University, formerly named Beijing University of Aerospace and Astronomy, has been undergoing a dramatic change from being a polytechnic to a comprehensive academic institute. This transformation is posing a big challenge for our library: We now need to raise additional funds to provide academic resources supporting newly built disciplines, such as bioscience, engineering, law, economics and literature. In a word, lobbying for library funds isn’t easy work for a library director at this time.....Read more

A staff member in my library recently received an enormous compliment from a graduate student in environmental engineering. Paraphrased, it read something like, “I can’t imagine how a preeminent research university could possibly exist without a reference desk.” To me, this meant one thing: This student clearly understood the value of the library in his research and learning. But why? What had we done for him that he valued us so? And how can we communicate this value to others?....Read more

"It does not matter at all how wonderful you are, how much service you provide, or what a great manager you are, if you do not have the budget under control. That really is the story. That really is, in the final analysis, how you will be evaluated.”– A long-tenured ARL library director to a new library director....Read more

One of the greatest strengths of Next Gen librarians can be found in their ability to bring new and innovative ideas to the information workplace. When reading the library literature, one expects to find that any mention of Next Gen librarians incorporates a discussion of new technology implementation, issues relating to Web 2.0, the benefits of social networking or any of the other talking points commonly associated with fresh-faced librarians who grew up in the digital age.....Read more

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently decided to use Scopus Custom Data to drive its innovation strategy. Recently I had an opportunity to talk to Hiroyuki Tomizawa, the principal administrator in the Economic Analysis and Statistics Division of the Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry at the OECD, about the OECD’s new strategy. Following are some of his thoughts.   Iris Kisjes: Tell me a little about the OECD’s background.....Read more

Held in Helsinki in November 2008, the 6th Annual Library Connect Nordic Librarian Forum covered topics including research assessment and policy. During that event, Per Koch delivered a presentation which he’s kindly agreed to reshape as this article for Library Connect.  ....Read more

Recently, several major changes at my library have pushed us to be much more intentional about assessing our services, workflows, budgeting practices and resource selection. Through strategic planning and development of policy and practice, we have begun to lay the foundation for a culture of assessment in our library — a culture in which decisions are based on facts, research and analysis and where services are designed to maximize the benefit for our patrons (Phipps, 2001).....Read more

At the University of Minnesota, librarians conduct workshops on the effective use of online resources to identify possible funding sources. This is a joint effort of the university's libraries and the Office for the Vice President for Research (OVPR). During the recent ACRL 14th National Conference in Seattle, we presented a poster to share the highlights of our grant funding workshops. In sharing those highlights again, we hope to inspire other librarians to consider similar projects. The backstory....Read more

Many librarians have experienced the pain of losing access to online journal content when it changes from one publisher to another. Often librarians are not even aware that journals are moving publisher until they hear from angry users. Other problems encountered after journal transfers include losing access to archives, differing access rights and establishing correct subscription information.....Read more

1. How have you seen the role of librarians change?....Read more