Call for participation — Bridging Campus and Community: Librarian and Archivists’ Perspectives on Community Engagement in Higher Education

October 31, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to invite participants for a research study titled “Bridging Campus and Community: Librarian and Archivists’ Perspectives on Community Engagement in Higher Education” which will explore community engagement practices among academic librarians and information professionals working in higher education. The purpose of this study is to explore how academic information practitioners understand and carry out community engagement, especially in their work with off-campus publics. This research seeks to identify how information practitioners define community engagement, how they approach their engagement activities, and what challenges and opportunities they encounter. Additionally, the study aims to examine the support structures and competencies needed for effective community engagement in higher education.

Who Can Participate?

We are seeking academic information practitioners (librarians, archivists, etc.) who:

• Hold an MLIS/MAS or equivalent degree.
• Are currently employed in a higher education setting in North America.
• Identify community engagement as a priority in their professional work.

What Does Participation Involve?

To determine eligibility, participants are asked to complete a short pre-screening questionnaire, which will take up to 5 minutes to complete which will close in two weeks on November 8, 2024. Those who meet the criteria for the full study will be invited to participate in a 90-minute Zoom interview at a mutually convenient time.

Why Participate in the Full Study?

Your insights can contribute to a deeper understanding of community engagement practices in academic libraries and the support structures needed to foster this work. Upon completion of the study, the findings will be made open access through the University of British Columbia’s institutional repository, cIRcle, and Simon Fraser University’s institutional repository, Summit.

How to Get Involved

If you are interested, please complete the pre-screening questionnaire here:
https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2fQ3NtvBRoDQx1k

We encourage you to share this invitation within your professional networks and associations.

How will Confidentiality, Anonymity, and Data be Protected?

Your confidentiality will be maintained throughout the study. If you meet the inclusion criteria and are selected for an interview, informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. Identifiable data from the pre-screening survey will be securely stored separately from the interview data, and your name will only appear on the consent form and pre-screening survey. All data will be securely stored in a University of British Columbia cloud-based system (i.e., MS OneDrive), accessible only to the research team using encrypted devices. All pre-screening data from ineligible participants will be deleted.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact us at

Aleha McCauley (Principal Investigator)
aleha.mccauley@ubc.ca
University of British Columbia

or

Heather De Forest (Senior Research Associate)
hdefores@sfu.ca
Simon Fraser University.

Thank you for considering participating in this study.

Sincerely,

Aleha McCauley BA, MLIS (She/Her/Hers)
Community Engagement Librarian
UBC Library | Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus | Musqueam Traditional Territory
1961 East Mall Room 203 | Vancouver British Columbia | V6T 1Z1 Canada
aleha.mccauley@ubc.ca

Image by James Wheeler from Pixabay