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The Library Research Round Table (LRRT) will sponsor two Research Forums
at the 2013 American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago,
IL (June 27-July 2).  The LRRT Forums are a set of programs at the ALA
Annual Conference featuring presentations of LIS research, in progress
or completed, followed by discussion.  One of the forums is broad in
scope and one is on a more specific topic. The forums are:

 

Research: Data-Driven Services 

Libraries collect data on usage of collections, services, and physical
space. However, much of these data are not utilized to capacity. This
session will feature three research papers that demonstrate how to
leverage user-centered data to develop services. Audience members will
learn about methods and techniques that they can use locally to answer
questions in their own organizations. Attendees will be able to take
away results that could be applied directly in local settings and make
connections with presenters and one another to explore creative ways to
respond to challenges.

 

Research: Creative Problem Solving

Novelty and innovation are needed to respond to many of today's
challenges. Libraries and librarians require new and creative approaches
to defining questions and finding answers. Three papers that demonstrate
innovative inquiry will be selected by a committee for inclusion in this
Forum. Attendees will discover methods and techniques that they
previously were not familiar with, but can be employed in their
libraries. Audience members will become cognizant of new questions or
emerging ways to state and think about problems. The results presented
will offer directly applicable solutions that can be adapted by
attendees in their organizations.

 

This is an opportunity to present and discuss your research project
conducted in the broad area of library and information science or in a
more specialized area of the field. LRRT welcomes papers emphasizing the
problems, theories, methodologies, or significance of research findings
for LIS. Topics can include, but are not limited to, user studies and
user behavior, electronic services, service effectiveness,
organizational structure and personnel, library value determination,
shared collections, collection assessment, digital libraries, archiving,
preservation, and evaluation of library and information services.  Both
completed research and research in progress will be considered.  All
researchers, including practitioners from all types of libraries,
library school faculty and students, and other interested individuals
are encouraged to submit proposals.  LRRT Members and nonmembers of LRRT
are invited and welcomed to submit proposals.

 

The Committee will use a blind review process to select a maximum of six
projects, three for each of the two forums.  The selected researchers
will be required to present their papers in person at the forums and to
register for the conference.  All expenses, including registration for
the conference, travel, accommodation, etc., are the responsibility of
the researchers/presenters.  Criteria for selection are: 

 

1.	Significance of the study to library and information science
research;
2.	Quality and creativity of the methodology;
3.	Potential to fill a research gap or to build on previous LIS
studies;
4.	Adherence to submission requirements (see below).

 

Please submit a two-page proposal by Monday, February 18, 2013.  Late
submissions will not be considered, and submissions must be limited to
two pages in length.  On the first page, please list your name(s),
title(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact information
(telephone number, mailing address, and email address). The second page
should NOT show your name or any other identifying information.
Instead, it must include: 1) The title of your project, and 2) A
500-word or less abstract.  The abstract must include a problem
statement, problem significance, project objectives, methodology, and
conclusions (or tentative conclusions for work in progress), and an
indication of whether the research is in-progress or completed.
Previously published research or research accepted for publication by
February 18, 2013, will not be considered.

 

Notification of acceptance will be made by Friday, March 29, 2013.
Please email submissions (with an indication of which of the two forums
for which the abstract should be considered) to:

 

Lynn Silipigni Connaway

OCLC Research

(Email): [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 

(Fax): 614-718-7378

 

 

 

Lynn Silipigni Connaway

Senior Research Scientist

OCLC Research

[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 

Cell: 303-246-3623

Fax: 614-718-7378

http://www.oclc.org/research/people/connaway.htm
<http://www.oclc.org/research/people/connaway.htm>