Do the Right (Write) Thing: Engaging in Academic Library Value Research

204 Last fall, ACRL published the Value of Academic Libraries Comprehensive Research Review and Report. Since then, many librarians have cited the report's literature review; even more have commented on the variety of recommendations and the breadth of the research agenda laid out in the report. The literature review captures our past efforts to explore the return-on-investment and impact of academic libraries ; the recommendations and research agenda give direction to our future work in articulating and increasing academic library value. Although the report is a static document, the library value conversation can be dynamic. The report can serve as a foundation for a lively professional and scholarly dialogue, but how might librarians engage and develop that dialogue? Certainly, ACRL can take a role in the library value conversation; it is already doing so by commencing a major initiative around academic library value issues complete with presentations, partnerships , professional development offerings , and grant proposals. But librarians, individually and in concert with others, can also engage rigorously in the value conversation. Librarians and library science faculty can collaborate; in addition , librarians can also seek research partnerships with other higher education stakeholders including institutional researchers, higher education associations , and grant funders. Large-scale, rigorous research studies can be initiated whenever possible. Such studies are often perceived as " objective " , apolitical, and generalizable to multiple academic library contexts. They can also deliver the holy grail of " statistical significance. " However, large-scale studies represent Do the Right (Write) Thing: Engaging in Academic Library Value Research only one facet of the academic library conversation. Individual librarians can take part in the academic library value dialogue as well. To institutional decision makers, small-scale, local studies can be just as convincing, and sometimes even more compelling, than large-scale studies involving other institutions. Local studies also have the advantage of being easier to initiate, less expensive to implement, and more applicable to an individual library context. Even the major disadvantage of local studies, the perception or reality of " self-serving " results, can be counteracted by following ethical, responsible research practices and by clearly stating all study limitations. The ongoing academic library value conversation is dependent on librarians engaging in the value research agenda, both individually and in collaboration. Indeed, value research can be integral to professional practice. Librarians might begin their value research by asking themselves the questions, " What part …