This article was downloaded by: [Northeastern University]On: 18 November 2014, At: 00:05Publisher: RoutledgeInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH,UK

Journal of Web LibrarianshipPublication details, including instructions forauthors and subscription information:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wjwl20

Research CollaborationsBetween Public and AcademicLibrariesJody Condit Fagan EditorPublished online: 05 Nov 2008.

To cite this article: Jody Condit Fagan Editor (2008) Research CollaborationsBetween Public and Academic Libraries, Journal of Web Librarianship, 2:1, 1-2, DOI:10.1080/19322900802186611

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19322900802186611

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EDITORIAL

Research Collaborations Between Publicand Academic Libraries

In response to a listserv announcement about the Journal of Web Li-brarianship, Margaret Hazel, Principal Librarian for Technology at Eu-gene Public Library, asked: “Looks like a great publication. Will it befocused on academic libraries, or will there be coverage of public insti-tutions?” This touched off a great conversation about a long-standing is-sue: how to increase the amount of published research related to publiclibrary settings.

As an editor, I would love to include articles from both public and ac-ademic libraries. However, the number of submissions from academicsfar outweighs the rest. Because of tenure requirements, academics havepressure (and sometimes officially-granted time) to publish. Hazel sug-gested that the formality of many library journals limits interest, noting,“Most public librarians don’t have time for formal studies and datagathering, much as they need it, but many are happy to opine and doown experience write-ups.”

Ideas we came up with to increase publications surrounded collabo-ration between academic librarians and public libraries. I know when Iwas a brand-new MLS in my first academic job, I had little experience

Journal of Web Librarianship, Vol. 2(1) 2008Available online at http://jwl.haworthpress.com

© 2008 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved.doi:10.1080/19322900802186611 1

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with research projects. I would have welcomed a chance to contributeresearch and writing time to someone else’s project!

Academic librarians could help gather and collate data for areas thatneed investigation. Public librarians could help with topic developmentand with the writing. Academic librarians who are having trouble comingup with ideas should check out some of the excellent blogs written bypublic librarians for inspiration–and possible collaboration opportunities.

Journals with sections for less formal articles, such as JWL’s “Com-munications,” should solicit public librarians and public-library list-servs to specifically encourage submissions about public libraries. InJWL, the “Communications” section features case studies, tutorials,opinion pieces, and reports.

While of course I hope that readers consider The Journal of Web Li-brarianship as the first outlet for any Web-related submissions, Iwanted to be sure to list some options for topics outside this journal’sscope:

Public Libraries is published by ALA and welcomes both ten totwenty page “feature” articles and one to six page “Verso” or opin-ion pieces, plus it accepts “Tech Notes,” which are short, Web-based papers introducing specific technologies for public librarians:http://www.ala.org/ala/pla/plapubs/publiclibraries/publiclibraries.cfm

Public Library Journal is published in the United Kingdom by theChartered Institute of Libraries and Informational Professionals and in-cludes both academic research and “best practice” type articles:http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/public/journal

Young Adult Library Services is published by ALA and “show-cases current research and practice relating to teen services”:http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/yalsapubs/yals/youngadultlibrary.htm

Readers, what do you think? Do you have additional ideas for wayspublic libraries and academic libraries can team up in research endeav-ors? Or ways to encourage more research about public librarianship?Drop me an e-mail (faganjc@jmu.edu), and we can continue the con-versation.

Jody Condit FaganEditor

2 JOURNAL OF WEB LIBRARIANSHIP

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