Expanding Scholarly Communication Instruction for the Next Generation of LIS Leaders

Abstract

Anyone who keeps an eye on job openings in academic libraries will have noticed the growing demand for library support for scholarly communication, the communication that is at the very core of the scholarly purpose. Professional education for librarians is only starting to catch up with the interest in the field. While scholarly communication is increasingly recognized as a core competency for librarianship, educational resources for training and continuing education are currently lacking in this area. In this IMLS-funded research (LG-72-17-0132-17), we are designing and conducting a nationwide survey and workshop to engage with central stakeholder groups: library school instructors, scholarly communication experts and early career professionals with scholarly communication responsibilities. Through these activities, the researchers will come to understand what is required of an Open Educational Resource focused on scholarly communication, how such an OER might work, possible obstacles to its adoption, and partnerships and promotions that could help in its success. Our project is designed to inform and accelerate the attention devoted to scholarly communication in both LIS and continuing professional education.