Is the doctor in? PhD to professional: complementary perspectives in research libraries

Abstract

Aim: This paper considers how changes in the research landscape are simultaneously changing the skills needs of library staff, and opening up new opportunities for researchers to pursue careers within libraries. It explores what skills, competencies and knowledge staff with doctoral qualifications can bring to library research support services. Context: Librarians working in research support areas need different skills to the skills academic librarians have traditionally needed. There is currently a gap in the training which those undertaking professional librarianship qualifications receive, in relation to the skills needed for research roles. Simultaneously, expansion in the numbers of PhD students in the UK in recent years has been accompanied by the professionalisation of researcher skills development, equipping students with transferable skills for careers outside, as well as inside, academia. Methodology: This paper compares the skills' needs of research librarians with the competencies and skills of doctoral graduates, specifically in the UK context (as articulated in the Vitae Researcher Development Framework). It also surveys and discusses the skill-set and qualifications of research support staff employed at three UK research libraries. Results: Understanding the needs and, importantly, the behaviours, of researchers is integral to the provision of a successful library research support service. Many of the skills which are necessary for library graduates to have, are those that are already identified as essential researcher skills. The peerlevel support offered by library staff with research backgrounds has a role in developing stronger relationships between the library and the academy.

Researcher development models and library research support

“…Its lenses ensure the researcher/research developer/librarian can give heightened attention to those descriptors which fit their specific need. Warren (2018) observed that the Vitae RDF skills for researchers were the same skills expected of librarians working with research support.…”

“…The significance and visibility of the library has drastically changed during recent decades owing to induction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). All these changes have forced the librarians to rethink their service provision strategies (Warren, 2018). (Warren, 2018) She also observed that the skills required of librarians to support research differ from the skill set of traditional librarians.…”

“…All these changes have forced the librarians to rethink their service provision strategies (Warren, 2018). (Warren, 2018) She also observed that the skills required of librarians to support research differ from the skill set of traditional librarians. The concepts of researcher development and research support are interconnected and be discussed from the same frame of reference.…”