Assessing the Library's Grants Program
Abstract Objective – The authors analyzed seven years of sponsored research projects at the University of Illinois Library at Urbana–Champaign with the aim of understanding the research trends and themes over that period. The analysis was aimed at identifying areas of future research potential...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Alberta
2015-06-01
|
| Series: | Evidence Based Library and Information Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/eblip/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/24216 |
| _version_ | 1828374188734283776 |
|---|---|
| author | Beth Sandore Namachchivaya Jamie McGowan |
| author_facet | Beth Sandore Namachchivaya Jamie McGowan |
| author_sort | Beth Sandore Namachchivaya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Objective – The authors analyzed seven years of sponsored research projects at the University of Illinois Library at Urbana–Champaign with the aim of understanding the research trends and themes over that period. The analysis was aimed at identifying areas of future research potential and corresponding support opportunities. Goals included developing institutional research themes that intersect with funding priorities, demystifying grant writing and project management through professional development programs, increasing communication about grant successes; and bringing new faculty and academic staff into these processes. The review and analysis has proven valuable for the Library’s institutional practices, and this assessment may also inform other institutions’ initiatives with grant-writing.
Methods – The authors performed a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses of the University Library’s grant activities that enabled us to accomplish several goals: 1) establish a baseline of data on funded grants; 2) identify motivations for pursuing grants and the obstacles that library professionals face in the process; 3) establish a stronger support structure based on feedback gathered, and through collaborations with other groups that support the research process; and 4) identify strategic research themes that leverage local strengths and address institutional priorities.
Conclusions – Analysis of Library data on externally funded grants from the University’s Proposal Data System provided insight into the trends, themes, and outliers. Informal interviews were carried out with investigators to identify areas where the Library could more effectively support those who were pursuing and administering grants in support of research. The assessment revealed the need for the Library to support grant efforts as an integral component of the research process |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:29:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-96dd3abe6371426fa623b1b69d0dbe91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1715-720X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:29:19Z |
| publishDate | 2015-06-01 |
| publisher | University of Alberta |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Evidence Based Library and Information Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-96dd3abe6371426fa623b1b69d0dbe912022-12-22T02:05:54ZengUniversity of AlbertaEvidence Based Library and Information Practice1715-720X2015-06-0110210.18438/B81W2SAssessing the Library's Grants ProgramBeth Sandore Namachchivaya0Jamie McGowan1University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignCommittee on Institutional CooperationAbstract Objective – The authors analyzed seven years of sponsored research projects at the University of Illinois Library at Urbana–Champaign with the aim of understanding the research trends and themes over that period. The analysis was aimed at identifying areas of future research potential and corresponding support opportunities. Goals included developing institutional research themes that intersect with funding priorities, demystifying grant writing and project management through professional development programs, increasing communication about grant successes; and bringing new faculty and academic staff into these processes. The review and analysis has proven valuable for the Library’s institutional practices, and this assessment may also inform other institutions’ initiatives with grant-writing. Methods – The authors performed a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses of the University Library’s grant activities that enabled us to accomplish several goals: 1) establish a baseline of data on funded grants; 2) identify motivations for pursuing grants and the obstacles that library professionals face in the process; 3) establish a stronger support structure based on feedback gathered, and through collaborations with other groups that support the research process; and 4) identify strategic research themes that leverage local strengths and address institutional priorities. Conclusions – Analysis of Library data on externally funded grants from the University’s Proposal Data System provided insight into the trends, themes, and outliers. Informal interviews were carried out with investigators to identify areas where the Library could more effectively support those who were pursuing and administering grants in support of research. The assessment revealed the need for the Library to support grant efforts as an integral component of the research processhttps://journals.library.ualberta.ca/eblip/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/24216research grantssponsored researchacademic librariesR&D programsassessment |
| spellingShingle | Beth Sandore Namachchivaya Jamie McGowan Assessing the Library's Grants Program Evidence Based Library and Information Practice research grants sponsored research academic libraries R&D programs assessment |
| title | Assessing the Library's Grants Program |
| title_full | Assessing the Library's Grants Program |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Library's Grants Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Library's Grants Program |
| title_short | Assessing the Library's Grants Program |
| title_sort | assessing the library s grants program |
| topic | research grants sponsored research academic libraries R&D programs assessment |
| url | https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/eblip/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/24216 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bethsandorenamachchivaya assessingthelibrarysgrantsprogram AT jamiemcgowan assessingthelibrarysgrantsprogram |