Two faculty members from the San José State University (SJSU) School of Library and Information Science will partner with scholars from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles, California, to develop and implement a professional development program aimed at helping academic librarians become skilled researchers who engage in research, share findings, and mentor peers. 

Thanks to a three-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, announced on September 26, 2013, Dr. Lili Luo and Dr. Michael Stephens from the SJSU information school will collaborate with faculty from the LMU Library to develop the Institute for Research Design in Librarianship. Approximately 60 academic and research librarians will attend the institute during a three-year timespan. In addition to onsite instruction, institute participants will receive ongoing mentoring and support throughout the year, as they complete research projects.

Luo, an expert regarding research methods education for information professionals, will serve as one of the project’s lead instructors, responsible for developing, delivering, assessing, and refining institute curriculum. Additionally, Luo’s in-depth knowledge regarding online learning will help the team explore options for delivering some of the institute curriculum virtually, including learning activities that take place before participants attend a nine-day onsite summer institute. 

Stephens will serve as an institute instructor and help the planning team explore options for delivering institute curriculum online. He will also identify and develop ways to provide ongoing support to institute participants. They will learn how to build personal learning networks, so in the years ahead, they can receive ongoing mentoring and remain motivated to conduct research and share findings. 

More information regarding the project, including information for individuals interested in attending the institute, will be available soon via the LMU Library website.