Library Theory and Research Section

Annual Report
September 2002 - August 2003

Mission

The IFLA Section on Library Theory and Research provides a research-based underpinning to IFLA's professional priorities on the role of libraries in society and the development of library professionals, through a programme promoting theoretical and empirical library and information science research and analysis. It provides and encourages international networking opportunities for library professionals engaged in library and information science research.

After its two business meetings in Glasgow in August 2002, the Section undertook a number of activities as outlined in the Strategic Plan set at the IFLA Glasgow conference and the outcomes are reported below.

Results

1. Encourage/solicit papers at IFLA and IFLA sponsored conferences on appropriate research activities and investigations, and 5. Promote and support the translation of LIS research into practice and policy

The theme of the Berlin Conference in August 2003, Access Point Library: Media - Information-Culture gave us the scope to address some of the current issues in research in library and information science. The section was very busy and participated in three conference activities as well as co-sponsoring the Northumbria Lite Performance Evaluation satellite workshop held in the UK.

The LTR Open Session was entitled: Is your library project evidence based? Five papers were selected after a refereeing process, from twenty five expressions of interest:

A metadata lifecycle model for digital libraries: methodology and application for an evidence-based approach to library research set the framework for some interesting discussion for the four remaining papers which discussed evidence-based practice:

1. Why is quality control so hard? Reference studies and reference quality in public libraries: the case of Norway
   TORD HØIVIK (Oslo University College, Department of Journalism, Library and Information Studies, Oslo, Norway)
2. Past decade - transforming measures and values in Estonian library practice
   AIRA LEPIK (Department of Information Studies, Tallinn Pedagogical University, Tallinn, Estonia) and
   TOOMAS LIIVAMÄGI (Tartu University Library, Tartu, Estonia)
3. What is « culture » according to librarians ? Is it evidence-based?
   CLAUDE POISSENOT (Researcher, France)
4. A metadata lifecycle model for digital libraries: methodology and application for an evidence-based approach to library research
   YA-NING CHEN, SHU-JIUN CHEN and SIMON C. LIN (Computing Center of Academia Sinica, Taiwan, China)
5. Innovation - the creative tension of risk and evidence
   ALAN SMITH (Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand)

The Section collaborated with IFLA sections, researchers and practitioners when organizing conference sessions by participating with the Section of Management of Library Associations' session on Libraries and politics - how to bring libraries and national associations into the political sphere? The LTR contribution was that the session was based on the theme of our current research project, Political perceptions of the public library being lead by Professor Bob Usherwood of Sheffield University.

2. Assist in the development of expertise and knowledge in useful research methods, and 3. Evaluate different research approaches

The Section's research activity was centred around the continuation of the Political perceptions of the public library project. Colleagues from around the world are assisting with the gathering of data obtained from countries including Croatia, Uganda, Sri Lanka, The Netherlands, the UK and Australia. Papers from the first three of these countries were delivered in the joint conference session in Berlin with the Management of Library Associations Section.

Since it is expected that this project will be finalised in 2004, the Section will make a bid for a new project centred around the Information Literacy agenda of IFLA President Kay Raseroka. This project will be lead by Dr Ragnar Audunson from Norway. Should this bid be successful, then the project will provide a useful springboard to continue the Section's work assisting in the development of expertise and knowledge in useful research methods.

The Section continued its dialogue between researchers and practitioners on the evaluation of different research approaches through the completion of the work by Maxine Rochester and Pertti Vakkkari to enable publication of International Library and Information Science Research.

4. Facilitate transnational networks of common research interests

Efforts are being made to continue a comprehensive collection of the Section's newsletters, minutes of meetings and other administrative information on the Section's website. The Chair continues to gather information to complete the Section's annual report holdings with those of 2001-2002, 1997-1998,1996-1997, 1994-1995 currently available.

There was broad international representation on our Standing Committee and amongst our 128 members in 2002/3. New members to the LTR Standing Committee are from Korea, France and the USA and the remaining members come from the USA, Russian Federation, Australia, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the UK and Finland. Our efforts to particularly to target professional groups in the promotion of our section, e.g. LIS research groups will be continued in 2004.

The Section was invited to support and participate in new Discussion Group: Quality issues in LIS institutions and Beverly Lynch has agreed to be the Section's representative at meetings.

Officers

Chair and Treasurer:
Ms. Kerry Smith

Secretary:
Ms. Marian Koren

Information Coordinator:
Ms. Wilda Bowers Newman

Kerry Smith
Chair