Dear Academic Librarian:
We are writing to request your participation in a study of academic librarians holding PhD degrees.
ABOUT THIS RESEARCH
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We are conducting a qualitative study to understand how the competencies and interests developed in a doctoral education contribute to academic librarianship, and how they are supported or inhibited by academic libraries. The results will help respond to the challenge of identifying novel ways to enhance the research and teaching support at academic libraries. More details at https://sites.google.com/site/phdlibrarians/
YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU ARE:
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(1) currently employed as an academic librarian,
(2) hold an ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies, AND
(3) have completed a PhD research degree (or equivalent research degree) in any field.
If you know someone who meets these characteristics, please forward this message on.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS STUDY?
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You will complete a qualitative survey. This means that you will write responses to open-ended questions about your perceptions on the value of a doctoral education in academic librarianship and how academic libraries leverage your doctoral competencies and interests.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE
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This is great. Please visit the online survey at:
http://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0AKdGGF43y2b1is
PARTICIPANT RIGHTS
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There is no obligation to participate in this study. If you agree to participate, your privacy will be protected at all times. There are no anticipated risks or discomfort involved, and you may decide to end your participation at any time. We have a consent form that explains your involvement, our research, and our responsibilities in protecting your privacy.
This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for compliance with ethical principles and regulatory requirements (#IRB00015580). If you have questions about this, you may contact the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs at 336-758-5888.
Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions about our study please contact any member of our research team.
Sincerely,
Jeffery Loo, MLIS MSc PhD
Librarian, University of California, Berkeley
Erik Mitchell, MLIS PhD
Librarian, Wake Forest University
Susan Rathbun-Grubb, MAT MSLS PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina