Applying research to practice : how to use data collection and research to improve library management decision making (Papers presented at the Allerton Park Institute held October October 27-29, 1991)

摘要

The Allerton Park Conference on "Applying Research to Practice"marked the anniversary of the founding of the Library Research Center30 years earlier. The Library Research Center (LRC) was establishedin 1961 by Robert Downs with an LSCA grant from the Illinois StateLibrary for the purpose of establishing an experimental center forresearch related to public library development. That early grant helpedshape the LRC's ongoing concern for conducting research that can beapplied directly to solving problems of practice.In this age of declining resources with constant demands foraccountability and productivity, an increasing number of librarians havebecome researchers and use research in their work. As a result, the LRChas assumed a larger teaching role. On behalf of the Illinois State Libraryand other professional associations, its staff have led workshops forpracticing librarians on such topics as data collection, communityanalysis, and statistical methods. This Allerton Conference wasdeveloped as part of that teaching mission. Papers were focused ontopics that could help participants become better consumers of research,understand new ways in which research can help their libraries, andbe more informed collaborators in the research process.