Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Introduction to key concepts and principles

Abstract

Many library professionals excel in supporting their clients in their research activities, yet not all of them are good at undertaking research to improve their own library management practices. But research to support effective library decision making should become part of daily practice: to help library managers learn more about their work, to develop better services and to share ideas about best practice. It helps us build a body of professional knowledge that can benefit the entire profession. The EBLIP-process aims at helping library professionals by working through the seperate stages of formulating the significant research questions, searching for the best available evidence to answer the questions, critically appraising the evidence, establishing the value of the anticipated benefits of the action plan that is developed, and reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of that action plan. The paper presents an introduction to the management approach of Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, its key concepts and principles. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP) is emerging as a key topic of discussion amongst many professionals in the library and information services sector, especially in the US, UK and Australia. In countries like Germany and other European countries EBLIP is still fairly unknown. This paper paper is based on a workshop held by Prof. Gillian Hallam from Queensland Technology University (Brisbane, Australia) during the International Summer School at Stuttgart Media University in June 2008.