Training Research Consultants: A Guide for Academic Libraries

Training Research Consultants: A Guide for Academic Libraries

Department

University Libraries

Document Type

Book

Description

Whether you're creating a new peer research consulting program in your library or simply looking for fresh ideas for your established program, this book will give you an in-depth look at how fifteen different colleges and universities approach this powerful student-to-student learning experience. Training Research Consultants: A Guide for Academic Libraries is an inspirational collection of perspectives and tools from library leaders who have created and maintained successful programs, plus thoughtful explorations of the theories and motivations that inform peer learning. In four sections--Introduction to Theory and Practice, Library Case Studies, Perspectives from Campus Partners, and Consultant Perspectives--the book covers everything that goes into these increasingly popular research consulting programs: learning theories, the role of research consultants in encouraging student intellectual development, program administration, hiring practices, training, marketing, and assessment. The book ends with two insightful reflections from former research consultants, leaving us with a reminder us of the lasting impact these programs have on the consultants themselves. Though using different job titles and set in different campus contexts, all the programs profiled here have three core factors in common: empowerment of the student employee, robust training with ongoing support from experienced staff, and unwavering confidence in the strength of peer-to-peer mentoring in higher education. Research consultants bring their unique perspective as students to every conversation, and curiosity is key. They become experts in modeling how to embrace fearless exploration as a key part of learning. Searching can be an adventure, and effective consultants are calm, empathetic, and nimble during consultations, eager to try creative new approaches. Many of the best practices in library consulting programs are shared by writing centers, speech labs, and library user experience departments, all three of which contribute their knowledge to this book in a way that highlights the rich collaborative opportunities between core academic support services. With important lessons from these critical partners, plus practical and reproducible hiring and training materials from libraries, Training Research Consultants is an important reference for academic libraries of all kinds.

ISBN

9780838948583

Publication Date

2021

Publisher

Association of College and Research Libraries

Disciplines

Library and Information Science

Comments

Mary O'Kelly and Jennifer Torreano are editors.

Citation for published book

Torreano, Jennifer, and Mary O'Kelly. Training Research Consultants : A Guide for Academic Libraries / Edited by Jennifer Torreano and Mary O'Kelly. Association of College and Research Libraries, 2021.

Training Research Consultants: A Guide for Academic Libraries

Find in other libraries

Share

COinS