Assessing the Impact of Consultations with Librarians on Faculty Research: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Research consultations are a standard service in academic libraries and consume significant library resources. There is a lack of scholarship evaluating the impact of this service on faculty. This paper describes the impact of librarian consultations on faculty and their role in the research process. Data was collected from a survey of sixty-seven faculty and focus groups with twelve faculty members. Findings from the survey and focus groups indicate that research consultations provide valued contributions to the faculty research process. Still, librarians must communicate transparently about their work with a diverse audience and define a specific value of the service.