Assessment of the Research Learning Needs of University of Saskatchewan Librarians: A Case Study

Alvin M. Schrader is Director of Research for University of Alberta Libraries, Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta, and former Director and Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta; e-mail: [email protected]. Ali Shiri is Associate Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta; e-mail: [email protected]. Vicki Williamson is Dean, University Library, University of Saskatchewan; e-mail: [email protected]. © Alvin M. Schrader, Ali Shiri, and Vicki Williamson. Attribution-NonCommercial (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) CC BY-NC As academic librarians with faculty status increasingly embrace research engagement as a core value and requirement, one of the little-studied questions is the extent to which they possess the requisite knowledge and skills to conduct high-quality research and scholarship and what further learning needs they might have within the organizational setting. This paper summarizes an institutional case study of the research knowledge of academic librarians employed at the University of Saskatchewan, encompassing their current research interests, experiences, competencies, environmental context, and learning needs. The goal was to develop a framework for additional educational activities and institutional supports that would enhance their knowledge and skills.