Like the word information, the word research can be used in many ways. To some people, research is simply a carefully conducted investigation of a subject or a situation. To others it is the discovery of previously unknown facts. To still others it implies a highly specific approach to designing and conducting research studies in keeping with externally determined guidelines or methods. Whatever the approach, the intent of research is to contribute to the shared knowledge base and to provide the grounds for a more informed decision making.

Since resources are finite, it is important to create, share and use research results in the most cost-effective way possible. In large part, the value of the profession depends on the extent to which practitioners are able to apply their knowledge base for the benefit of the organization and individuals being served. The challenges of measuring the cost/benefit of intangibles such as information services are considerable and represent one of the current research challenges facing the field of library and information science.

Special librarians are steeped in the research tradition. As university graduates at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, they have been taught to think broadly and critically about a broad range of social and research issues. More often than not, the information that special librarians collect, organize and make accessible to their clients is of a research nature. The very complexity and specialization of the information required in all realms of science, business, industry and public sector organizations today demands a high standard of specialized information service tailored for a particular environment and clientele.

As information professionals, it seems logical that we should recognize the need to create, share and use our own knowledge base in information and library science; however, this has not necessarily been the case in the past. Like other professional groups, librarians tend to be action-oriented, relying on our own experience and professional judgment to make decisions. Both the need to make decisions quickly and the lack of a clear connection between much library and information science research and the day-to-day problems faced by librarians make seeking and applying our own knowledge base a challenge. The increasing diversity of library and information science research also makes the development of a critical mass of applied action-oriented research problematic.

If we compare the information and library science field to others in the sciences, social sciences and humanities, we quickly realize that our own field is less developed from a research perspective. Although librarians in their work have always dealt with research materials in one form or another, the idea of developing our own research base is much more recent. There are fewer peer-reviewed journals and grant-supported research initiatives in information and library science than are found in older, more established academic disciplines. In recent years, library associations, including SLA, have sometimes replaced their peer-reviewed research journals with more popular magazine formats that will appeal to the widest possible audience. In the case of special librarians, there is currently no peer-reviewed journal that focuses exclusively on the field. Comprehensive bibliographic access to the knowledge base of information and library science also continues to be a challenge.

Although graduate schools of library and information science were decreasing in number in the eighties, there are now new programs springing up and enrollment in existing programs is increasing. The demand for information and library professionals is growing as the value of the knowledge and skills of librarians is recognized in diverse settings. Companion programs in the field of information science with an increased emphasis on technology and systems have been another factor in the growth of graduate and undergraduate programs. The faculty in graduate programs in library and information science and academic librarians who are reviewed for tenure in universities are major contributors to the peer-reviewed literature. Practicing professionals from a variety of special library environments have also contributed to the literature in the field.

Building a Culture of Evidence-Based Practice

Despite the limitations of the past, there is great potential for the growing field of library and information science to develop and sustain a vibrant research culture that will form the basis for evidence-based practice. The field has an opportunity to draw not only upon its own research base, but also to link to the relevant research findings in fields such as computer science, engineering, management, sociology and psychology. Achieving a culture of evidence-based practice will require the cooperation of practitioners, researchers and associations?all have key roles to play in this evolution.

What is evidence-based practice? For special librarians, evidence-based practice refers to consciously and consistently making professional-level decisions that are based on the strongest evidence of what would work best for our clients. The areas in which decisions are made in library and information practice are cited in our SLA competencies document: selection and acquisition of information resources; methods of information access; selection and use of information technologies; and management of library and information services.

Why evidence-based practice? These are challenging times for professionals in all areas of practice. The consumer movement and the wide availability of information, including information that was formerly only accessible to professionals themselves, have led to a demand for increased professional competence and accountability. It is time for special librarians to recognize the potential value of formal and informal research in our field as the basis for evidence-based practice. In the long term, such a knowledge base and its effective application will set information and library professionals apart in an increasingly competitive world of information service providers.

The roles of information and library professionals are changing and expanding as the scope of practice of the profession broadens beyond physical collections and reference service towards remote access and systems development. In this new environment, it is more important than ever to build our knowledge base and to use evaluation research methods to constantly monitor and improve the quality of the services provided.

• Making a personal commitment to consciously and consistently making decisions on the basis of the best available evidence
• Discussing the concept of evidence-based practice with colleagues
• Continuing to assess professional and personal competencies and participate in continuing education activities
• Contributing to the evidence base of the profession by organizing or making presentations at conferences and other information sharing forums
• Maintaining the habit of regularly scanning the professional literature, including that in related fields such as business, psychology and technology
• Participating in shared data collection and research activities such as benchmarking both inside and outside the organization
• Participating in evaluation and quality improvement efforts that involve data collection both inside and outside the organization.
• Collecting and sharing evidence of best practices in library and information services
• Sharing useful literature with other special librarians both inside and outside the organization
• Organizing a journal club or evidence-based practice discussion group
• Contributing to the peer-reviewed literature in the field

• Incorporating the notion of evidence-based practice in the research methods courses that they teach their students
• Evaluating how their own research can contribute to evidence-based practice in the profession and pointing our these applications in their communications with practitioners
• Encouraging fellow researchers to support the concept of evidence-based practice
• Sharing their knowledge of research methods both formally and informally with practitioners who are engaged in evidence based practice
• Taking an interest in initiatives that will build the broader evidence base of professional practice such as research collaboratories; improved bibliographic and other kinds of databases, including best practices; and new forms of dissemination of research publications
• Presenting papers and panels at professional association meetings
• Supporting and legitimating the notion of applied research both inside and outside the academic community

• Viewing all of its products and services in the context of helping to build the evidence base of special librarianship
• Engaging the members of SLA as partners in creating, using and improving the evidence base of the profession
• Working with academic institutions and other associations to incorporate the notion of evidence-based practice into professional education
• Participating in setting standards of practice and education for the profession that are evidence based
• Supporting the creation of new evidence through the Goldspiel Research Grant and other initiatives
• Celebrating the contributions of SLA members and others to the evidence base of special librarianship through awards and other forms of acknowledgement
• Serving as the collective voice of the profession in communicating the importance of evidence-based information practice to employers and others in society
• Adopting the notion of evidence-based practice as part of the management of the association.
• Considering the development of a high quality, peer-reviewed electronic journal for special librarianship

Implementing evidenced based practice in special librarianship is something that can only be accomplished together. Individual special librarians must partner with researchers, academic institutions and their own professional associations to build the culture and content of evidence-based practice. SLA as an association can help by ensuring that examples of the best evidence-based practice are communicated, reinforced and rewarded. Everyone has a role to play.

The seeds of evidence-based practice already exist in the knowledge and skills of practitioners and researchers in the field; however, we have yet to reap the benefits of the sum of the parts. Much needs to be done to improve and strengthen the quality of research in the field and our ability to apply it in a meaningful way. We also need to see the knowledge and skills of practicing special librarians as resources for evidence-based practice and learn to how to translate this tacit knowledge into best practices scenarios that can be shared for the good of all.

New technologies, while facilitating communication, have led to a speeding up of activity that seems to leave little time for evidence gathering and reflection. Creating an environment in professional associations where an evidence-based practice is valued and encouraged will be a major factor in improving the quality of the contribution of special librarians to their organizations and to their profession in the long term. 

• Research & Development Committee