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Completed Projects

The LIS Research Landscape: a review and prognosis

This research, funded by the CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) examined the research landscape for the broad library and information (LIS) sector. The project was carried out shortly after the traditional research funder in LIS, the Library and Information Commission, ceased to exist and became part of a broader Commission, Resource, which had a remit including archives and museums and with different funding priorities.

Concerns had been expressed within the LIS community that research funding had decreased and that there were fewer opportunities for funding for research in professional areas and for serendipitous research.

The overall aim of the project was to review LIS sector research over the past five years and to make a prognosis for research over the next three years.

This first stage involved reviewing the existing literature on research funding in the LIS sector to provide a broad picture of research activity, priorities, funding sources and research-active organisations within the LIS sector over the past five years.

This was followed by a short survey of a sample of practitioners, funders and research organisations to investigate recent research funded or conducted; views on research priorities 2002-5; views on sources of funding for these priorities.

Finally, a follow-up seminar was held in November 2002 to provide an opportunity for various stakeholders to discuss the issues raised.


Publications
McNicol, Sarah (2002), "LIS Researchers and Practitioners: a Research Culture", Library and Information Research News 26(83), pp. 10-16.
McNicol; Sarah, and Nankivell, Clare (2003), The LIS Research Landscape, A Review and Prognosis. (PDF)

Project Team
Clare Nankivell and Sarah McNicol