Document Type

Presentation

Version Deposited

None (link only)

Publication Date

11-5-2024

Abstract

Presented at STEM Librarian South Conference, November 6, 2024

Despite our diligent outreach and relationship-building efforts, certain groups of faculty within STEM disciplines remain hesitant to engage with academic librarians and utilize library resources. This challenge raises a critical question: How can librarians effectively support a department when faculty members are unresponsive?

Our research team, composed of three frustrated mathematics librarians and one mathematics faculty member, recognized the need for a fresh approach. Mathematics, a department known for its independence, has received limited attention in scholarly Library and Information Science (LIS) literature. To address this gap, we embarked on a project to understand mathematics faculty’s perspectives and needs regarding library services. Our research aimed to explore mathematics faculty’s use of library resources and their perceptions of academic librarians. We sought insights into their attitudes, which would inform strategies for more effective collaboration.

To achieve this, our team designed a concise 10-minute survey for mathematics faculty across higher education institutions in the United States and Canada. We received 189 responses, providing valuable data for analysis. In this presentation, we will share preliminary findings from our survey conducted in the fall of 2023. The survey included both qualitative (free-text responses) and quantitative (Likert scales and multiple choice) questions. We will also discuss outreach and engagement strategies informed by the survey results, along with examples of faculty perspectives. Additionally, we aim to engage attendees in a discussion to hear their solutions and frustrations in working with less responsive disciplines, such as Mathematics. We believe that many colleagues will have valuable experiences and ideas to contribute, which will help us all collaborate more effectively with some of our more challenging departments. In summary, our project bridges the gap between mathematics faculty and academic librarians by aligning services with faculty needs.

Download

Share

COinS