Keeping Up With… Public Scholarship

91��ý

This edition of Keeping Up With… was written by Kate Thornhill and Michell Martinez.

Kate Thornhill is a Public Scholarship Librarian at the University of Oregon (UO) Libraries, email: kmthorn@uoregon.edu.

Michell Martinez is a UO Libraries Public Scholarship Undergraduate Intern and student in the UO School of Journalism and Communications (’25), email: michellm@uoregon.edu.

Disclosure: The authors used Generative AI as writing assistance. All concepts, content, ideas, and sources were gathered, developed, analyzed, and synthesized by the authors. The AI used was Claude 3.5 Sonnet by Anthropic.

Reimagining Scholarly Communication for Societal Impact

Public scholarship is transforming higher education, redefining academic influence and fostering deeper engagement between institutions and communities outside its walls.[1-5] This scholarly communication approach emphasizes community-based research, where colleges and universities collaborate closely with local, state, and regional partners to address real-world issues. Community-based research is at the heart of this transformation, involving:

co-identifying problems with community partners like non-profits, government agencies, and affinity groups;
collaboratively designing research projects;
shared decision-making and stewardship in data collection and analysis;
inclusive and accessible publishing of findings; and
developing and implementing action plans within the community

Academic libraries play a crucial role in this ecosystem, serving as bridges between scholarly work and public benefit. They champion accessible scholarly communications by democratizing knowledge through liaison activities and relationships among networks where partnerships flourish. This approach not only enhances the relevance of higher education but also strengthens its accountability to the public. It represents a shift from traditional academic models towards a more engaged, responsive, and socially responsible form of scholarship that directly benefits society.

Understanding Public Scholarship in the Context of Academic Libraries

At its heart, public scholarship breaks down the walls between academia and everyone who operates outside of it. For librarians, this idea resonates deeply with our disciplinary core values and mission.

When discussing public scholarship in libraries, we focus on making academic work more accessible and relevant to the wider community. This often involves the following activities.

Breaking down academic barriers: Helping researchers share work in understandable ways, through public lectures, easy-to-read summaries, and exhibitions.
Boosting research impact: Connecting researchers with those who can use their work, like helping professors reach policymakers by depositing reports into institutional repositories or students sharing research findings with industry professionals.
Tackling local issues: Collaborating on projects addressing real-world problems, such as partnering with community organizations on housing or environmental issues.
Embracing new scholarship forms: Capturing and sharing research beyond traditional articles, including social media posts and podcasts.
Pushing for ethical public access: Making research freely available online, navigating copyright and licensing issues while respecting community partners' rights.
Supporting digital scholarship: Providing resources and expertise for cutting-edge digital research projects. This could involve helping historians create virtual reality experiences of historical sites, assisting social scientists visualizing complex datasets with maps, documenting oral traditions with anthropologists, or supporting the development of interactive online archives and exhibits.

Academic Librarians Have a Role in Public Scholarship

As universities increasingly emphasize their role as anchor institutions in local communities, academic librarians can reimagine their scholarly communication strategies to target strengthen relationships with faculty with external university community relationships that are rooted in trust and the drive to improve people lives and access to basic needs.

As long-standing champions of civic and social engagement, open research sharing, and dissemination, librarians advocate for, practice, and foster information and data that are freely accessible, reusable, and transparent. Public scholarship is a genuine and familiar domain for library and information scientists who believe in access for all and in documenting the present and past.[6]

Academic librarians have a variety of skills and abilities that fit into public scholarship.

Information Literacy Expertise: Librarians are skilled at teaching information literacy, which is crucial for public engagement with scholarly work. They can help both scholars and the public navigate complex information landscapes.
Open Access Advocacy: Many librarians are at the forefront of the open access movement, aligning with public scholarship goals. They understand the importance of making research accessible to wider audiences.
Community Engagement Experience: Public libraries have a long history of community engagement, which academic librarians can draw upon. They often have experience in organizing public events and programs to enrich the communities they support and are directly involved in.
Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Librarians work across academic disciplines, giving them a broad perspective valuable for interdisciplinary public scholarship. They can help connect scholars from different fields for collaborative public projects.
Digital Scholarship Skills: Many librarians are proficient in digital tools and platforms used for disseminating research. They can assist in creating digital exhibits, managing data, and using social media for outreach.
Research Support Expertise: Librarians are skilled at assisting with various stages of the research process. They can help scholars identify public-oriented research opportunities and resources.
Preservation and Archiving Knowledge: Librarians understand how to preserve and make accessible the outputs of public scholarship. They can ensure long-term access to public scholarship projects and data.
Ethical Information Use: Librarians are well-versed in issues of copyright, fair use, and ethical information practices. This knowledge is crucial when sharing scholarly work with the public.
Assessment Skills: Many librarians have experience in assessing the impact and reach of programs and resources. These skills can be applied to evaluating public scholarship initiatives.
Commitment to Equity and Access: The library profession has a strong commitment to equitable access to information. This aligns well with the goals of making research more publicly accessible and engaged.
Network and Partnerships: Librarians often have extensive networks within and beyond their institutions. These connections can be leveraged for public scholarship partnerships.

As academic libraries continue to evolve in response to the public engagement movement, they are positioning themselves as essential partners in the creation, dissemination, and application of knowledge for the public good. By embracing these new roles, libraries are not only adapting to changing expectations in higher education but are actively shaping a more engaged and impactful academic future. The challenges are significant, requiring skills, resources, and mindsets that academic librarians champion and transform into their practice.

Conclusion

Public scholarship is reshaping the role of academic libraries, positioning them as crucial intermediaries between scholarly work and community impact. As this field evolves, librarians can take several steps to engage with and advance public scholarship:

Develop partnerships with community organizations to identify research needs and opportunities.
Collaborate with faculty to make their research more accessible and impactful beyond academia.
Explore new digital tools and platforms for disseminating scholarly work to broader audiences.
Advocate for open access policies that balance public good with ethical considerations.
Enhance information literacy programs to include public engagement skills for researchers and students.

By embracing public scholarship, academic librarians can play a pivotal role in making higher education more relevant, accountable, and beneficial to society at large.

Notes

[1] AAC&U. “,” Accessed August 28, 2024.

[2] Eaton, Lance. “.” Educause, 2021.

[3] Northestern University. “.” The Ethics Institute, 2024.

[4] University of California Davis. “.” Office of Public Scholarship and Engagement, 2024.

[5] University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “.” University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Office of Public Engagement, 2024.

[6] Donlin, Michelle H. “.” Public Services Quarterly 17, no. 3 (July 3, 2021): 188–94.