KU Libraries faculty members selected for Institute for Research Design in Librarianship


LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Libraries are pleased to announce that Rebecca Orozco, faculty engagement librarian for the sciences and engineering, and Angela Rathmel, head of Acquisitions and Research Sharing, were selected for the Institute for Research Design in Librarianship (IRDL), which began in June 2018. 

The mission of IRDL is to mentor and provide additional training or support to academic and research librarians who are motivated and enthusiastic about conducting research. This year, 22 applicants were chosen to participate in the institute’s annual workshop. Orozco and Rathmel were the first KU Libraries faculty to be selected. 

“The cohort consisted of individuals from across the country and diverse academic backgrounds, which enriched the learning process and discussions of research techniques,” Orozco said. “By sharing new tools that were learned at the institute, we can bring new skills to the table to enhance collaboration with colleagues.” 

Orozco and Rathmel received full scholarships to attend the eight-day workshop at the Loyola Marymount University, where participants trained in survey design, interviewing techniques and other integral research methods. Participants received expert instruction on research design and one-on-one assistance to refine their research projects. Orozco’s project utilizes in-depth interviewing to capture the experiences of STEM librarians of color, while Rathmel’s project leverages inductive and deductive document analysis to identify shared practices of the library reference interview framework across public and technical service encounters.

“This project is one that I began more than 10 years ago,” Rathmel said. “This institute gave me the right combination of time and resources to fully think through research design and realize how I can accomplish this project and future projects.”  

Orozco and Rathmel will receive support from IRDL for their projects over the next year, including partnering with a mentor who shares a similar area of focus. 

Wed, 08/01/2018

author

Leah Hallstrom

Media Contacts

Leah Hallstrom

KU Libraries