Following LeadsUsing Faculty Focus groups to Spark Creativity and Enhance Collaboration

Michael Stoepel, AUPJosiah Drewry, AUC

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Research objectivesO Starting point at AUP: ongoing discussion on

re-prioritizing activities (re-organization process)

O Starting point at AUC: awareness that faculty are at the center of everything

O Belief that today’s faculty context, priorities, and practices have changed with regard to research and teaching

O Idea of comparing faculty at AUC and AUP with regard to research and teaching

O Use of feedback for further research, dialog with faculty

Why focus groups?

O Exploring the subject/research

interest; deep discussions instead of

easy answers

O Strengthening relationships

O Unifying visions

O Building surveys based on outcomes

Gathering DataO AUC: 5 focus groups with 25 faculty

members from 7 disciplines (Fall 2012 and Spring 2013)

O AUP: 3 focus groups with 14 faculty members from 10 disciplines (Spring 2012)

O Recorded via iPad and then transcribed

Research questions O Our questions were almost identicalO Core questions about research, e.g., “When

doing research, what makes you decide to use the library instead of something else?”

O Teaching needs, e.g., “What do you expect from your students with regard to research/use of the library?”

O Collaboration with librarians, e.g., “How well do we make you aware of collections in your field?”

O Other questions about services, library space, and improving the collections

Findings across groups: AUC and AUP

O Each institution has its own cultureO Faculty profiles, priorities, specifics of

disciplineO Many faculty do research outsideO On the other hand, many others were

surprisingly aware of what we hadO Best practices, problems, and needs

Findings at AUC: faculty research

O Requests for faculty-only space in the library.

O More access for off-campus collaboratorsO Journal impact factorsO Confusion about e-books and databasesO “Oh, I didn’t know you did that!”O Sometimes faculty would teach each otherO They want us to take on some of their

roles

Findings at AUC: student success

O Many requests for instruction, including a standardized set of research modules

O Many didn’t realize they could ask for instruction.

O Textbooks about the Middle East—only some chapters or cases

O Different approaches to teaching research practices (lots of room for collaboration)

O Desire for us to train their research assistants

Liaison work at AUP O “Librarian has to show enthusiasm”

(Computer Science Professor)O “Liaison has to fit” (Classics Professor)O “Librarians need time to dedicate for liaison

work” (Classics Professor)O “I think that you [librarians] have to come

into the class room.” (Political Science Professor)

O “Collaboration should not be an Band-Aid but should sustain.” (Global Communication Professor)

Following leads: AUCO Ordered materials they mentioned. O In some cases, one-on-one sessions

and guidance (e-books, for example)O We are currently building modules that

should work across the disciplines.O Reached out to some research

assistantsO Support for things the library has been

considering, like faculty space in the library

O Most important: strengthened relationships

Following leads: AUPO Outreach, communication, and teaching

O Prepared faculty survey (AUP)O New contactsO Extra one-shot classesO Sign up for research networks (ResearchGate)

O AUP Library New Webpage O Adding faculty tab, offered services (instruction menu)

O Orientation O Higher awareness for new incoming professors

O Collection development O Adding an extra librarian in weeding process

O Change of librarian’s attitude O Being active (new contacts, follow-up emails) O More time devoted to liaison work O Importance of assessment - show your value in outcomes

O More ideas: tea party, thesis seminar, knowledge portal

Barriers to ChangeO Budget is always an issueO There were some suggestions that are

out of our hands, but communication solves some problems

O The library’s mission evolves slowly. O Time, other priorities, politicsO Active communication is hard to keep

upO Staffing issues, turnover

Three things we took away

Active, Informed, Strategy

Faculty-library liaison crucial for libraries to show their value

Questions?Your experiences?

Thank youJosiah Mark Drewry

User Experience LibrarianThe American University in Cairo

jdrewry@aucegypt.edu

Michael Stoepel User Services Librarian

The American University of Parismstoepel@aup.edu

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