Visualizing academic librarians: an arts-informed inquiry

The primary question investigated was ‘How do Deakin University academic staff perceive the role of liaison librarians?’ This investigation was conducted to collect and analyze data to better understand how academics at Deakin University perceive the role of librarians, regardless of whether they are faculty liaison or service desk based, and to help inform how liaison librarians at Deakin University undertake their role. Focus groups were formed by inviting academics and selected library staff to participate in an activity, during which they created an artifact – a visual representation of the role of a liaison librarian using mixed media, including drawing and collage. During an unstructured interview section, participants gave an oral explanation of their work in order to make meaning of their creative representation. This was recorded, and de-identified, for data analysis.

本研究的核心探究问题为：「迪肯大学学术人员如何看待联络馆员（liaison librarians）的职责？」本次研究通过收集与分析数据，旨在更全面地理解迪肯大学学术人员对各类图书馆员职责的认知——无论这些图书馆员是院系联络馆员还是服务台支持人员，并为迪肯大学联络馆员优化履职方式提供决策参考。研究邀请学术人员与遴选后的图书馆馆员组成焦点小组（focus groups），参与一项创作活动：参与者以绘画、拼贴等混合媒介制作一件可视化作品，用以呈现联络馆员的职责范畴。在后续的非结构化访谈（unstructured interview）环节中，参与者针对其创作的可视化作品进行口头阐释，以阐明作品的创作内涵。所有访谈录音均经去标识化（de-identified）处理后，用于后续数据分析工作。