Embedded Librarianship in Research in Nigerian Universities: Practices and Sources of Practice Knowledge

Abstract

Academic librarians have begun to take the reference desk services outside their library premises to raise a new level of importance within and beyond their communities. Through embedded librarianship (EL), librarians move from a supporting role into partnership with their clientele, enabling librarians to develop stronger connections and relationship with those they serve. Academic librarians in Nigerian universities are given full faculty status and they have the responsibilities for teaching, research, and academic services, enabling a more natural climate for collaboration. EL in the research context is still an emerging model, the pathways to engagement and the criteria for success in Nigerian universities have not yet fully defined. Realizing this, the objective of this paper is to explore how academic librarians in Nigeria universities practice EL in research. This is a qualitative exploratory study, purposively sampled 12 academic librarians who are (a) embedded with schools or academic departments; and (b) directly involved in collaboration with faculties or partners in relation to research. Semi-structured interview was used for the data collection. Six themes that emerged from the embedding practices are (a) doing research and publishing papers; (b) being editor of a national journal/reviewing manuscripts of publication; (c) managing the life cycle of data; (d) disseminating research output; (e) providing scholarly publication service and bibliometrics analysis; and (f) conducting research method course. These embedded roles offer librarians means to increase their value in their organizations, their communities, and society as a whole. However, with regards to the sources of knowledge needed to foster learning and information sharing in EL, the librarians play an integral role as research partners because they have traditionally excelled in literature search, and very familiar with database content and its search language and features. This paper covers only the role of embedded librarians in research in three selected Nigerian Universities. Obviously, there is demand for further research to be conducted in other context. Further study need to be carried out on the relevance of EL to the library and stakeholders.