Abstract
A journal club is one means for those in similar professions or practices to read, discuss, and keep up with professional literature with colleagues. Journal clubs are most frequently associated with the medical professions; however, many professionals, including librarians, can benefit from the reading of research and the subsequent discussions and camaraderie that a journal club can elicit. This article describes the launch of a statewide virtual journal club for librarians in Pennsylvania. Now in its third series, the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) College & Research Division (CRD) journal club has given those who’ve participated the opportunity to designate time for professional reading, reflect on personal practice, discuss and exchange theoretical and practical ideas, and connect with librarians across the state.
Highlights
While these benefits are important, it is important to note that library journal club participants value connecting with colleagues to discuss issues in the field (Fitzgibbons, Kloda, & MillerNesbit, 2017a; Pearce‐Smith, 2006; Sortedahl, Wical, & Benike, 2018; Webber et al, 2017; Young & Vilelle, 2011)
The board members agreed that a virtual journal club was worth considering as the benefits of participation, namely spending more time on professional reading, reflecting on our own practice, and connecting with other librarians, were professional outcomes we universally valued and assumed our statewide colleagues did as well
After an initial marketing email distributed to College & Research Division (CRD) members and advertised on Facebook and CRD’s blog, 33 librarians registered for the virtual journal club summer pilot series
Summary
A journal club is one means for those in similar professions or practices to read, discuss, and keep up with professional literature with colleagues. Journal clubs are most frequently associated with the medical professions; many professionals, including librarians, can benefit from the reading of research and the subsequent discussions and camaraderie that a journal club can elicit. This article describes the launch of a statewide virtual journal club for librarians in Pennsylvania. In its third series, the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) College & Research Division (CRD) journal club has given those who’ve participated the opportunity to designate time for professional reading, reflect on personal practice, discuss and exchange theoretical and practical ideas, and connect with librarians across the state
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