Calvert, 'RESEARCH IN LIS IN NEW ZEALAND ', LIBRES v5n03-4 URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/libres/libres-v5n03-4-calvert-research LIBRES: Library and Information Science Research Electronic Journal ISSN 1058-6768 1995 Volume 5 Issue 3-4; December 31. Quarterly LIBRE5N3 CALVERT ________________________________________________ RESEARCH IN LIS IN NEW ZEALAND Philip J. Calvert and Rowena J. Cullen. There are two main centres of library and information science (LIS) research in New Zealand, the Department of Library and Information Studies, at Victoria University of Wellington, and the National Library of New Zealand (NLNZ). They each have a different purpose, but each in its way contributes to a growing body of New Zealand LIS research which is available to inform managers and policy makers locally, and which is finding a wider audience in the international literature. This brief overview of LIS research in New Zealand discusses early difficulties in developing a research base in New Zealand, recent and current projects in both institutions, and some of the unique features of New Zealand research. The Department of Library and Information Studies at Victoria University From 1946 onwards a professional postgraduate qualification for librarians, the DipNZLS was offered by the New Zealand Library School, administered by the National Library Service, later to become part of the National Library of New Zealand, founded in 1966. In 1980 the qualification was transferred to the newly established Department of Librarianship at Victoria University of Wellington partly in order to foster the development of a research base for professional LIS education in New Zealand. (The department became the Department of Library and Information Studies in 1992.) From its inception the department offered a research-based MA in Librarianship as well as the postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship which it had taken over as the standard professional graduate qualification for LIS in New Zealand. It is not that there had been no previous research in New Zealand; the Munn-Barr report [1] and the two McEldowney reports of 1973 and 1983 [2, 3] had attempted to canvass libraries concerning their collection strengths and the views of their managers and added considerably to knowledge of professional practice in New Zealand. Senior members of the profession were known authors and contributors to the international literature, and some continue to publish. But it would be true to say that the appointment of Professor Roderick Cave to the foundation chair of Librarianship in a New Zealand university was made with the purpose of awakening New Zealand librarians, both in training and in the profession at large, to the possibility that their own environment was a suitable field of research and study. In its early years, as well as encouraging staff to engage in their own research, the department fostered joint projects with some more able students, and founded the series of Occasional Papers in Bibliography and Librarianship, still published today, in order to provide a vehicle for the publication of serious research in New Zealand. The MA programme slowly prospered, and for many years now there have been approximately a dozen students enrolled for the MA at any one time. Many of their theses have resulted in publications in the serious international literature and most result in at least one article in 'New Zealand Libraries', the official journal of the New Zealand Library Association (now the New Zealand Library and Information Association.) A review of the department by Emeritus Professor Wilf Saunders in 1987 [4] which pointed out the continuing lack of relevant research by members of the department might be regarded as a setback. The comment was taken to heart, but in a small community it proved to be an uphill battle to bring the profession around to the view that there was value to themselves in New Zealand based research and that staff wishing to undertake research should be encouraged and supported. A further study conducted by Professor Rod Cave in 1989, published in the Department's series of Occasional Papers as number 17 (the growing series in itself a mark of the increase of scholarship and publication by staff and students) reported a number of applied and policy based research projects being undertaken in a number of New Zealand libraries (mainly user studies, and evaluation/need analyses in preparation for automation). Most of this, however, remained unpublished and unavailable to a wider audience than the institution for which it was carried out. Professor Cave still found a lack of support for research focusing on the practices and needs of New Zealand libraries and librarians, and commented that: "The younger generation of professionals is not being encouraged sufficiently to embark on programmes of further study [involving research] as their contemporaries in Britain and Australia are." [5] He concluded that what was needed was more encouragement and funding from libraries in their own practices, greater recognition of a research track record in library recruitment and promotion procedures, joint research programmes between the profession and the teaching faculty, more effective means of dissemination of research results, and the inclusion of teaching programmes on research skills in the graduate programme and the non-graduate course taught at the Wellington College of Education. A subsequent review of the department, the Barron report [6] continued to stress the need for the development of a strong research base for the department, and an increase in scholarly productivity as essential to the Department's international recognition. Some of these observations might be regarded as a little harsh when we stop to look at advances that were being made in increasing research output in the department and in encouraging a research mentality in the profession. From 1992 the Diploma programme in the department has included a course on research methods, and with the introduction of the MLIS programme in 1996, a substantial research project will be required of all students. Members of the department played a leading role in the creation of the Research Special Interest Group (Research SIG) of the NZLIA; this SIG has several objectives: * to create a pool of research animators * to stimulate the publication of research * to create a climate in which research flourishes * to identify a research agenda for New Zealand * to promote co-operation in research [7] The Research SIG often conducts sessions at the national conference of the NZLIA. At these sessions members are invited to present research findings, and discuss methodologies. Workshops on cross cultural research have also been held; this is an issue of critical importance in New Zealand in view of the official standing of the Treaty of Waitangi as a statement of partnership between the New Zealand government and the indigenous Maori people, and the library profession's strong adherence to bicultural policies. From the early nineteen nineties there was a steady increase in research as additional staff positions were added to the department and appointments made of faculty with an existing research record and an ability to embark on further research programmes. Several major projects were brought to successful completion. Philip Calvert and Rowena Cullen conducted two studies of library effectiveness and performance measurement, in public libraries and academic libraries in New Zealand which have been published so far in 'Library and Information Science Research', the 'Journal of Academic Librarianship' and other sources [8, 9, 10, 11]. Both these studies were modelled on the methodology of the Public Libraries Effectiveness Study of Thomas Childers and Nancy Van House. This methodology, as applied to the New Zealand context, explored the concepts of effectiveness held by various stakeholder groups; in public libraries this consisted of the users, funders and staff; in academic libraries a more extensive group comprising academics, undergraduate, and graduate students, funders and staff were polled. In the second part of each study assessments of actual performance by library staff were used to ascertain the broader dimensions of library effectiveness in each of the kinds of library studied. A comparison of the dimensions derived from the New Zealand Public Libraries Effectiveness Study and the New Zealand University Libraries Effectiveness Study shows a certain commonality of the dimensions of effectiveness in both types of libraries. (The final report of the New Zealand University Libraries Effectiveness Study, drawing attention to some of these common factors, is at present under review for publication.) The authors intend to carry out a further analysis of the impact of these studies on the question of library effectiveness and the appropriate use of performance measures in the next year, comparing their findings with some recently developed sets of measures in the UK and the USA. One of the more encouraging features of this research is the interest taken in it by senior members of the profession. A working party of public library managers has been attempting to implement library performance measures developed through this research and will contribute in this way to the furtherance of the work. Rowena Cullen works also in the field of health information. She is currently engaged in a study of the information sources used by family practitioners to support clinical decision-making, and the characteristics of the information seeking behaviour of this group. The study is a triangulated qualitative investigation by means of extensive interviews with a wide range of practitioners in the Wellington area. The data is being analysed using techniques of grounded theory and some simple correlation analysis. The project has received extensive co-operation from the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, which expects to use some of the findings to help them develop their programmes of Continuing Medical Education. Findings are also expected to provide information to medical libraries wishing to offer information services to this client group. Distinguished US author and researcher Peter Hernon is currently part way through a one year appointment as Visiting Professor in the Department of Library and Information Studies. He brings his extensive research experience to the post, and a desire to further develop LIS research in New Zealand. Peter has commenced two research projects with his colleague Philip Calvert. The first is an extension of research into Service Quality begun in the United States with Ellen Altman, in which the intention is to refine the instrument so far developed by Hernon and Altman, then produce an instrument that New Zealand university libraries can use to measure service quality. The second project will examine the implications of intellectual fraud on the academic community by hypothesising a case in which deliberate falsification is made (i) in the printed medium (a scholarly journal) and (ii) on the Internet. Jim Traue, former Librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library and now Teaching Fellow in the Department, has a long-standing interest in libraries as social and cultural institutions and has published considerably on related topics in the past. He is currently working on a history of libraries in New Zealand. This endeavour is supported by a grant from the Arts Council of New Zealand/Creative New Zealand. One article based on this research has already been published as "Once Upon a Time in New Zealand: Library Aspirations and Colonial reality in the early years of New Zealand settlement [12]. A second article "Legislating for unfree public libraries: the paradox of New Zealand library legislation 1869-1877" is expected to be published shortly. Jim has also been working on a book-length study of the theory and principles of book and manuscript exhibitions, but lack of funding has held this up. In the meantime his experience in the background scholarship and preparation of exhibitions has been shown in three well-researched exhibitions at the National Library of New Zealand: The Czech Book Beautiful: Creating Ikons for a New Nation (1992) That Serpent Milton: A Radical View of John Milton from the Collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library (1994) Behind the Printed Page: An Exhibition of Writers' Papers from the Collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library (1996) Alastair Smith made a local reputation, and contributed to several international publications with his work on expert systems and with his own system NZRef which continues to attract attention from those who are interested in this field. Alastair has moved on to the Internet for his current research. His current projects are concerned with Maori electronic information sources, mainly on the Net, and methods of evaluating Internet information resources. The National Library of New Zealand The National Library has a Research Unit within its organisational structure. The role of the Research Unit is threefold: to undertake social science research to support the National Library's policy work; to undertake evaluation research for the programmes and services in support of the Library's strategic directions; to contribute to the body of research-based knowledge in library and information science, both within New Zealand and overseas, through the publication and presentation of research reports for communities of interest. It is the first of those roles (support of policy work) which sets this Unit aside from academic research groups, because it will frequently be assigned research in accordance with the National Library's overall policy directions, which in turn is often dependent upon government direction as set by the politicians. As an example, if government decrees that it will support business, then the National Library will embark on policy formulation for the support of business information. The current research programme includes an evaluation of the Focus Programme component of the School Library Development Programme for year two. (The Focus Programme involves National Library advisers working intensively with schools to develop their school library). A second programme is an investigation into public access to government information in an age of increasing electronic transfer of information, with particular reference to the Depository Library Scheme. The Unit is also conducting research for the National Library's programme of client satisfaction surveys. Sometimes the Unit conducts research purely for the benefit of the organisation itself, and an example is the current qualitative study of strategic management in National Libraries. Previous studies conducted by the NLNZ's Research Unit have led to significant publications. One such study surveyed the levels of inputs and services offered by public libraries (which are all operated by local government) in 1994 and where possible compared the data obtained with corresponding data from a similar study conducted in 1991. The study found that between 1991 and 1994 services offered by local authority libraries had generally increased. New services were offered by two thirds of the libraries and new client groups were being served by one third [13]. The Unit has recently conducted a large project into school libraries in New Zealand in which over 2,000 school principals, teachers, and public librarians were surveyed. The resulting report provided information on New Zealand school library resourcing and use to support learning and teaching; an indication of trends to support information skills and information technology developments; the contribution which the NLNZ's School Library Service makes to learning and teaching, and public libraries' support for the school related needs of students and teachers [14]. "Teachers with library responsibility/school library networks" refers to groups of teachers with library responsibility and library staff from neighbouring schools who meet regularly for ongoing support, training, information and resource sharing. Teachers and National Library advisers were surveyed by the Unit to assess the effectiveness of such networks. The final report described the objectives, operation and outcomes of the networks [15]. The report 'Finding Out: case studies of New Zealand managers and business information' [16] presented findings on the needs for, and uses of, published information by 27 managers in eight New Zealand companies involved in exporting or tourism. It also covered the use of information obtained from personal contacts. Other Research In 1991 the NZLIA and the NLNZ launched a joint project called the 'N Strategy'. It was basically a large-scale strategic planning exercise in which all members of the library profession were asked to identify major themes for the future. This was done by conducting a series of postal questionnaires, then codifying the results which were in turn analysed in workshops during NZLIA conferences. The outcome was a set of 11 'actions' to be pursued by the profession during the course of the N Strategy. LIS researchers realised that the N Strategy had done them a great favour. It had, by default, gone a long way toward identifying the essentials of a 'research agenda', and it was, just as satisfyingly, an agenda which was 'owned' by all members of the profession. Some of the actions have produced more research than others. The Resource Sharing action, for example, sought funds for a major project, 'Valuing the economic costs and benefits of libraries' which was launched at the NZLIA conference in 1995. The sponsorship raised has been used to pay a firm of consultants to work on the project in liaison with a team of librarians who are mostly from Christchurch. The methodology is designed in six phases; the first will identify library types and services, the second will include a literature search, the development of a questionnaire which will be designed to show what libraries do, what they attempt to achieve, and then define library costs, functions, processes and benefits based on the existing data. In the third phase a series of templates will be developed into which a sample of 25 libraries will input data. The next phase will collate results to that point, then further develop the templates for the input of case study library data. In the final two phases the data will be analysed and then written up in a single report. The stated intention is that the final report will be a recipe book for libraries and their funders to set-up their own processes for measuring the economic costs and benefits of libraries. Another joint project which spanned a number of libraries, groups and agencies was the research which led to the publication of 'Te Ara Tika" [17]. Funding for the project was raised from many different sources, including libraries and SIGs of the Association, and even some individual donors. The result was a largely descriptive work on the place of Maori in libraries. It was envisaged primarily as an issues report which would provide an overview of the current situation in New Zealand librarianship and some library services in relation to biculturalism. It quantified the extent of participation by Maori people in the library profession, their recruitment, training and qualifications. It attempted to ascertain the level of use of libraries by Maori clients, their needs, and the degree to which they are met, and the reasons for non-use. Finally, the report attempted to show the NZLIA how it could continue to evolve as a bicultural organisation. Although the first report was very welcome, it could not hope to deal with all the issues connected to Maori and libraries. Further research has to be done, especially on Maori information needs and library use. Te Ara Tika II has been a major activity in of the NZLIA in 1995 and will continue to be a major focus in 1996. The project has been entitled Te Ara Tika: Meeting Maori Information Needs. The project has received sponsorship from the Lottery Grants Board and the Trustees of the National Library. Further funding is being sought from NZLIA SIGs and regions. Since November 1994 the Te Ara Tika Management Committee has been meeting every 6 weeks to map out the project. Most of the time so far has concentrated on the funding issue and developing a research methodology. In late 1995 a Research Co-ordinator's position was advertised. The person appointed to this position will implement the research methodology and co-ordinate and facilitate hui in the regions. It is envisaged that the co-ordinator will be assisted by voluntary labour. Te Ara Tika II will be a major focus at the NZLIA Conference in Queenstown in Sept/Oct 1996. Conclusion It is clear that in the 1960s and 1970s LIS research in New Zealand had been left a long way behind North America, Western Europe and Australia, so by the time Roderick Cave was appointed Professor at Victoria University in 1979 the situation was bleak. His attempts to lift the status of research have slowly and steadily started to bear fruit. Some high profile projects have caught the imagination of ordinary members of the profession. A Research SIG provides a meeting point for interested people and holds regular sessions at NZLIA conferences. Perhaps the most significant development for the future is the recent addition of Research methods and Research project to the curriculum of the Master of Library and Information Studies at Victoria University which will result in many tyro-researchers entering the profession. New Zealand's LIS researchers should read the report of a symposium of four LIS researchers from the United States of America and one from New Zealand (Alastair Smith). Whereas the Americans are looking back to a 'golden age' of research, it is clear that New Zealand's time in the sunlit uplands is yet to come [18] and they can look forward to a steady increase in LIS research productivity and a higher standing for research among the profession. References: 1. Munn, Ralph and John Barr. New Zealand libraries : a survey of conditions and suggestions for their improvement. Christchurch, N.Z. : Library Association of New Zealand, 1934. 2. McEldowney, W. J. New Zealand university library resources: report of a survey carried out in 1972 for the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee. Wellington: New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee, 1973. 3. McEldowney, W. J. New Zealand university library resources 1982 : report of a survey carried out for the Committee of New Zealand University Librarians . [Dunedin] : The Committee, 1983. 4. Saunders, W. L. An evaluation of education for librarianship in New Zealand : a report to the Joint Advisory Committee on Librarianship. Wellington: Published for the Joint Advisory Committee by the Dept. of Librarianship, Victoria University of Wellington, 1887. 5. Cave, Roderick. Research in Library and Information Work in New Zealand: report of an enquiry. Wellington, Department of Library and Information Studies, 1991. (Occasional Papers in Bibliography and Librarianship, 17). pp. 27-29. 6. Barron, Daniel. Library and Information Studies Education for the People of New Zealand: Baskets, Bridges, Gardens. A report to the Department of Library and Information Studies, Victoria University of Wellington. Wellington, Department of Library and Information Studies, 1994. (Occasional Papers in Bibliography and Librarianship, 26). p.28. 7. Mythbusters: the Newsletter of the NZLIA Research SIG. Number 1 December 1992. 8. Cullen, Rowena J. and Philip J. Calvert. "Further Dimensions of Public Library Effectiveness: Report on a Parallel New Zealand Study" Library and Information Science Research 15(2) Spring 1993: 143-164. 9. Calvert, Philip J and Rowena J Cullen. "Further Dimensions of Public Library Effectiveness II: the Second Stage of the New Zealand Study". Library and Information Science Research 16(2) Spring 1994: 87-104. 10. Cullen, Rowena and Philip Calvert. "Public Library Effectiveness: a New Zealand Study". Department of Library and Information Studies. Occasional Papers in Bibliography and Librarianship: no 22. 11. Calvert, Philip and Rowena Cullen. "Stakeholder Perceptions of Academic Library Effectiveness" Journal of Academic Libraries 21(6) 1995. 12. Traue, J. E. "Once Upon a Time in New Zealand: Library Aspirations and Colonial Reality in the Early Years of New Zealand Settlement, or, 'The Tone and Character to Civilization' " Stout Centre Review 3 (March 1993), 3-8. 13. Chalmers, Anna; Lynch Jo and Slyfield, Helen. "Changes in Public Libraries: New Zealand Territorial Authority Library Services 1991-1994". Wellington: National Library, 1995. 14. Chalmers, Anna: and Slyfield, Helen. "Contributions to learning: libraries and New Zealand schools. The report of the National Library's research project, "Libraries, learning and teaching in New Zealand schools". Wellington: National Library, 1993. 15. Slyfield, Helen. "Evaluation of Teacher with Library Responsibility/School Library Networks". Wellington: National Library, 1995. 16. Chalmers, Anna. "Finding Out: Case Studies of New Zealand Managers and Business Information" Wellington: National Library, 1994. 17. MacDonald, Tui. "Te Ara Tika: Maori and Libraries: A Research report". Wellington: New Zealand Library and information Association: Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, 1993. 18. Hernon, Peter. "Editorial: Serious Stuff to Ponder", Library and Information Science Research, 16 (4), Fall 1994. 271-277. Note: The two principal authors thank Anna Chalmers and Spencer Lilley for their contributions. ________________________________________ This document may be circulated freely with the following statement included in its entirety: Copyright Philip Calvert and Rowena Cullen 1995. This article was originally published in _LIBRES: Library and Information Science Electronic Journal_ (ISSN 1058-6768) December 31, 1995 Volume 5 Issue 3-4. For any commercial use, or publication (including electronic journals), you must obtain the permission of the authors: Philip Calvert, Dept. of Library and Information Studies Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand E-mail: philip.calvert@vuw.ac.nz and Rowena Cullen, Department of Library and Information Studies Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand Email: rowena.cullen@vuw.ac.nz To subscribe to LIBRES send e-mail message to listserv@kentvm.kent.edu with the text: subscribe libres _ ________________________________________