Editorial

564

Over the past six months, C&RL editorial board members have joined oth-
ers in a series of programs designed to consider the future of research as a 
component of the work we do together as members of the Association of 
College & Research Libraries. In addition to inviting our readers to reflect 
on the enduring value of “landmark” studies from the journal’s history 
in our 75th anniversary issue published in March, we have hosted discussions at the 
ACRL Conference in Portland and through the C&RL online forum series. Participants 
in these discussions have raised a number of critical questions relevant to the future 
of both ACRL research programs and ACRL publication programs, some of which 
complement questions raised in this column over the past year, including the need 
for a platform publication for academic libraries and the need to support a greater 
diversity in the research studies published in this journal. 

Other questions raised in these discussions have related to the Association’s role in 
promoting the development of research skills among our members, and how ACRL 
might provide leadership at the national level for developing a continuing professional 
education program in research skills and evidence-based librarianship that takes a 
lifelong learning approach to this perennial concern. Some of those participating in 
these discussions through Twitter (#acrlresearchfutures) suggested that we should 
develop a “Research Immersion” program similar to those developed for other As-
sociation initiatives, including information literacy and scholarly communications. 
Others have noted the need to bring these opportunities to a broad audience through 
partnerships with ACRL Chapters and/or ACRL member libraries. Finally, some have 
noted the example of successful programs that might be sustained or scaled up through 
a strategic partnership with ACRL, e.g., the Institute for Research Design in Librarian-
ship (http://irdlonline.org). IRDL is an IMLS-funded program bringing together the 
expertise housed in an LIS program (San Jose State University), a library consortium 
(SCELC, The Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium), an innovative 
academic library (Loyola Marymount University’s William H. Hannon Library), and 
practicing librarians from across the U.S. and Canada serving as an advisory board. 
In the interest of full disclosure, I should note both that I am currently serving on the 
IRDL Advisory Board and that the need for a program like IRDL was suggested by 
the work that its founders published in this journal in 2012.1 

But any program promoting research skills for academic librarians must also con-
sider writing skills. Years ago, the now-defunct ACRL Research Program Committee 
piloted a “Research Writers Program” that offered one-on-one mentoring for new and 
experienced writers at ALA and ACRL conferences (including the National Conference 
in Philadelphia in 2011). Last month, I had the honor of taking part in the inaugural 
About Campus Writers Retreat, a program sponsored by that journal and the American 
College Personnel Association (ACPA) to provide similar (if more intensive) mentoring 
for new and experienced writers with an interest in writing for a broad-based higher 
education audience. Of the doctoral students, practicing student affairs professionals, 
and faculty members in Higher Education Administration who made up that cohort, 
I was the only librarian. 

More information about the About Campus Writers Retreat is available at (http://
www.myacpa.org/article/announcing-inaugural-about-campus-writers-retreat-cohort) 

Research and Writing

doi:10.5860/crl.76.5.564



and I encourage C&RL readers to look for future calls for participation. Writing for a 
journal like About Campus is not the same as writing for College & Research Libraries, 
but the interest in this program (like the interest in the programs sponsored by the 
Research Program Committee) demonstrate the value of thinking about continuing 
professional education in writing alongside continuing professional education in re-
search skills. Certainly, C&RL peer reviewers and editorial board members consider 
the strength of both the research design and the writing style in considering which 
essays to publish in this journal.

As we conclude our celebration of the 75th anniversary of ACRL and College & Re-
search Libraries, and as we welcome C&RL’s new editor-designate, Wendi Arant Kaspar, 
to the editorial board this month, I hope we will continue to think creatively about how 
the Association and its journals promote the continuing professional development of 
our members as both researchers and writers.

Scott Walter
DePaul University

Notes

 1. Marie R. Kennedy and Kristine R. Brancolini, “Academic Librarian Research: A Survey of 
Attitudes, Involvement, and Perceived Capabilities,” College & Research Libraries 73 (2012): 431-
448, accessed June 16, 2015, doi: 10.5860/crl-276