School Librarians' Involvement in Research:

An Analysis of IASL Research Papers, 2013-2023

Abstract

This study investigates the professional profiles and geographical origins of authors who presented research papers at IASL conferences from 2013 and 2023. It focuses on the involvement of practicing school librarians in conducting research and their participation in research forums at these conferences. Employing a quantitative approach, the study applies content analysis on a sample of 215 research papers drawn from 10 IASL conference proceedings (2013–2023). The findings reveal that the majority of research papers are authored by university faculty, with only a small proportion authored or co-authored by practicing school librarians. The United States stands out as the country with the highest number of research paper authors. Additionally, the study highlights the significant presence of collaborative authorship in school librarianship research, with half of the papers being co-authored. The authors emphasize the need for further investigation into strategies to encourage and support school librarians in engaging with empirical research, fostering their active contribution to the field.