The experience of evidence-based practice in an Australian public library: an ethnography
Gillespie, Ann, Partridge, Helen, Bruce, Christine, and Howlett, Alisa (2016) The experience of evidence-based practice in an Australian public library: an ethnography. Information Research, 21 (4). 730.
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Abstract
Introduction. This paper presents the findings from a project that investigated the lived experiences of library and information professionals in relation to evidence-based practice (EBP) within an Australian public library.
Method. The project employed ethnography, which allows holistic description of people's experiences within a particular community or cultural setting. A member of the research team visited a public library regularly over a six month period. Data collection comprised interviews, observation and document analysis. A field journal was also maintained where daily activities and interactions were recorded.
Analysis. Ethnography involves many levels of iterative analysis. Data extracts were identified, grouped and further refined whilst maintaining the context of the whole experience of the culture.
Results. Evidence-based practice is experienced in the library through four interconnected and interdependent cultural orientations: (i) culture of valuing; (ii) culture of being; (iii) culture of learning; and (iv) culture of leading. These orientations represent not only how evidence-based practice is experienced in the library but also how it has been enabled.
Conclusions. Context or environment is significant in terms of library and information service professionals’ understanding of evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice can be beneficial to all such professionals, as it builds professional knowledge and deeper understandings of practice at all levels of professional experience.
| Item ID: | 55407 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 1368-1613 |
| Keywords: | evidence based practice; qualitative research; lived experience; ethnography; evidence based library and information practice; |
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| Copyright Information: | Copyright 2016 The authors. (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) |
| Funders: | Australian Research Council (ARC) |
| Projects and Grants: | ARC DP130102710 |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Sep 2018 00:22 |
| FoR Codes: | 46 INFORMATION AND COMPUTING SCIENCES > 4610 Library and information studies > 461099 Library and information studies not elsewhere classified @ 50% 46 INFORMATION AND COMPUTING SCIENCES > 4610 Library and information studies > 461006 Library studies @ 50% |
| SEO Codes: | 89 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES > 8903 Information Services > 890302 Library and Archival Services @ 50% 93 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 9305 Education and Training Systems > 930599 Education and Training Systems not elsewhere classified @ 50% |
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