Collaborative research services: a peer-led cohort approach
ISSN: 0090-7324
Article publication date: 13 January 2023
Issue publication date: 9 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Prior to 2020, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Library's research services spanned multiple service points. Multiple locations were staffed by Library Student Research Assistants (LSRAs) and each location was supervised independently. While efforts to increase collaboration had been underway, much of the work and services remained siloed and often duplicated training and service hours.
Design/methodology/approach
With the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), UCLA Library rapidly transitioned from entirely in-person to entirely online services. With multiple service points pivoting, UCLA was redundant to have multiple online desks providing Zoom appointments and that quickly became apparent. Moreover, transitioning in-person student work to remote work was paramount to providing both normal services to users and allowing LSRAs to keep jobs during a time of uncertainty and insecurity.
Findings
While the authors' original consolidation of services and implementation of shared supervision was a result of the pandemic and primarily involved online services, the authors have maintained this shared approach and collaborative vision in returning to in-person services. For the past year, the authors have offered shared in-person (at two library locations) and online services. As subject-specific library locations begin to reopen their desks, the authors continue to identify ways to leverage shared supervision and a robust referral model for those on-site services while negotiating student staffing and the need for both general and subject-specific services.
Originality/value
The authors present a novel approach to peer-to-peer teaching and learning and research services and shared student worker supervision with services coordinated across multiple locations and disciplines within a large academic library serving a large student population.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all of the past and present LSRAs who make this work possible daily and who have worked with them throughout these changes as well as all of the past and present supervisors of LSRAs who have provided leadership and vision to advance this model of services.
Citation
Johnson, M.W., Bowline, E., King, D.L., Osuna-Garcia, A., Page, S., Tadesse, A., Tarmey, M. and Vest, M. (2023), "Collaborative research services: a peer-led cohort approach", Reference Services Review, Vol. 51 No. 2, pp. 123-133. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-09-2022-0049
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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