A Bridge Too Far? Stepping Stones for Evidence Based Practice in an Academic Context

Abstract

Entering its second decade, evidence based library and information practice (EBLIP), the now-preferred term for evidence based librarianship, can count some notable successes. In particular, the initiation and growth of an international open access journal, the ongoing development of an International Conference series, and a proliferation of articles on the stages of the evidence based process attest to its ongoing progress. Of particular note is the increasing engagement within the academic library community now manifest in a variety of case studies. Reviewing the most recent five years of EBLIP development, since a landmark review that chronicled the first five years, the author draws on his close association with the EBLIP movement to assess the progress made. The wider backdrop of evidence based practice has contributed a wider recognition of the types of evidence that support evidence based decision-making. Much technical progress has been made in identification and retrieval of the evidence and its subsequent quality assessment. A significant number of studies document implementation in a local context. Notwithstanding such progress, however, the distance to be travelled is still significant. Challenges remaining within an academic library context include the perennials of lack of time, shortage of skills and the need for a supportive culture and infrastructure. Nevertheless recent developments open up the prospect of drawing on the emerging evidence based practice toolkit to target such problems with tailored and appropriate responses.

Keywords:

• academic libraries
• evidence based practice
• evidence based library and information practice
• performance measurement

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges anonymous reviewer comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript which have shaped and significantly enhanced this final version.