I’ve recently had several conversations on libraries, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and soft power. A few discussions turned to focus on reporting and impact, including mapping activities around the SDGs. In particular, these looked at applying the SDGs as a framework to outputs or outcomes after they have occurred. There’s nothing inherently wrong with…
Author: Emilia C. Bell
Why I’m standing for the ALIA Board in 2024.
ALIA Board Elections 2024 I’m standing for election to the ALIA Board of Directors. I hadn’t initially thought I’d nominate in 2024. I am, however, thankful to the two incredible library leaders who reached out and asked about my ALIA Board intentions for this year. Thank you. There’s only so much space for candidates to…
Creative inquiry in EBP: “It’s not just …”
I recently came across a blog post on Why Bother With Creative Research Methods? by Dr Helen Kara. I’ve previously stepped into creative practice-based research methods in a case study on experiences in a regional university library makerspace using visual elicitation. While my work in library evidence-based practice doesn’t always involve research methodologies in the strictest…
Finding purpose & potential in library impact assessment
I’ve been grappling with value and impact in library evidence based practice over the last few years. It’s often been a source of dissonance (though one I keep returning to). It’s not that we lack frameworks, standards, and scholarship on library value and impact to refer to. For me, the problem lies in how we…
2023: A year of embracing the co- in co-lead
I’m not sure how to describe 2023. In January, I’d already started thinking that this might not be my year. Having lost a family member and then a pet shortly after, the year began with being asked to do a eulogy and a series of emergency vet trips. There were plenty of successes alongside the…