Current Research
My research centers around three distinct areas: Assessment of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in libraries and information organizations; The work and impact of academic liaison librarians; and the implementation of research methods into LIS. Below is more information on these distinct areas and information on projects I am currently engaged in.
Advancing Opportunities and Expanding Access to Professional Librarian Positions
The “Advancing Opportunities and Expanding Access to Professional Librarian Positions” is a collaborative project conducted with Dr. Vanessa Irvin (Associate Professor, East Carolina University) and Rodrigo Castro (Director of Public Services, Wake Forest University). The project aims to identify what factors, including elements of identity, determine whether candidates for professional librarian positions apply for positions and choose to accept job offers when received. The aim of this study will be to offer a holistic and comparative understanding of the job search and decision-making process for new and early career library professionals in school, public, and academic libraries. This project will help to surface potential barriers in the job search and decision making process for all candidates, including barriers that may impact those candidates who identify as BIPOC.
If you identify as a soon to be graduate of an MLS program, new graduate of an MLS program, or early career librarian (less than 3 years of experience) who has recently engaged in the process of searching for a professional librarian position, then we would like to invite you to participate in our study as either part of a focus group or an interview.
If you are interested in participating, you will be asked to first complete a screening questionnaire to indicate your interest in participating. If selected to participate in a focus group, you would be invited to join a 60-minute online session with up to seven other participants and given the opportunity to provide your thoughts and perceptions about your job searching experiences and decision-making process. You would be offered a $25 gift card for your participation. If selected to participate in an interview you would be asked to provide a copy of a job ad for a position that you recently considered applying to or chose to apply to and participate in a cognitive interview to describe what aspects of the job ad and position caught your attention and why you either chose to apply or chose not to apply for the position. You would also be asked to demonstrate your process for investigating the potential employer for the identified position. Interviews would last between 60 and 90 minutes and you would be offered a $50 gift card for your participation.
Participation in this study is completely voluntary. You can choose to complete the questionnaire to express your interest or not, and if selected for a focus group or interview, you may choose to stop participating and leave the study at any time. If you would like to participate in the study, please use this link to access the screening questionnaire: https://ecu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77JMSA1d1XNPvNA
If you have any questions about the study, please email us directly at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].
This study is funded by an ECU College of Education Diversity Research Grant.
If you identify as a soon to be graduate of an MLS program, new graduate of an MLS program, or early career librarian (less than 3 years of experience) who has recently engaged in the process of searching for a professional librarian position, then we would like to invite you to participate in our study as either part of a focus group or an interview.
If you are interested in participating, you will be asked to first complete a screening questionnaire to indicate your interest in participating. If selected to participate in a focus group, you would be invited to join a 60-minute online session with up to seven other participants and given the opportunity to provide your thoughts and perceptions about your job searching experiences and decision-making process. You would be offered a $25 gift card for your participation. If selected to participate in an interview you would be asked to provide a copy of a job ad for a position that you recently considered applying to or chose to apply to and participate in a cognitive interview to describe what aspects of the job ad and position caught your attention and why you either chose to apply or chose not to apply for the position. You would also be asked to demonstrate your process for investigating the potential employer for the identified position. Interviews would last between 60 and 90 minutes and you would be offered a $50 gift card for your participation.
Participation in this study is completely voluntary. You can choose to complete the questionnaire to express your interest or not, and if selected for a focus group or interview, you may choose to stop participating and leave the study at any time. If you would like to participate in the study, please use this link to access the screening questionnaire: https://ecu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77JMSA1d1XNPvNA
If you have any questions about the study, please email us directly at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].
This study is funded by an ECU College of Education Diversity Research Grant.
BIPOC Librarian Retention
Identifying Opportunities for Retention of BIPOC Librarians Using Survival Analysis is a joint research project between the University at Buffalo (Dr. Amy VanScoy, PI; Dr. Sunha Kim, Co-PI), East Carolina University (Dr. Kawanna Bright, Co-PI), and the University of South Carolina (Dr. Mónica Colón-Aguirre, Co-PI), funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Knowing when and why BIPOC librarians leave the profession will allow libraries, professional associations, and mentors to provide effective, targeted retention strategies to prevent the loss of BIPOC librarians from the profession. This research will allow for the creation of programs that can bring support to BIPOC librarians when it is needed, instead of putting the onus of requesting help on this group of professionals. The search team will use a statistical technique called survival analysis to determine when and why BIPOC librarians are likely to leave the profession. The analysis will be followed by interviews to contextualize the results and discussions with key stakeholders to identify potential directions for improving retention of BIPOC librarians in the profession. This research will allow for the creation of programs that can bring support to BIPOC librarians when it is needed, instead of putting the onus of requesting help on this group of professionals. Please visit the project website for more information: https://ubwp.buffalo.edu/retention/
DEIA Assessment
Most of my research on DEIA assessment centers around the development of an auditing tool designed to assist library and information organizations in the assessment of their DEIA efforts. Currently two versions of an initial audit have been developed and are being made available to any institution or organization interested in utilizing the instruments. As these instruments are still works in progress, they are considered to be living documents and are in perpetual draft form.
The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Self-Assessment Audit (DEISAA)
The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Self-Assessment Audit (DEISAA) is an assessment tool designed for use by libraries and information organizations (LIOs), particularly academic libraries, interested in understanding their organizational efforts in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The Audit asks LIOs to take an objective look at their efforts towards DEI and gauge how much effort they are currently putting into DEI. The Audit offers LIOs an opportunity to identify their current baseline for DEI endeavors and determine where they are putting their efforts (and not putting their efforts). LIOs can then utilize the Audit findings to identify the areas where they want to continue their efforts and places where they may want to begin or increase efforts. The first version (version 1) of the DEISAA was developed for a university library client, in collaboration with Nikhat Ghouse (Jehan Consulting), an organization development (OD) consultant, facilitator, and librarian.
Further background on the development of the initial Audit instrument can be found here: https://www.libraryassessment.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/64-Bright-Ghouse-TakingAIM.pdf
A version of the DEISAA for Systems called the DEIALS is also in the works! More information on this new development coming soon!
A draft of a DEIA Policy Review Rubric is also available for those interested.
The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Self-Assessment Audit (DEISAA) is an assessment tool designed for use by libraries and information organizations (LIOs), particularly academic libraries, interested in understanding their organizational efforts in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The Audit asks LIOs to take an objective look at their efforts towards DEI and gauge how much effort they are currently putting into DEI. The Audit offers LIOs an opportunity to identify their current baseline for DEI endeavors and determine where they are putting their efforts (and not putting their efforts). LIOs can then utilize the Audit findings to identify the areas where they want to continue their efforts and places where they may want to begin or increase efforts. The first version (version 1) of the DEISAA was developed for a university library client, in collaboration with Nikhat Ghouse (Jehan Consulting), an organization development (OD) consultant, facilitator, and librarian.
Further background on the development of the initial Audit instrument can be found here: https://www.libraryassessment.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/64-Bright-Ghouse-TakingAIM.pdf
- DEISAA, Version 1*: The original version of the Audit instrument. The link goes to the Qualtrics version of the instrument.
- DEISAA, Version 2*: A new version of the Audit instrument, taking into account findings of a pilot study to test the efficacy of the instrument for different types of academic libraries. The link goes to the Qualtrics version of the instrument.
- DEISAA, Version 3*: The most recent version of the Audit instrument with slightly updated descriptions for the ratings and some changes in questions. The link goes to the Qualtrics version of the instrument.
A version of the DEISAA for Systems called the DEIALS is also in the works! More information on this new development coming soon!
A draft of a DEIA Policy Review Rubric is also available for those interested.
Academic Liaison Librarians
As a former academic liaison librarian, I have been invested in better understanding the work and impact of those who take on these roles in academic institutions. My 2018 dissertation, Examining the Role of Liaison Librarians as Research Collaboration Partners: A Mixed-Methods Multiple-Case Study, took a detailed look at the backgrounds, work roles, and perceptions of liaison librarians in relation to their ability to serve as research collaborators.
Liaisons & the LIS Curriculum
Currently, I am working with Dr. Mónica Colón-Aguirre on a research study to investigate liaisons' views on the LIS curriculum and how well it prepared them for their liaison roles. The initial results of that study were shared as a paper presentation, "Prepare to Be Unprepared: LIS Curriculum and Academic Liaison Preparation" at the ACRL 2021 Virtual Conference. An article sharing results of the quantitative strand of the study was recently published in The Journal of Academic Librarianship, Volume 43, paper 102602, doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102602.
Liaisons & the LIS Curriculum
Currently, I am working with Dr. Mónica Colón-Aguirre on a research study to investigate liaisons' views on the LIS curriculum and how well it prepared them for their liaison roles. The initial results of that study were shared as a paper presentation, "Prepare to Be Unprepared: LIS Curriculum and Academic Liaison Preparation" at the ACRL 2021 Virtual Conference. An article sharing results of the quantitative strand of the study was recently published in The Journal of Academic Librarianship, Volume 43, paper 102602, doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102602.
Research Methodology
The integration of research methodology into LIS, specifically the teaching of research methodology in the LIS curriculum is a research topic directly related to both my work and my educational preparation. A decision to earn a PhD in research methods and statistics prepared me well to teach research methods, evaluate research methods with LIS, and integrate research methods into my own research studies. Currently, I am engaged in two projects within this area.
Teaching Research Methods
As part of an IFLA research project, I am collaborating on investigations into how research methods are taught in Master's-level LIS programs. With project lead, Dr. Krystyna Matusiak, University of Denver, an investigation of U.S. programs was completed in 2019. Results of that study can be found in a 2020 JELIS article:
Integrating DEI into Research Methods
Often, issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion are not clearly addressed within LIS literature. The impact of this can be and should be seen as detrimental to the ability of the field to truly study and understand itself. With that in mind, current research in this area is looking at how best to integrate DEI into LIS research methods, starting with ensuring it is taught within LIS research methods courses. In collaboration with Dr. Colón-Aguirre, a project to investigate how to prepare students to integrate DEI into their research methodological approaches is underway.
Teaching Research Methods
As part of an IFLA research project, I am collaborating on investigations into how research methods are taught in Master's-level LIS programs. With project lead, Dr. Krystyna Matusiak, University of Denver, an investigation of U.S. programs was completed in 2019. Results of that study can be found in a 2020 JELIS article:
- Matusiak, K., & Bright, K. (2020). Teaching research methods in master's level LIS programs: The United States perspective. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 61(3), 357-382.
Integrating DEI into Research Methods
Often, issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion are not clearly addressed within LIS literature. The impact of this can be and should be seen as detrimental to the ability of the field to truly study and understand itself. With that in mind, current research in this area is looking at how best to integrate DEI into LIS research methods, starting with ensuring it is taught within LIS research methods courses. In collaboration with Dr. Colón-Aguirre, a project to investigate how to prepare students to integrate DEI into their research methodological approaches is underway.