Introducing LibParlor Community Workshops

Librarians face increasing expectations to conduct research, publish scholarly work, and contribute meaningfully to their field. Yet many find themselves navigating these expectations without adequate support, training, or community. The Librarian Parlor (LibParlor) is excited to introduce our Community Workshops —a collaborative approach to professional development designed specifically for academic libraries seeking to build supportive networks and help LISLibrary and Information Science An interdisciplinary field that examines how physical and digital information is organized, accessed, collected, managed, disseminated and used, particularly in library settings. researchers strengthen their research identities.

Why LibParlor Community Workshops?

The journey from idea to publication is rarely straightforward. Many librarians enter the profession with limited formal training in research methodologies, face institutional pressures to publish, and struggle to find time for scholarly pursuits amidst demanding workloads. Our workshops address these challenges head-on by providing structured guidance and practical tools for developing a supportive community of practice.

Drawing on years of experience fostering librarian scholarship through The Librarian Parlor platform and LibParlor Online Learning (LPOL), our workshops create spaces for authentic connection, collaboration, and growth that can transform how librarians approach their research.

Research Identity & Community Building Workshop

The 3-hour Research Identity & Community Building Workshop helps participants and organizations explore fundamental questions about their scholarly pursuits. Through guided reflection, collaborative activities, and structured discussions, participants gain clarity about their research identity—what drives their curiosity, where their expertise lies, and how their scholarly work connects to their professional practice. Additionally, the workshop creates opportunities for meaningful connections among colleagues that can blossom into research partnerships, writing groups, and ongoing support networks.

Customized Workshop Experiences

We recognize that every institution has unique needs and challenges. That’s why we’re excited to offer customized workshop experiences that address your organization’s specific context. Building upon our established LPOL curriculum, we can create tailored sessions focusing on:

• Research Planning: Developing research questions, selecting methodologies, and creating realistic timelines
• Publishing Pathways: Navigating the publication process, from identifying appropriate venues to responding to reviewer feedback
• Professional Promotion: Effectively communicating the impact and significance of research in promotion and tenure processes

Each custom workshop maintains our commitment to community building. We work closely with institutional partners to understand your unique environment, the specific needs of your librarians, and your organizational goals.

The LibParlor Approach

What sets LibParlor Community Workshops apart is our understanding of the librarian researcher experience. Our facilitators aren’t just workshop leaders—they’re practicing academic librarians who actively research, publish, and navigate the same challenges as participants. This peer-to-peer approach creates an environment of authenticity and shared understanding that participants find particularly valuable.

Our workshops are grounded in core principles that define the LibParlor approach:

• AccessibilityAccessibility Accessibility ensures that all people—regardless of ability—can interact with the information or services provided. As a researcher thinks about the impact of their research, accessibility in this sense refers to the ways in which others can find, review, and understand a researcher’s research. This could mean how the information is available (paywall vs. non-paywall), language used, and how the project is presented (traditional manuscript vs. digitally-born interactive project). : We demystify research processes and make scholarly practices approachable for LIS researchers at all experience levels
• Sustainability: We emphasize developing research habits and practices that can be maintained alongside demanding professional responsibilities
• Community: We deliberately create spaces for meaningful connection that extend beyond the workshop itself
• Action-Orientation: Participants leave with concrete plans, tools, and next steps—not just theoretical knowledge

Building a Culture of Research Excellence

The most valuable outcome of LibParlor Community Workshops extends far beyond the workshop itself. By bringing librarians together around shared scholarly interests and challenges, we help lay the groundwork for lasting communities of practiceCommunities of practice A group of people who share a common interest coming together to learn from each other. This idea was first proposed by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger in their 1991 book, Situated Learning. within your institution. These communities become self-sustaining engines of research support, collaboration, and innovation.

In a profession that often emphasizes service to others, LibParlor workshops create permission and space for librarians to invest in their own scholarly development. This investment pays dividends not only in research productivity but also in professional satisfaction, institutional engagement, and the quality of library services.

Getting Started

Whether you’re interested in our Research Identity & Community Building Workshop or would like to explore customized options, the process begins with a conversation.

Email us to discuss your institution’s needs, workshop formats (in-person or virtual), potential dates, and any questions you might have about our approach. We’ll work together to meaningfully addresses your specific context and goals.

Join the LibParlor Community

Ready to transform how your librarians approach research and scholarly work? Contact us today to discuss bringing LibParlor Community Workshops to your institution. Together, we can build a culture of research excellence that empowers librarians to make meaningful contributions to the profession while finding joy and community in the scholarly process.

Email us at libparlor@gmail.com to start the conversation!