Research Productivity Among Librarians: Factors Leading to Publications at Penn State

Abstract

Librarians at the Pennsylvania State University are consistently among the most published in academic library journals. This study explored the factors contributing to research productivity among a cross section of Penn State librarians. Personal motivation, intellectual curiosity, and education were important factors in practice-, institutional-, and discipline-based research among the 38 librarians surveyed here. However, being part of an institution, where everyone is expected to participate in research, may be the most critical factor.