Collaboration Picnic: Developing and Maintaining a Growing Network of Research Partners Across the United States for Successful Research Production

Collaboration Picnic: Developing and Maintaining a Growing Network of Research Partners Across the United States for Successful Research Production

Poster Session

Objective: The objective of this study was to highlight and document the ways that collaboration, specifically across great geographic and institutional differences, can be an asset when engaging in research in health sciences librarianship.

Methods: Impact and success were measured through formal outcomes (publications/presentations) and informal observations, primarily focusing on the collaboration experiences of two health sciences librarians in non-health sciences academic libraries. The history of collaboration spans from 2015-present day and includes demonstrated outcomes on the local, regional, and national level.

Results: The results of this study of collaboration demonstrate that long-term research collaborations across geographic and institutional boundaries can be productive and lead to outcomes related to publishing opportunities, institutional knowledge, and network-building. The study also provides insights in being an effective collaborator that can be applied internally and externally, including tips for successful interpersonal interactions, technology use, and building a cohesive research team.

Conclusions: In conclusion, this study demonstrates the benefits of forming collaborative research partnerships that are not limited by geographic location or institution type, and documents experiences and tips that other librarians can utilize when forming their own research collaborations.