Librarians’ involvement in cross-disciplinary research and its implication for sustainable development goals (SDGs): The Nigerian experience

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate librarians’ involvement in cross-disciplinary research and its implication in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) with the aid of five research questions. This is in a bid to integrate librarians into cross-disciplinary research, and a stride toward embedded librarianship.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey research design was used to gather data from an online group of library personnel with the aid of the questionnaire link posted on the platform. Palinkas et al. (2013) justified the use of purposeful sampling technique, while Yamane (1967) justified the use of 66 copies of questionnaire retrieved from the 1,562 population of action and inactive online members of the platform, which was subjected to descriptive statistics.

Findings

Librarians have high level of knowledge in possible aspects of cross-disciplinary research, which they have been previously involved in. Cross-disciplinary research is a means to achieving SDGs because it provides a basis for the understanding of SDGs and its actualization. Therefore, librarians being equipped to engage in cross-disciplinary research will contribute more to the global development agenda.

Research limitations/implications

The study seems to exhibit a weak power of generalization due to the purposeful sampling technique adopted for the study, been an online survey and the ±10 per cent precision level in determining the sample size. This should be taken into consideration for further study.

Practical implications

The study has implication for librarians in Nigeria in achieving sustainable development through cross-disciplinary research. While librarians engaged in research within the ambit of library and information science, this study proposes the need for them to extend their research knowledge and skills into other disciplines for greater impact in line with achieving the global development agenda.

Originality/value

This study is a stride toward embedded librarianship which reflects the need for librarians to participate in cross-disciplinary research, learning new skills and taking up new roles in research process.

Citation

Igbinovia, M.O. (2017), "Librarians’ involvement in cross-disciplinary research and its implication for sustainable development goals (SDGs): The Nigerian experience", Library Review, Vol. 66 No. 4/5, pp. 251-265. https://doi.org/10.1108/LR-09-2016-0078