RTI Research Spotlight: Health Sciences Librarians’ Motivations for Publishing

Writing an article for publication can be intimidating and time-consuming. What motivates librarians who present research at the Medical Library Association (MLA) conferences to take the next step in publishing their work? Motivation can be external when outside factors push us to act. Or it can be internal when our own values are the primary drivers. Are librarians presenting at MLA conferences more motivated to publish due to internal or external factors, or a mix of both? This article published in the journal Hypothesis in 2023 explores this question.

We sent a survey to librarians who presented at the 2012 and 2014 MLA conferences asking if they later published the work they presented, and, if so, what were the primary and secondary motivators for them to publish? Respondents were asked to select among a mix of external motivators (e.g., “I am expected to participate in research for my job”) and internal motivators (e.g., “contribute to my profession’s evidence base”) or to write in a response. Over 50% of participants responded that they were driven to publish by internal factors, and only 18% were motivated by external factors. No differences were found between hospital and academic librarians or those who published in peer-reviewed versus non-peer-reviewed venues. Overall librarians presenting at MLA conferences are predominantly motivated by internal factors, driven by a commitment to advancing their profession’s knowledge base and disseminating valuable research findings. Let’s continue to support and celebrate the dedication of health sciences librarians in publishing research and enriching the future of our profession!

Rachel Hinrichs, AHIP, is a 2019 Fellow and 2024 Peer Coach of the Research Training Institute (RTI). This study was the focus of her RTI research. The RTI project was possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (RE-246568-OLS-20).