PhD research students

Hui-Yun Sung

Date of Start of Studies: 1 April, 2008
Country: Taiwan
Supervisor: Dr. Mark Hepworth and Dr. Gillian Ragsdell
E-mail: H.Sung@lboro.ac.uk

Research Group: Knowledge Management

Title: An investigation of the essential elements that help make community engagement work in public libraries: An exploratory qualitative research study.

Hui-Yun’s research interests are located in community engagement and public libraries. Traditional approaches to engagement, which are passive and library-based, have been implemented for some time. However, other methods drawing on a more community-centred approach and participatory design are evolving. Community engagement is an emerging area in the public librarianship literature, and may be one way to help explain how public libraries can effectively involve local communities. As part of Hui-Yun’s doctoral research, she is using a qualitative approach, including interviews, observations and document analysis, to explore essential elements that help make community engagement work in public libraries. It is anticipated that this research will come up with a comprehensive model that identifies essential elements that help make community engagement work in public library services, and challenges/barriers that hinder genuine community engagement in public library services.

Publications:

1. Sung, H., Hepworth, M. & Ragsdell, G., 2010. "An investigation of essential elements for successful community engagement in public libraries: An exploratory, qualitative study. Open Access to Knowledge – promoting sustainable progress. IFLA 2010, Gothenburg.
2. Sung, H., Hepworth, M. & Ragsdell, G., 2009. "An investigation of the 'creative consultation' process and methods to capture and transfer good practice in public libraries". Challenges for the New Information Professional. Proceedings of BOBCATSSS' 09 International Symposium of Library and Information Science, University of Porto.

Conferences attended:

1. IFLA 2010, Gothenburg
2. Research PhD Forum, Loughborough University (Organising committee)
3. Libraries Changed Lives Conference and Award 2010
4. LIS Research Coalition Conference 2010, London
5. BOBCATSSS 2009, Porto

Hui-Yun’s academic work can be found: http://www.slideshare.net/JoanneSung