Sample interview questions: Can you describe a situation where you had to assist a researcher in overcoming barriers to accessing research materials or resources?
Sample answer:
In my role as a Research Librarian, I have encountered numerous situations where I have assisted researchers in overcoming barriers to accessing research materials or resources. One particular example comes to mind, where a researcher approached me with a specific research topic in mind but was struggling to find relevant and up-to-date resources.
To address this challenge, I first engaged in a thorough conversation with the researcher to gain a better understanding of their research goals, specific requirements, and the barriers they were facing. This allowed me to develop a clear picture of their information needs and tailor my assistance accordingly.
Upon analyzing the researcher’s needs, I realized that their topic was relatively new and there was limited published literature available. To overcome this barrier, I suggested exploring alternative sources of information such as conference papers, preprints, and specialized databases that may contain more recent research in their field of interest. I guided the researcher on how to effectively search these resources and shared tips on refining search strategies to maximize the retrieval of relevant results.
Additionally, I recommended the researcher to consider reaching out to subject-matter experts or scholars in their field who might have unpublished research or be aware of ongoing studies related to their topic. This involved providing guidance on how to identify and contact relevant experts, emphasizing the importance of networking and building professional relationships within the research community.
Understanding that the researcher may also face financial constraints, I offered guidance on accessing open-access journals, repositories, and digital libraries that provide free or low-cost access to scholarly articles and… Read full answer
Source: https://hireabo.com/job/18_0_17/Research%20Librarian