RESEARCH AND EDUCATION LIBRARIAN THE LIBRARY’S ROLE IN RUNNING A THREE-RING CIRCUS: A WRITER’S RETREAT TO SUPPORT WRITING, RESEARCH, AND PUBLISHING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION LIBRARIAN HEATHER JOHNSON, MLIS BIOMEDICAL LIBRARIES DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

What is a writer’s retreat? A multi-day structured activity where participants have protected time to write, learn, and review one another’s writing

Why a writer’s retreat? Publishing is essential for securing tenure, achieving promotions, and gaining professional visibility But there are barriers Time Lacking the skills necessary to learn how to write

The skills gap The writing process Avoiding grammatical and stylistic errors Using accessible language Creating useful figures Finding literature Selecting a journal Retaining authorship rights Giving peer feedback

PARTICIPANTS

Clinical and Nonclinical Faculty Graduate students Residents Nurses Research Staff Postdoctoral Fellows A total of 22 participants

Psychological and Brain Sciences Neurology Engineering Genetics Psychiatry Psychological and Brain Sciences Neurology Engineering Community and Family Medicine Rheumatology Nursing Informatics Weight and Wellness Center Pediatrics Anesthesiology The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice Hematology/Oncology Medicine General Surgery A total of 22 participants

IMPLEMENTATION TOOLKIT

Advertise and open application process THREE MONTHS PRIOR Begin planning! Identify writing specialist and other partners (e.g. other librarians, sponsors) Advertise and open application process

Select and notify participants SIX WEEKS PRIOR Select and notify participants Request writing sample from participants Identify vendors and place catering orders Plan librarian activities

Organize participants into small groups Create personalized agendas THREE WEEKS PRIOR Organize participants into small groups Create personalized agendas Distribute participant writing samples Participants read group members' writing samples

Format Orientation and Goal Setting Individual Meetings with Librarian & Writing Specialist Didactic Sessions Intro to writing a manuscript Top ten reasons articles get accepted ORCiD, author rights, NIH compliance Small Group Sessions Facilitated peer review Peer-to-peer feedback Honing Your Message Parts I / II Two full days Goal Setting- SMART goals

PARTICIPANT SCHEDULE

LIBRARIAN SCHEDULE

FEEDBACK

“This was an excellent retreat and I have already recommended it to several colleagues.” “Thank you for putting this together. It helps contribute to the academic mission of this institution. It introduced me to resources that I did not know existed.” “Thank you ever so much for having this. It made a big difference for me” A total of 22 participants

NEXT STEPS Third retreat for grant writers, specifically Identify second writing specialist Expand our retreats to a campus-wide initiative

Upcoming third retreat specific to grant writers Identify second writing specialist Expand our retreats to a campus-wide initiative A total of 22 participants

THANK YOU Third retreat for grant writers, specifically Identify second writing specialist Expand our retreats to a campus-wide initiative