1. Research-a-thons
An opportunity to collaborate and face real world challenges
Alex Burdett - Learning and Research Librarian, Law, UVic
Alisa Lazear - Former Law Librarian Intern, UVic
Vancouver Island Library Staff Conference - 27 April 2018

2. We acknowledge with respect the Lkwungen-speaking peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.

3. What is a Research-a-thon?
“A researchathon is a collective marathon that seeks either to answer a research question or to build a research resource. This is accomplished by bringing together a group of researchers, librarians, technologists, and students in one room for a full day of collaborative work toward a specific goal.”
What is a Research-a-thon?

4. Legacies of Césaire Research-a-thon
Columbia University
By Jean Baptiste Devaux [CC BY-SA 4.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons

5. Gateways to the First World War Research-a-thon
Portsmouth Museum (UK)
By State Archives of North Carolina [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons

6. Toolkits for Change Research-a-thon
Simmons College
(Progressive Librarians Guild - Student Chapter)
By Daderot [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

7. Nationwide Research-a-thon
#Research4Refugees
2017
Nationwide Research-a-thon
p33

8. The Enviro Law Research-a-Thon 2018
Mining Law in BC -
Digging up a Dirty History

9. Why they are Important Creating social change Experiential learning
Student-initiated learning
Generating knowledge
Building community
Why they are Important
“This type of event shows the way students are willing to engage when they are given the chance to learn with a purpose.”
Andhra Azevedo, ELC Club President
Creating Social Change - students motivated/empowered to be an agent of change in their communities, using their skills to do something meaningful.
Experiential and student-initiated learning - Students can see how important legislative history can be in legal practice. It’s a skill that needs requires practice.
extensive practice in the experiential context reinforces the learning of novel skills as students work towards a larger purpose, facing real problems to solve, obstacles to hurdle and paths to navigate
Allows students to take control over their own learning
Generating Knowledge - creating a tool future researchers can build upon, shared knowledge base
Building community - foster student community, librarians interacting with students, students interacting with leaders in profession/lawyers
Applies to Uvic and research-a-thons in general

10. Lessons Learned & Tips for Hosting Your Own
Before
More time is better than less time
Maximize connections
During
Engage and facilitate
After
It’s not over until it’s over
“There are good ships and there are bad ships, but the best ships are partnerships.”
Before
More prep time is better than less - but being flexible is important
Prepare resources (print and digital)
consult with students (what do you need and how can we support you)
Explain room restrictions
Promotion - get the word out (social media) - talking to communications - students handled photo permissions
Organize shifts among librarians - plan out the day/ always have a librarian on hand
Maximize connections. Reaching out (requesting access to additional resources from other librarians, vendors for special access and funding, sponsorship)
During
Engage with students and facilitate their legal research learning
Have somebody on hand to take pictures during event - document event
After
Return print resources
It’s not over until it's over - clean-up research, still work to be done afterwards - quality control
Document what happened - successes and challenges
Continue the conversation - maintain momentum - following-up with students - keep relationship alive
Next steps - We are looking at how to establish student-initiated research-a-thons as a regular event and learning opportunity at the UVic law library

11. Questions? Comments? Alex Burdett
Alisa Lazear