Researcher Insights 

First introduced in the June edition of INCITE, Researcher Insights is a regular feature that celebrates some of the exciting and impactful research happening across the library and information sector. Each edition spotlights an academic, a practitioner, and a PhD candidate—highlighting the diverse ways evidence is being generated to inform and strengthen our profession. From practical guides to cultural studies, from frontline services to emerging policy, these projects showcase the breadth and depth of LIS research in action.

Do you have a project you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you—contact the ALIA Research Advisory Committee at enquiry@alia.org.au with the subject line ‘Researcher Insight submission’.

PhD candidate: Krystal Gagen-Spriggs

Role: Lecturer, Teacher Librarianship, School of Information and Communication Studies, Charles Sturt University

Krystal Gagen-Spriggs is a lecturer and PhD Candidate with the School of Information and Communication Studies at Charles Sturt University. Her PhD research aims to identify the various factors that may help or hinder the influence of teacher librarians on their school’s reading culture. Krystal has been working with three all-girls’ secondary schools in Southeast Queensland, and has collected data from students, teachers, teacher librarians, and principals through surveys and interviews. In addition to the influence of teacher librarians and reading cultures, she has also uncovered some interesting findings related to students and their reading. Krystal hopes that her research will help empower teacher librarians to evaluate their school context and its reading culture, identifying context-specific factors that either need to be addressed or built upon to increase their influence. She looks forward to sharing findings from her work with the wider library community after completing her PhD.

Project status: In progress

Contact email: kgagen-spriggs@csu.edu.au 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystal-gagen-spriggs-73a1ab120/ 

Researchers: Dr Jo Kaeding and Dr Agata Mrva-Montoy

Role: Jo Kaeding, Program Director, Information Management, University of South Australia and Dr Agata Mrva-Montoy, Director of the Master of Publishing at the University of Sydney

Project description:

Jo and Agata’s research explores the topic of print disability and public libraries in Australia. The aim is to understand the drivers and barriers to providing accessible public library resources and services for people with print disability in Australia.

The project involves three stages of research. Stage one which has been completed, involved a questionnaire with 297 Australian public librarians. The results were published in JALIA. 

The second stage of the research involves in-depth interviews with Australian public librarians. Jo and Agata have presented preliminary results at the 2025 Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc.

The third stage will involve interviews with people with print disability, exploring their use/non-use of public libraries. 

It is hoped the research will contribute to addressing the provision of accessible resources and services in Australia, ultimately advancing the fundamental right to literacy and knowledge for all.

Contact: jo.kaeding@unisa.edu.au ; agata.mrva-montoya@sydney.edu

Practitioner: Sarah May

Role: Supervisor Libraries, City of Gold Coast  

Project description:   

Sarah completed her research as part of the 2024 State Library of Queensland and Queensland Public Libraries Association Library Leaders Program, under the guidance of her mentor, Linda Barron (Director of Information Services, State Library of Queensland).

Prompted by recent legislative changes concerning psychosocial wellbeing in the workplace, Sarah drew on her dual qualifications in law and librarianship to develop a guide aimed at supporting library professionals in navigating the unique challenges of the sector and its complex legal landscape.

The guide offers an industry-focused perspective on psychosocial wellbeing and provides an in-depth exploration of the four most prevalent psychosocial hazards specific to libraries: high/low job demands, vicarious trauma, service creep, and occupational violence.

By incorporating legal frameworks, case studies, and practical examples, the guide empowers libraries to foster safer, more informed workplaces. It presents actionable strategies to mitigate harm, build resilience, and promote wellbeing - making it a timely and valuable contribution to the evolving discourse on mental health in the library sector.

• Status: This independent project is available for download via Sarah’s Linkedin profile. 
• Contact email: samay@goldcoast.qld.gov.au