Originally published in INCITE Magazine Volume 46, Issue 3

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/