Call for Participants: 2026 Librarians’ Research Institute
March 25, 2026 – The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) is now accepting nominations for participants for the 2026 Librarians’ Research Institute. Participants will attend a four-day Institute hosted by the University of New Brunswick (June 22-25, 2026), which will be geared toward taking current research skills to the next level, building upon current research interests, and making connections with other researching academic librarians from across Canada.
Participant Eligibility
Participants should possess the following:
- Some experience in research beyond the MLIS degree, such as producing a conference presentation, an article, or a research grant.
- A foundational knowledge of research methodologies and skills, such as proposal writing, literature reviews, developing research questions, using different research methodologies, analyzing data, assessing ethical issues, etc.
- An eagerness and openness to develop one’s own skills, share ideas with others, provide feedback and support to others’ research endeavours.
- An interest in taking the energy and enthusiasm for research gained at the institute back to their home institution.
Outcomes for Participants
The Institute will include activities such as plenary sessions, panel discussions with peer mentors, small group discussions, individual reflection and assessment, consultations with peer mentors, individual writing time, and peer workshops. Upon completion of the Institute, participants will leave with the following:
- A better understanding of the possibilities for research and a recognition of the habits of mind that enable good research practices.
- A broader understanding of librarian research processes and an awareness of the research being undertaken by librarians at Canadian libraries.
- Connections with other academic librarians working on scholarly research projects at libraries across Canada.
2026 LRI Peer Mentor Team
The 2026 LRI will be led by the following peer mentor team:
- Patrick Gamsby, Chair (Scholarly Communications Librarian, Memorial University)
- Alicia Cappello (Engineering & Science Librarian, Queen’s University)
- James Doiron (Research Data Management Strategies Director, University of Alberta Library)
- Katie Lai (Associate Librarian | Liaison for Music, McGill University)
- Desmond Wong (Outreach Librarian, University of Toronto)
Nomination and Application Process
Registration is limited to 30 participants. Applications from all Canadian libraries are welcome. However, priority will be given to CARL member libraries.
Applicants must submit a nomination package which will include the following:
- a current CV;
- a short description of why the participant wishes to attend;
- a brief outline of the research project/research question the participant is exploring, and;
- a letter of endorsement from the Library Dean/Director.
Nomination packages should be sent to the attention of Julie Morin (), on or before April 16, 2026.
Note that the 2026 LRI will be delivered in English.
Participants will be announced and follow-up information about the Institute will be sent in the spring. Prior to attending the Institute, participants will be asked to submit a short overview of their research background, and their current research interests.
Fees
Fees – $900
Fees include all workshop materials, breakfast, lunch, and breaks for the duration of the workshop. Travel, accommodation, and other expenses are the responsibility of the participant.
Contact
Julie Morin
Senior Program Officer, CARL
For more information about the institutes, including past offerings, visit Librarians Research Institute.
