My research explores professional work and practitioner thinking in library and information science – particularly in the area of reference and information service. I am interested in how practitioners’ thoughts, beliefs and values shape their practice. I am also interested in the diffusion of formal theories into practice and the development of practitioners' informal theories. Below are the research questions that are currently capturing my interest.


How do practitioners conceptualize their work?
Building on my studies of the experience of reference and information service (RIS) for practioners, my current work articulates the varying conceptualizations of RIS across library environments and different cultures.
  • VanScoy, A., Adzobu-Armah, N. Y., & Baidoo, D. K. (2026). Welcoming caretakers, solution providers, and expert communicators: Ghanaian librarians’ approaches to reference service. Reference Services Review, 54(2), 109-120. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-06-2025-0033
  • VanScoy, A., & Rafiq, M. (2025). Strong service orientations and fostering self-sufficiency: How librarians approach reference work in Lahore, Pakistan. Journal of Librarianship & Information Science, 57(4), 1130-1140. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006241269158
  • VanScoy, A. (2022). “We bring change to the people” or not: Librarians’ views on reference and information service as social change work. Library Quarterly.
  • VanScoy, A. (2021). Using Q methodology to understand conflicting conceptualizations of reference and information service. Library & Information Science Research 43(3).
  • Bossaller, J., Burns, C. S. & VanScoy, A. (2017). Reconceiving time in reference and information services work: A qualitative secondary analysis. Journal of Documentation, 73(1), 2-17.
  • VanScoy, A. (2016). Making sense of professional work: Metaphors for reference and information service. Library & Information Science Research, 38, 243-249.
  • VanScoy, A. (2013). Fully engaged practice and emotional connection: Aspects of the practitioner perspective of reference and information service. Library & Information Science Research, 35(1), 272-278.
  • VanScoy, A. (2012). Inventing the future by examining traditional and emerging roles for reference librarians. In M.L. Radford (Ed.), Leading the Reference Renaissance: Today’s Ideas for Tomorrow’s Cutting-Edge Services (pp. 79-94). New York: Neal-Schuman.
  • VanScoy, A. (2010). Reference librarians’ personal theories of practice: A new approach to studying reference service. In M.L. Radford, & R.D. Lankes (Eds.), Creating the Reference Renaissance: Current & Future Trends (pp. 115-128). New York: Neal-Schuman.


How can we encourage the application of formal theories to practice?
LIS practice tends to be driven by best practices, but formal theories and models can provide useful structure for practice. Some of my recent projects explore how theories are being or might be applied. I am currently working with Tanja Merčun of the University of Ljubjana, as well as my UB colleague Africa Hands and Maja Kuhar and Katarina Švab, both from the University of Ljubljana, on a project supported by the Slovenian Research Agency called "Perception and Use of Information Science Concepts and Theories by Librarians". You can read about work in this area here:
  • Merčun, T., Hands, A. S., Švab, K., & VanScoy, A. (2026). Measuring theory through practice: Librarians’ perceptions of relevance, concreteness, and importance. Information Research, 31(iConf 2026), 84-94. https://doi.org/10.47989/ir31iConf64197
  • VanScoy, A. (2025). The theory/practice gap link: Changing the narrative about theory in library and information science. Philippine Journal of Library and Information Science, 45(1).
  • VanScoy, A., Hands, A. S., Švab, K., & Merčun, T. (2024). Surfacing the ‘silent foundation’: which information behaviour theories are relevant to public library reference service? Information Research, 29(2), 589–601. https://doi.org/10.47989/ir292849
  • VanScoy, A., Julien, H., & Harding, A. (2022). “Like putting broccoli in a quiche”: Instructors talk about incorporating theory into reference courses. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science.
  • VanScoy, A., Julien, H., & Harding, A. (2022). Integration of information behavior into reference and information services education: A syllabus study. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science.
  • VanScoy, A., Thomson, L., Hartel, J. (2020). Applying theory in practice: The Serious Leisure Perspective and public library programming. Library & Information Science Research, 42(3).
  • Vanscoy, A., Julien, H., & Harding, A. (September 2020). Diffusion of information behaviour theory into education for reference service. ISIC: The Information Behaviour Conference, online.
  • Vanscoy, A., Julien, H., & Harding, A. (September 2020). Encouraging convergence of information behaviour theory and information services education. 48th Annual Conference of the Canadian Association of Information Science, online.

How can we ensure that the profession values and supports BIPOC librarians?
Since my days as a reference librarian, I've been concerned about diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in the profession. Ensuring that librarianship values and supports its BIPOC members is important to me. I am currently working with some colleagues on a project to study retention issues in the profession sponsored by IMLS. You can read more about this project here: https://ubwp.buffalo.edu/retention/  Previously, I worked with Kawanna Bright on research sponsored by an ALA Diversity Research Grant.
  • Colon-Aguirre, M., Bright, & VanScoy, A. (2026). Viewing BIPOC librarian retention through the lens of psychological safety. Journal of Library Administration, 66(5), 489-502. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2026.2662299
  • Bright, K., Kim, S., Colon-Aguirre, M., VanScoy, A., & *Crabtree, A. (2025). Using a serial multiple-mediator SEM model to demonstrate the effect of program preparation, professional development opportunities, and comfort with technology on retention of BIPOC librarians. Library & Information Science Research, 47(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2025.101342
  • Bright, K., Kim, S., Colon-Aguirre, M., & VanScoy, A. (October 2022). Professional development opportunity, digital skills, and BIPOC professionals’ decision to leave: A Serial Multiple-Mediator SEM Model. Association of Information Science and Technology Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • VanScoy, A. & Bright, K. (2019). Articulating the experience of “uniqueness and difference” for librarians of color. Library Quarterly, 89(4), 285-297.
  • VanScoy, A. & Bright K. (2017). Including the voices of librarians of color in reference and information services research. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 57(2) 104-114.
  • VanScoy, A. & Bright, K. (2016). Racial/ethnic matching in information intermediation. In Proceedings of ISIC, the Information Behaviour Conference, Zadar, Croatia, 20-23 September, 2016: Part 1, Information Research, 21(4).
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Amy VanScoy, MLIS, PhD

Professor
Department of Information Science
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo

vanscoy @ buffalo.edu