Bridging the gap between science and society: Mapping libraries' strategies for engaging in the research impact process through semantic analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47989/ir31iConf64195Keywords:
Research impact, Knowledge broker, Knowledge diffusionAbstract
Introduction. Scientific research's societal impact increasingly relies on knowledge dissemination beyond academia. Libraries are evolving from repositories into dynamic intermediaries that bridge societal gaps by enhancing digital literacy and ensuring equitable information access. Existing literature, however, has largely overlooked such institutional intermediaries, limiting systematic understanding of their strategies.
Method. We analysed 465 library participation cases from the Research Excellence Framework using a hybrid approach combining large language models (LLMs) and BERTopic semantic analysis.
Results. Five key strategies were identified: media communication and public engagement; public dialogue and cultural presentation; artistic collaboration and live experiences; digital content creation and dissemination; and large-scale event coordination. Library contributions are concentrated in Arts and Humanities (76%), primarily within cultural (67%) and societal (22%) impact domains.
Conclusion. This study proposes an evidence-based framework elucidating the role of libraries within the research ecosystem, offering practical insights to support the societal translation of research outcomes. Future research should explore differentiated strategies for various library types and the feasibility of generalising these findings to other regions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Wang Zuorong, Sun Jiaxuan, He Shan, Deng Sanhong, Wang Hao
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