Research Partnerships between Academic Librarians and Faculty Members: Perspectives on Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration

This study investigated research partnerships and knowledge-sharing activities between academic librarians and faculty members at the University of Maiduguri Borno State. A qualitative approach utilizing Focus Group Discussions FGD as the primary data collection method was employed to gather in-depth opinions from participants engaged in research and knowledge-sharing within the institution. The studys objectives focused on examining the nature of research partnerships and identifying the knowledge-sharing practices between librarians and faculty members. A purposive sampling method selected seven participants three librarians and four faculty members actively involved in institutional research and information exchange. Semi-structured interview questions aligned with these objectives were administered in English allowing participants to freely express their perspectives. In adherence to ethical guidelines permission was obtained from university management and consent was secured from all participants. Audio recordings of the discussions were transcribed and analyzed thematically uncovering key patterns in research and knowledge-sharing practices. Findings reveal that structured workshops and informal exchanges significantly enhance research skills trust and collaborative academic culture. The study concludes that structured workshops and informal exchanges significantly enhance research skills trust and collaborative academic culture. The study recommended that expanding interactive training and fostering informal meetups would further support discipline-specific knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving