Bookending ARFIS: The Development, Final Results, and Current State of the Academic Reading Format International Study

The Academic Reading Format International Study (ARFIS) is the largest study conducted to date on tertiary students' reading format preferences and behaviors. It was born at the European Conference on Information Literacy (ECIL) and has been tied intimately with it throughout its formation and development. From 2014-2017, forty-three researchers in 33 countries participated in ARFIS, many of whom first connected and networked through attendance at ECIL. As of this writing, Google Scholar shows over 30 articles and reports on results of individual ARFIS participant countries and the amalgamated ARFIS results, 15 of which appear in various ECIL proceedings. The project has generated much interest from many academic fields. This paper will present its background and highlights from the findings, a list of ARFIS and ARFIS-related publications and researchers, discussions of the current status, and future directions. We will also discuss the impact of ARFIS on future scholarship, especially in the wake of potential changes in educational practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.