Evolution of Research Support Services at an Academic Library: Specialist Knowledge Linked by Core Infrastructure

Abstract

Research support services at The University of Queensland Library (UQ Library) have evolved in response to the global and national drivers, which have impacted on broader University strategy. UQ Library's success in responding to these drivers has involved leveraging the information within, and capacity of, the institutional repository, the core of our research support services. UQ Library is a critical enabler of the University's research mission, actively partnering with researchers throughout the research lifecycle. The evolution of these services have required a shifting staffing framework, combining a traditional liaison library model with functional teams to deliver agile services, which add strategic value to the University. This paper explores how functional teams, collaborating with traditional liaison librarian roles, deliver innovative services, how these services are linked by the institutional repository, and how we address key challenges of this service model.

The state of embedded librarianship in the university research processes in selected African academic libraries

“…In this study, 42% of respondents had a PhD, and 34% had Master's qualifications, where skills in research processes are taught. The study findings support Brown et al . (2018), who also found that librarians have skills in literature review, project management, research methods and data analysis.…”

Underrated or overstated? The need for technological competencies in scholarly communication librarianship

“…Paraphrasing multiple authors, Inskip (2016) describes how technological changes are turning librarians into "polymaths" or "blended professionals", merging "identities and practices" and crossing "contested jurisdictions" into rival service areas (p. 65). In SC, too, it seems that staff must combine the skills of liaison, data, digital, e-resource, research and other librarians, as well as dipping into specialist subfields like bibliometrics or RDM (S. Brown, Alvey, Danilova, Morgan, & Thomas, 2018;Cox, Gadd, et al, 2017;Koltay, 2019). If SCLs are functioning as research support generalists, this "suggest[s that] a wide, almost overwhelming number of skills, qualities, and knowledge areas [are] necessary" to the profession (Saunders, 2019, p. 7).…”

Promoting Open Science: A Holistic Approach to Changing Behaviour

“…In response, some libraries have invested significantly in repository infrastructure to support access to research outputs (including data) while others have begun to manage APCs and provide services to ensure that researchers meet the Open Access requirements of funding bodies. Open Access publishing, as well as the increasing emphasis on managing research data to enable purposeful sharing, are some of the major global drivers that have shaped academic libraries as they are today (Brown et al, 2018). However, all academic libraries manage access to online subscription resources (e.g., journals), routinely negotiate deals with major publishers, and grapple with budgets dominated by their online journal spend.…”