“Making space” in practice and education: research support services in academic libraries

Abstract

Informing library research with focus groups: The potential of seven alternative strategies to enhance participant interaction", Library Management, Vol. 35 Iss 8/9 pp. 558-564 http:// dx.If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -How academic libraries support the research of their parent institutions has changed as a result of forces such as changing scholarly communication practices, technological developments, reduced purchasing power and changes in academic culture. The purpose of this paper is to examine the professional and educational implications of current and emerging research support environments for academic libraries, particularly with regard to research data management and bibliometrics and discuss how do professionals and educators "make space" as new service demands arise? Design/methodology/approach -The present paper uses data from a recent survey of research support provision by academic libraries in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, (authors 2013), and provides additional in depth analysis of the textual responses to extend the analysis in the light of forces for change in higher education. The original online questionnaire surveyed current and planned research support in academic libraries, and constraints or support needs related to service developments. It was distributed to 219 institutions in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Ireland, and obtained 140 valid responses (response rate of 63.9 percent). Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics with thematic categorization and coding for the textual responses. Findings -Most academic libraries surveyed are already providing or planning services in the focal areas of bibliometrics and data management. There was also increasing demand for other research support services, not the focus of the study, such as eresearch support, journal publishing platforms, and grant writing support. The authors found that while many academic libraries perceive increasing research support services as a "huge opportunity" they were constrained by gaps in staff skills, knowledge, and confidence and resourcing issues. With regard to staff education and training, it was reported they require a broader understanding of the changing research and ...

Academic Librarians’ Knowledge of Bibliometrics and Altmetrics

“…Two international studies have also reported that academic librarians in a variety of countries are interested in altmetrics and bibliometrics training by their institutions, through vendors, or for LIS schools to add this to their curricula (González-Fernández-Villavicencio, et al, 2015;Kennan, et al, 2014). While Roemer and Borchardt (2015b) advocate that early career librarians should be providers of altmetrics in their jobs, this study found that early career librarians were less likely to be familiar with research metrics than their more experienced counterparts.…”

“…Formal training in bibliometrics is a rarity for librarians, which has led to a call for the incorporation of bibliometrics education into the generalized LIS curriculum. In many other countries where interest and emphasis may be strong, formal education or training also is lacking (Bladek 2014;Kennan, Corrall, and Afzal 2014;Zhao 2011).…”

“…This is a natural extension of the LIS field in which bibliometrics practice and research has been situated. New metrics provide the opportunity for academic librarians to practise their skills such as database navigation and analysis, familiarity with tools such as Web of Science and Scopus, and experience with the university promotion and tenure processes, in a new context (Åstrom & Hansson 2012;Bladek 2014;Brigham, 2014;Brown, 2014;Gumpenberger, Wieland, & Gorraiz, 2012;Herther 2013;Kennan, Corrall, & Afzal, 2014;MacColl 2010a;MacColl 2010b;Roemer and Borchardt 2013;Roemer & Borchardt, 2015a).…”

“…Librarians' interest in altmetrics and bibliometrics is not just a U.S. phenomenon; it is international. Kennan, et al (2014) surveyed librarians in Australia, the U.K., Ireland, and New Zealand in 2012 and reported on their opinions predominately on bibliometrics, with some mention of altmetrics. There is also an unpublished research report on the use of altmetrics by Spanish librarians and scholars (González-Fernández-Villavicencio, Dominguez-Aroca, Calderón-Rehecho, & Garcia-Hernández, 2015).…”

Publication Services at the University Library Graz: A New Venture, a New Role

“…The opinions regarding what these services should entail vary in regard to both the scope and content of such services. Both Corrall (2014) and Kennan, Corrall, and Afzal (2014) count Bibliometrics among the pertinent issues for library services. Providing publishing channels such as institutional repositories or university presses are among the services that are most often mentioned (Hahn, 2008;Walters, 2012;Mullins et al, 2012).…”