the value of libraries for research: qualitative and quantitative approaches
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The Value of Libraries for Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Michael Jubb Research Information Network 9 th Northumbria Conference University of York 23 August 2011. Some quantitative thoughts and findings. researchers’ visits to the library……. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Value of Libraries for Research:Qualitative and Quantitative
Approaches
Michael JubbResearch Information Network
9th Northumbria ConferenceUniversity of York23 August 2011
Some quantitative thoughts and findings
researchers’ visits to the library……..
Some quantitative thoughts and findings
downloads of articles in scholarly journals
Some quantitative thoughts and findings
usage varies across institutions
Some quantitative thoughts and findings
growth in numbers of UK articles, refs per article and unique sources per article, 1990-2007(integer counts indexed to 1990=100
Some quantitative thoughts and findings
links between usage and outcomes…….
Some quantitative thoughts and findings
links between usage and outcomes
Some quantitative thoughts and findings
links between expenditure, usage and outcomes
But……………how does all this help to answer the Vice Chancellor/Finance Committee question about choices?even in good times
the value of the long tail, or the law of diminishing returns?
Qualitative research and the stories arising from it
RIN/RLUK study of nine universitiesinterviews with researchers and senior managers
PVCs, Deans, Directors of Finance
focus on the value the library brings to
researchers in the course of their researchuniversities in supporting their research performance
Ten storiesgood libraries help universities to recruit and retain top researcherslibraries help researchers win grants and contractslibraries promote and exploit new technologies and new models of scholarly communicationsrepositories increase universities’ research profileoutward-facing libraries contribute to university-wide initiatives
specialist staff work in partnership with academic departmentsconnecting with researchers enhances the value of the library’s servicesdedicated spaces provide a better work environment for researcherseasy access to high-quality content s a key foundation for good researchlibraries are physical manifestations of the academy and of scholarship
Good libraries help universities to recruit and retain top researchers
LIBRARY BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTERISTIC
SATISFIED HOME RESEARCHERS
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
CATALOGUE OF RESEARCH
RESOURCES
END BENEFITS
INCREASED PUBLIC VISIBILITY OF RESEARCH
COLLECTIONS
STRONG RESEARCH MATERIALS
GOOD INSTITUTIONAL
REPUTATION FOR RESEARCH
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF
HIGHER QUALITY RESEARCHERS
VISITORS USE COLLECTIONS
NEW LIBRARY BUILDING
WELL RESPECTED LIBRARY
Libraries help researchers win grants and contracts
LIBRARY BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTERISTIC
GOOD SUBJECT EXPERTISE
END BENEFITS
INFORMATION AND ORGANISATIONAL
SKILLS
SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH GRANTS
HIGHER QUALITY FUNDING
APPLICATIONS
MORE RESEARCH INCOME
STRONG SERVICE CULTURE
Libraries promote new technologies and new models of
scholarly communications
STRONG SERVICE CULTURE
LIBRARY BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTERISTIC END BENEFIT
BETTER INFORMED RESEARCHERS
SAVED RESEARCH TIME
MORE EFFICIENT RESEARCH
IMPROVED RESEARCH PRACTICES
MORE SATISFIED RESEARCHERS
CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH RESEARCHERS
HIGHER QUALITY RESEARCH
RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION
EXPERTISE
GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF CHANGING
BEHAVIOURS AND PRACTICES
Repositories increase the visibility of the university and raise its
research profile
MANAGING INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORY
HIGH QUALITY DATA
LIBRARY BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTERISTIC END BENEFITS
INCREASED VISIBILITY OF
RESEARCH
BETTER COMPLIANCE WITH FUNDERS’ POLICIES
SATISFIED FUNDERS
MORE RESEARCH INCOME
INCREASED POTENTIAL
READERSHIP OF RESEARCH
INCREASED AWARENESS OF
REPOSITORY
RESEARCHER FOCUSED SYSTEMS
INCREASED DEPOSIT
IMPROVED INSTITUTIONAL
UNDERSTANDING OF INFORMATION
ASSETS
BETTER RESEARCH MANAGEMENT
HIGHER QUALITY RESEARCH
Outward-facing libraries contribute to university-wide initiatives
OUTWARD-FACING LIBRARIES
IMPARTIAL POSITION AT CENTRE OF INSTITUTION
WIDER INSTITUTIONAL
ROLE
NEW INTERNAL COLLABORATIONS
IMPROVED COORDINATION OF
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
BETTER RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE
MANAGEMENTWIDER USE OF
EXPERTISE AND SHARING OF NEW
IDEAS
JOINED-UP SUPPORT FOR RESEARCHERS
HIGHER QUALITY RESEARCH
LIBRARY BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTERISTIC END BENEFIT
INFORMATION AND ORGANISATIONAL
SKILLS
MORE RESEARCH INCOME
Specialist staff work in partnership with academic departments
STRONG SERVICE CULTURE
PROACTIVE INFORMATION SPECIALISTS
LIBRARY BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTERISTIC END BENEFIT
ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES AND
DISCOVERY TOOLS
FASTER LOCATION OF RESEARCH RESOURCES
MORE EFFICIENT RESEARCH
IMPROVED RESEARCH PRACTICES
SATISFIED RESEARCHERS
CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH RESEARCHERS
SAVED RESEARCHER TIME
GOOD SUBJECT EXPERTISE
GREATER RESEARCH OUTPUT
Connecting with researchers enhances the value of the library’s
servicesLIBRARY BEHAVIOUR /
CHARACTERISTIC END BENEFITS
SATISFIED RESEARCHERS
OUTWARD-FACING LIBRARY
STRONG SERVICE CULTURE
NEW AND IMPROVED SERVICES
RESEARCHER FOCUSED SERVICES
GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF RESEARCH
BEHAVIOUR AND NEEDS
IMPROVED RESEARCH PRACTICES
COMMITMENT TO MEET RESEARCHER
NEEDS
HIGHER QUALITY RESEARCH
MORE EFFICIENT RESEARCH
Dedicated workspaces provide a better work environment for
researchersLIBRARY BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTERISTIC
FLEXIBLE PHYSICAL SPACE
STRONG RESEARCH MATERIALS
FLEXIBLE WORKING PRACTICES
MORE SATISFIED RESEARCHERS
HIGHER QUALITY RESEARCH
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BROWSING
STIMULATES NEW RESEARCH
INTERESTS OR DIRECTION
GREATER RESEARCH OUTPUT
A SPACE TO CONDUCT
RESEARCH
BETTER RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
END BENEFITS
Access to high-quality research content remains a key foundation
for good researchLIBRARY BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTERISTIC
STRONG RESEARCH MATERIALS
END BENEFITS
ACCESS TO PREVIOUS RESEARCH
BETTER INFORMED RESEARCHERS
MORE EFFICIENT RESEARCH
INFORMATION AND ORGANISATIONAL
SKILLS CONVENIENT ACCESS TO RESEARCH MATERIALS
HIGHER QUALITY RESEARCH
GOOD SUBJECT EXPERTISE
Libraries are a physical manifestation of the values of the
academy and of scholarship
LIBRARY BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTERISTIC
LEGACY PERCEPTION OF
LIBRARY AS HOME OF KNOWLEDGE
END BENEFITS
MANIFESTATION OF SCHOLARSHIP
SCHOLARLY ETHOS WITHIN INSTITUTION
MORE MOTIVATED RESEARCHERS
Stories and challengesnot every library displays the characteristics and good practice on which these stories dependattitudes may change
researchers focus on access to contentsenior managers often positive but with traditional and not well-informed viewsbalance between support for students and for researchers
Gathering evidencethe need for evidence that relates to the stories
outputs and outcomes as well as inputsbreakdowns by activity and by academic cost centreSCONUL statistics no longer do the job
Thank you
Michael Jubbwww.rin.ac.uk