anltc dublin, june 29 20071 challenges we face in articulating and demonstrating the true value of...

ANLTC Dublin, June 29 2007 1

Challenges we face in articulating and demonstrating the true value of the role

of the Subject/Liaison Librarian

Marie Reddan

Librarian NUI, Galway

ANLTC, Dublin June 28th 2007 2

Libraries will only survive if their services are seen to directly contribute to the university’s mission and if they are seen to add value.

Our universities have invested heavily in us for e-resources but is this instead of people and space?

Are we so successful with ‘doing’ access that we have made ourselves invisible – and dispensable?

Is GOOGLE better than us for delivering to user expectations? … and what about the other contenders on campus?

Is this only about survival and if it is – is it for ourselves as subject librarians or what we passionately believe we can add to the teaching, learning and research process?

Or if we simply closed the doors – would they come looking for us…?


Libraries will only survive if …

Their services are seen to directly contribute to the university’s mission

They are seen to add value …


Defining the Mission …

Research ExcellenceIncreasing PG numbersWidening Access / participationEnhancing the Student Experience Competing - nationally and

internationallyRetention


Libraries supporting this mission …

SpaceCollections PreservationMaking Collections Accessible -

‘Visible’ServicesExploiting Content


Subject / Liaison Librarians supporting Communities …

Most visible ambassadors Communities

UndergraduatesTaught PostgraduatesAcademics / ResearchersResearch StudentsCareer ResearchersAdministrators


Supporting Research …University research income - growthResearchers are highly influential people

on campusUnderstanding researchers - needs and

wants critical to support …


CONUL Survey of Researchers (2005) - we asked …

Q. 19 - Need for Training - two thirds say no

2,137 No1,076 Yes

Do you need training in the use of information resources?

66.5 %

33.5 %


Whom to contact for Training …

Q. 20

1,894 Yes1,311 No

Do you know who to contact if you need training in using information resources?

59.1 %

40.9 %


Satisfaction with Training …Q 21-

Satisfied - Yes, but 80% attended no training in past year

2,513 Not Applicable601 Yes

88 No

If you attended a training session given by library staff in the past year, were you satisfied with the training you received?

78.5 %

18.8 %

2.7 %


Reasons for not attending training …

Q 22 - almost 53% did not attend because they did not need the specific training on offer

762 Unaware training offered440 Unsuitable timing

1,333Specific training not needed

If you did not attend, was it because:

1,4001,2001,0008006004002000

Unaw are training of fered

Unsuitable timing

Specif ic training not needed

30.1 %

17.4 %

52.6 %


Researchers in the UKResearchers and Discovery Services -

Study … RIN (November 2006) …The Most heavily used resource discovery sources are general

search engines… …Research colleagues are one of the most important sources for

virtually every type of enquiry … …Emerging tools such as blogs hardly register - but alerting

services “push” services are used - but not RSS feeds… …While internal library portals and networks are heavily used

resources, contact with librarians and information professionals is rare … contd


RIN Report contd …

‘…This lack of direct contact may be a source of concern to libraries especially if it is not clear to researchers that many of the resources they use …are the result of Library negotiation and integration…’

‘…Librarians think that many researchers are not exploiting services …Librarians see it as a problem that they are not reaching all researchers with formal training… most researchers think they don’t need it …’

‘ …Very few researchers see a lack of training as a major problem…’

http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/Report%20-%20final.pdf


Researchers’ Use of Academic Libraries and their Services…a report commissioned by

RIN and CURL (April 2007)

‘… Librarians believe their current role of providing expert advice and teaching on information literacy will continue to be important in the future. But while many researchers agree ….there are some significant differences between researchers’ and librarians views as to the future role of libraries in supporting research … ‘

http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf


Questions of Relevance …?

Are we analysing the results?What remedial actions are we taking?Are we doing the right things for

researchers?Do these results show us to be

invaluable?Are we getting the message out there …


Our universities have invested in …

E-Resources - √Space - ?People - ???More and more difficult to make the caseRestructuring within our universitiesCompetition for resources …


Investment in eResources Definitely a huge investment … IReL 2004 to 2009 will amount to ca. €38 million

May 2007 STM HSS Local Total IReL eJournals 5,812 18,081 5,070 28,963 E Books 12,697 29,047 304,914 346,658


Investment in People …Making the Case - or is there a case to be

made?Competition for resourcesFrom where is the demand coming ….?Evidence please …Supporting communities in more creative

ways …


Library as Place …

244 Daily987 Weekly

1,037 Monthly834 Less than monthly110 Never

How frequently do you use library services or collections by visiting the Library?

1,2001,0008006004002000

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Less than monthly

Never

7.6 %

30.7 %

32.3 %

26.0 %

3.4 %

Fewer than 40% of Researchers visit the Library at least weekly


Investment in Space …Researchers do not use the physical library -

factAre we making cogent arguments based on

communities of users …Are the right people supporting the case - or is

it just - Librarians? Advocacy - how managed?Competition - space


Are we so successful with ‘doing’ access that we have made ourselves invisible – and

dispensable?

“Most of the information I need for my research comes from electronic versions of published papers posted on the web.”

Branding - or everything is free - found on Google

I can find it for myselfYes - and it may very often be enough …Not really looking for a lot …’surgeries’


Invisibility - Physical & Virtual

Are we visible in the physical library …Are we easy to locate …? Do we have a presence in the Schools

/Faculties / Research Centres …?Are we visible virtually - using the

website …(preferred route ..)


Virtual Presence …Routes of access to IReL resources are varied: (from the

current IReL Survey of Researchers, March 2007)


Some feedback …

“Our research team (10 people) do not visit the library and rely on well configured online access. Because online

access to scientific journals in Ireland is not well organised through the central portal of PubMed we often tend to resort to remote access to computers in other universities outside

Ireland whose online research resources are better organised.”

(Research only staff)

(CONUL Research Support Survey 2005)


The Competition on Campus …

Teaching and Learning - collaboration or competition …?

If we don’t …?Competition within teaching

departments ..?Teaching and Learning Advisors …?Self-Service


Adding value …

Cash rich - time poorDoing the homework … Speaking their language …Accepting that they have done very

nicely up to now …But it must add value …


Some quick wins … Managing Information

EndNoteResearch EthicsPublishing and Disseminating Research

Impact FactorsCopyright issuesInstitutional Repositories

Staying up to date …Personalisation of services …


Undergraduates and their needs …

What is an undergraduate these days …Expanding AccessOrientation - best approach?Information Skills / Literacy …?Need to know basis …Behaviour patterns - observe


Fourth Level Schools / SIF Generic Skills Programme

Information Literacy ModuleOpportunityCollaborativeSelf-pacedLocalisation essentialRoadtesting …Realistic in terms of time


Timing and Pace ….In their timeWhen they need it - not when we think

they need itSmall bites …McDonald’s approach …


Or if not …..?

anltc dublin, june 29 20071 challenges we face in articulating and demonstrating the true value of...

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