working together: evolving value for academic libraries
DESCRIPTION
'Working together: evolving value for academic libraries’ is a research project, commissioned by SAGE Publications Ltd, aiming to investigate the value of academic libraries for academic departments. SAGE appointed LISU to undertake the research in December 2011.TRANSCRIPT
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Claire Creaser and Valérie Spezi, LISU, Loughborough University
14/08/12
Introduction
Background & methodology Evolving value:- evidence and perceptions of value Working together:- services for teaching and
research staff Raising the visibility of the library and library
services Recommendations
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Background
Commissioned December 2011 LISU ([email protected])
Connections between library and academic departments
Enhance working relationships Marketing services
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Methodology
6 month research project US, UK and Scandinavia 8 case studies Survey of librarians
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Methodology
Case studies: 4 US; 2 UK; 2 Scandinavia Identify good practice
Survey of librarians Triangulate case study findings
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Evolving value:- evidence and perceptions of value14/08/12
Evidence of value
No systematic evidence gathered Aware of need How to assess impact?
Internal drivers Want to do a good job Support budget claims
UK with statistics, US with ‘success stories’
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Evidence of value
External drivers Benchmarking Research assessment audits Student satisfaction
Stronger in UK
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Perceptions of value14/08/12
Teaching and research staff often
fail to realise that it is the Library that provides key resources…
(Scandinavia)
Staff never cease to be amazed at what we can
actually provide/help them with
(UK)We are too
successful in providing seamless
electronic access…
(US)
Perceptions of value14/08/12
US UK Scandinavia0123456789
Management Academics Students
Av
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lue
sc
ore
Perceptions of value14/08/12
‘ I feel confident that if I need something … I
know that I can contact them and get
help’ (Scandinavia)
I’m not sure that the faculty as a whole appreciate what
librarians do or understand what they do
(UK)
The library always tries to work hard to get what academic
staff request (UK)
Working together - services for teaching & research 14/08/12
Embedded information literacy instruction
Working with teaching staff Relevant to course content Most highly valued by teaching staff
Vocational subjects Familiar with evidence-based approach Spreading to other areas
Culture shift Pro-active not re-active
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Embedded information literacy instruction
Pro
Academics can see value Quality of student work
Increases formal contact hours
Con
Time-consuming Not promoted where
resources scarce
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Integrated teaching services
One step further Close collaboration
Design, teaching & assessment
Subject expertise not essential
Developing area Started in health sciences
Focus on information literacy for research Example of partnership working
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When you work with someone and you have a successful
class and a successful partnership the word of mouth from other faculty within the
department or in other departments is worth a lot
Other teaching support
Curriculum design One step beyond
integrated teaching
IT tools Podcasts, wikis and
blogs
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Driven by national changes to nursing education (all nurses to be
educated to degree level) Nottingham developed a new
course with a high level of blended learning. The health science
librarian was directly involved in its design from the outset, over an 18
month development cycle, identifying relevant resources and
developing information skills elements
Integrated research services
Research support less well developed Sacrificed to more teaching support Depends on individual relationships with researchers
Typical services: OA publishing/self-archiving Bibliometrics Literature searching Data management
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Most valued research support services14/08/12
USA
UK
Scandinavia
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Promoting newly acquired info. resources One-to-one information literacy training
Help with literature searching Support from subject specialist librarians
Something else
Research partnerships14/08/12
Collaboration across research process Preparation of bids Conducting research Writing articles
Library needs to demonstrate added value
Data services specialist
Purdue University Pro-active approach
Identified need
Data Services Librarian Help researchers get more out of their data Include data management plans in grant proposals
Response to individual need, not general training
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Raising the visibility of the library and library services14/08/12
Communication
One size does not fit all Barriers
Academic staff time Librarian time Institution specific
Location of building Institutional culture
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Building relationships
Disciplinary culture Personal relationships
‘the most interesting part in my work’ Very time-consuming
Library office hours within departments Informal communication
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Building relationships
Faculty Author Dinner Co-curricular programme
Book group associated with film festival
Lunchtime lectures Free lunch!
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Marketing14/08/12
Market ourselves better, so that we show how we are
relevant, and how we can help them’ (UK)
We need to market what we offer in anticipation of their
specific needs, not their wants or what we as librarians think
they should have’. (US)
‘… our library is bad at marketing and
advocacy so that the staff doesn't know what we can offer’.
(Scandinavia)
Personalized communication … is perhaps the only effective way to
encourage the vast majority of faculty to value and use the library’.
(US)
Recommendations14/08/12
Individual librarians
Promote the relevance of librarianship skills to the digital information environment
Go beyond the comfort zone, for example develop skills in teaching and marketing
Reach out to users by improving communication, building personal relationships, using appropriate language, and following through to build on success
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Within the library & its management
Support and develop staff Provide appropriate training opportunities
Collect evidence of the value of library services Use it systematically with the full range of stakeholders in
the service
Document the processes and effective strategies for building partnerships with teaching and research staff
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Wider institution
Recognise the library contribution by engaging with the library at all levels Not just liaison librarians with teaching and research staff,
but also at senior management level
Uphold the status of librarians and information professionals on an equivalent level with teaching and research staff
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Questions?14/08/12
http://libraryvalue.wordpress.com/