Designing researcher-centric library services

from 12th May 2013 Research Information (Analysis and Opinion)


"....findings highlighted three primary areas that would benefit from new or redesigned services. Firstly, there is the area of information discovery. In particular, there is a need to support chemists in keeping up with the literature and enabling serendipitous discovery.
The second key role is research dissemination and scholarly communications. While academic chemists publish frequently, the report revealed the need for greater support in disseminating their research outputs.
Data management and preservation was the third area identified. The report acknowledged a gap in training in how to store, manage and curate the data that is collected by chemists and their labs..."

Predatory Publishers

Interesting contribution in Library Journal newsletter:
 
"There are definitely publishers who come to mind when I hear the expression “predatory publishers.” My first thought is of the high-profile academic publishers who are increasing their journal prices by ten or 20 percent per year, leaving libraries with impossible choices to be made between maintaining their journal subscriptions in key fields or buying that year’s monographic production. None of these are on Jeffrey Beall’s “Possible Predatory Publishers” list at the Scholarly Open Access site, however. Beall’s list consists of newly formed open access (OA) journals that charge authors a fee for each article published but that allegedly do not follow accepted academic practice for quality publication or are even fraudulent in nature...."

Scholarly communication and information literacy (value of academic libraries)

"The integration of scholarly communication and information literacy has the potential to become a central element in demonstrating the value of academic libraries."

Just stumble upon the newish journal: Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication
and thought this article looked of interest
Time to Step on the Gas in Approaching the Intersections of Scholarly Communication and Information Literacy

What Students Really do in the Library: An Observational Study

What Students Really do in the Library

Reference Librarian Volume 54, Issue 2, April 2013, Pages 157-167 

Abstract: The authors observed 730 collegiate students in the library and recorded their study (or non-study) activities. Approximately 60% of behaviors were study related. The most commonly observed behavior was reading print material (18.8%). The second most common behavior was the use of social media (11.4%). These results have implications for understanding how students learn and study in the pervasive digital world.

from the discussion:

"........   Libraries, particularly in times of economic instability, must often justify their existence and use of funds. Demonstrating to library or school administration the actual observed use of the physical library for school-related behaviors can provide one or many pieces of data that may prove useful. Although our finding that 73% of those working on a computer were more likely to engage in a non-study behavior suggests that the presence of computers or other mobile devices can be major distractions, evidence presented in the literature indicates that students expect libraries to be social and study spaces. In addition, making library materials and study materials accessible via mobile technologies (e.g., iPads, smartphones) can allow for more frequent access to these resources. Little to no research has been done regarding the use of the mobile Web by students in the library, with the exception of a qualitative study conducted by. They noted that, depending on reading preferences, students may or may not read actual articles or books online, but they might begin their searches or access library services while waiting on line at the store (Seeholzer & Salen, 2011). Investigating how remote use of library resources ties in with the physical use of the building can provide stakeholders with data that can help to inform decisions.

When we can actually observe what students do rather than what they say they do in the library, we can get a fuller picture of study behaviors and how they relate to academic achievement. It is important for educators to understand that the learning environment can influence student engagement and study behaviors and that the environment is further influenced by a variety of factors. Students expect a comfortable and attractive study space not only for scholarly pursuits, but also for socializing. Social and academic activities are integral aspects for facilitating student engagement (Entwistle & Peterson, 2004; Milem & Berger, 1997; Suarez, 2007). A well-designed library should support scholarly activities, but both the current literature and the results of this study indicate that we cannot expect the library to be a building exclusively used for academic behaviors."