The Value of Libraries for Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

1. The Value of Libraries for Research:Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches Michael Jubb Research Information Network 9th Northumbria Conference University of York 23 August 2011

5. Some quantitative thoughts and findings • researchers’ visits to the library……..

6. Some quantitative thoughts and findings • downloads of articles in scholarly journals

7. Some quantitative thoughts and findings • usage varies across institutions

8. 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

9. Some quantitative thoughts and findings • links between usage and outcomes…….

10. Some quantitative thoughts and findings • links between usage and outcomes

11. Some quantitative thoughts and findings • links between expenditure, usage and outcomes

12. 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?

13. Qualitative research and the stories arising from it • RIN/RLUK study of nine universities • interviews with researchers and senior managers • PVCs, Deans, Directors of Finance • focus on the value the library brings to • researchers in the course of their research • universities in supporting their research performance

14. good libraries help universities to recruit and retain top researchers libraries help researchers win grants and contracts libraries promote and exploit new technologies and new models of scholarly communications repositories increase universities’ research profile outward-facing libraries contribute to university-wide initiatives specialist staff work in partnership with academic departments connecting with researchers enhances the value of the library’s services dedicated spaces provide a better work environment for researchers easy access to high-quality content s a key foundation for good research libraries are physical manifestations of the academy and of scholarship Ten stories

15. Good libraries help universities to recruit and retain top researchers

16. Libraries help researchers win grants and contracts

17. Libraries promote new technologies and new models of scholarly communications

18. Repositories increase the visibility of the university and raise its research profile

19. Outward-facing libraries contribute to university-wide initiatives

20. Specialist staff work in partnership with academic departments

21. Connecting with researchers enhances the value of the library’s services

22. Dedicated workspaces provide a better work environment for researchers

23. Access to high-quality research content remains a key foundation for good research

24. Libraries are a physical manifestation of the values of the academy and of scholarship

25. Stories and challenges • not every library displays the characteristics and good practice on which these stories depend • attitudes may change • researchers focus on access to content • senior managers often positive but with traditional and not well-informed views • balance between support for students and for researchers

26. Gathering evidence • the need for evidence that relates to the stories • outputs and outcomes as well as inputs • breakdowns by activity and by academic cost centre • SCONUL statistics no longer do the job

27. Thank you Michael Jubb www.rin.ac.uk