Librarians' Involvement with CRIS Developments: the St Andrews Perspective by Jeremy Upton, Deputy Director Library Services, University of St Andrews. Presentation at the Research Evaluation: Is It Our Business? The Role of Librarians in the Brave New World of Research Evaluation 29 June 2011, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Campus.
1. Librarians' involvement with CRIS developments: the St Andrews perspective Research evaluation - is it our business? 29 Jun 2011 Jeremy Upton Deputy Director Library Services
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6. Developing e-theses service “ The success of the current service is very dependent on key partnerships which have been established between relevant agencies within the institution.”
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9. Links with Research Expertise Database “ To establish good communication and practice in centralised and coordinated development of both databases.” Library Business Improvements
13. Fed Out Research Information System Bibtex, Refman Uploaded Publications REF, RCUK SFC, HESA HEI – Strategic Planning Public, Media Recognition / Impact Industry / SME’s Interface Collaborations Research Pools Pulled In Student Records Grants, Projects, KT Human Resources Finance Manual Input Entered Web of Science, arXiv, PubMed… Harvested Full Text Repository Open Access Linked
21. An image of the atmospheric jet stream, obtained from an idealised computer simulation, but one using extraordinary resolution, far higher than ever used before. The computer methods have been developed in St Andrews, and there is a proposal under development to apply these highly efficient methods to markedly improve weather forecasting and climate modelling. Photo supplied by David Dritschel Serendipity
Where does the library sit? What is our role in research support? Developing links Multiple perspectives Activities
General observations Synergies If research intensive, want to know all we can about research Are we lucky at the moment Librarian quotation
General observations Synergies If research intensive, want to know all we can about research Are we lucky at the moment
Development of theses service Strategic drivers – making research outputs available to wider audience Library planning – improving service provision to local, national and international research community – increasing visibility of University research “ The success of the current service is very dependent on key partnerships which have been established between relevant agencies within the institution.” Library staff, supervisors, FOI, registry, Gradskills lmost entirely library driven – we chose this route as we could slot into and influence existing deposit procedures Part of international e-theses trend Close liaison with Pg Deans, policy officers, Registry staff Key champions for policy development, including Proctor Content also driven by Ethos requests – we are OA sponsor – and digitisation of most (internally) consulted print theses Targeted support to develop relationships, eg CAS Academic liaison librarians can exploit links further – research support that can help with teaching too. Postgrads very responsive and engaged with deposit process – they are the next generation of authors
General observations Synergies If research intensive, want to know all we can about research Are we lucky at the moment
Almost competitive relationship, acquiring similar data. Different motivation at that time Realised need to upscale and the potential for promoting institutional research
Extending content to publications from Research Expertise Database Making the Research Assessment connection was crucial – Library involvement with RAE Establishing links with BI From 2006 focus was on long-term integration of research profiles and publication data Develop DRR and ResExp in parallel “ To establish good communication and practice in centralised and coordinated development of both databases.”
Only ever request where budget was unlimited Knowledge of how publications can be delivered Bibliographic checking, bibliographic understanding Digital delivery, DOI’s, understand where RAE instructions on publication submission likely to end up, help with preparation
Integrating systems AND processes RAE as main driver - RPO need for library expertise Recognised wider service need (OA agenda) – put in context of our research culture and practice Understanding our strengths and different levels of maturity – serving current needs but gradually moving emphasis Regular meetings with RPO and library – sharing knowledge Laying foundations for CRIS procurement
Key that able to shape future of Cris system to push own agendas
The CRIS vision Joint procurement with Aberdeen Library involved in tender, demos, discussions – good achievement Recognised need for robust CRIS but also had to fit with existing infrastructure that had successful working processes REF module planned
Regular meetings Continuing development of Pure
Summary of way currently providing support: Academic liaison team Bibliographic and database knowledge Managing content and collections Contacts in the information world Culture of making information easily available Knowledge of Open Access and publishing Copyright advice, interpreting licences, negotiating with publishers External sources and networks (eg MERIT, RSP)
Co-ordinated blogs: another example of our traditional skills being used to benefit of research office CRIS pool – evaluation of integrating CERIF data across institutions. Also another example of exposure of research content. Possibly take some credit here as early work with how to manage outputs from research pools in Scotland
Strategic goal to support availability of high quality St Andrews research, encourage thinking about alternative publication models
Portal being prepared for public release New features eg CVs and highlights: made more attractive by inclusion of access to full text, replicate what many members of staff already do with their own person Web pages/PDF pages Visibility of all research-related data is important – allows more informed discussion Joint presentations New academic staff induction – feedback “that’s fantastic, I won’t need to set up my own web page” “I must tell my colleagues how easy it is to add full text” “I’ve just arrived and my profile is already there! This looks like a great system, and it’s good to know who to ask if I need help”
May at some point look at issue of central research fund for publication: us better understanding, University possible benefits every stone unturned delivers gold
Wellcome funded research article Close working better knowledge of Wellcome funded researchers, better opportunities to show how compliant outputs can be used to promote individual research Multiple strands of my work, ie repository, Pure, Wellcome fund, OA
Interaction with researchers as part of Pure team allows insight into research activity Serendipity – image from RPO blog highlighting author with articles that can be made OA
Surfacing content Tap in to academic paranoia about impact and competition: CRIS driver about improving awareness, promoting St Andrews research. Publications on portal and repository School web pages via web services Theses via RSS feeds Branding as a package Engaging with web services and computer officers – reuse of centralised data
Opportunities at events to talk about different publication models, get involved : recognition that Library has “research value” OJS – PG Art history journal; Theology in Scotland journal – content already on websites Creative writing; general Social Anthropology – academics keen to set up journals Supports the publishing process Supporting educational aspects – postgrads producing / reviewing / editing journal content
Don’t forget e-books
Letters sent to staff from RPO and Deputy Principle with strong encouragement to use Pure