Sage Evolving Value Research

What ZSR Library does to build value

Susan Sharpless SmithElisabeth LeonardNCLA Biennial ConferenceOctober 18, 2013

Background 6-month research project

Value of academic libraries for teaching and research staff Looking at evidence base and faculty perceptions

Objective: How libraries can… Better market their services Improve perceptions with key decision makers

Evidence of library support for research in literature Less evidence on their support for teaching

MethodologyLiterature

review

Case studies

Regional surveys

Final report with

triangulated results

• Literature review

To inform

• Case studies• 2 UK• 4 USA• 2 Scandinavia

Confirmed by

• Survey of librarians

Elicit participation and comments via the project blog: http://libraryvalue.wordpress.com/

Research Questions

• Do librarians have a good understanding of the needs of teaching and research staff?

• Are librarians effectively promoting their resources and services?• Does this influence perceptions of the

library amongst those staff?

Library Value

Perceptions of the Library: Librarians

Feedback received is generally positive Varies according to level of engagement

Concern that faculty do not understand library ‘Staff never cease to be amazed at what we

can actually provide/help them with.’ (UK survey respondent)

Changing role of the library

Perceptions of the Library: Faculty The library is not just a place to the faculty, but the

services we provide. (US respondent) Staff believe that young people are inherently tech

savvy and do not need any additional guidance, instruction, or introduction to library resources. (Scandinavian respondent)

Academic staff tend to reply on their liaison for teaching database and searching skills, but believe that they can teach the importance of using scholarly material and evaluating sources (UK respondent)

Working together: services

Embedded information literacy instruction Integrated teaching services Integrated research services Research partnerships

Library Services for Teaching

Faculty Response to Embedded Information Literacy Instruction

Benefits Academics see value Increase in quality of the work received

from students

Faculty Response to Integrated Teaching Services

Success of co-teaching not necessarily linked to the librarian’s level of subject expertise

Librarians expertise helpful in use of IT tools in courses E.g. podcasts, wikis, blogs

Library Services for Research

Faculty Response to Integrated Research Services

Research support usually includes: Open access, bibliometrics, literature searching

Survey found that support for Open Access publishing and particularly for self-archiving were relatively more important to Scandinavian respondents than those in the UK or US

Relationships are key!

Areas to Enhance Future Value: Research partnerships

Support with grant applications Inclusion of the cost of the resources needed

for the project Assistance with data management

Data Specialist Librarian

Areas to Enhance Future Value: Research Partnerships

Data Specialist Librarian More value from research data

Generates more research partnerships Success factors

‘frame [the service] from a faculty perspective rather than from a librarian perspective’

Direct response to researchers’ individual needs

Marketing the Library

Librarians’ Views: Visibility of the Library and Library Services

Communication Wide range of traditional communication channels

Presence at departmental meetings Engage with departmental leadership Representation in university committee structure “Whether this is a good idea or not (and ignoring

practicalities), I almost think that turning off all of our electronic resources for a day or three would increase the perceived value of the library” (UK respondent)

Librarians’ Views: Personal relationships

Bring trust Make it possible to tailor services to specific

needs Offer a response to a direct problem

Recommendations

Recommendations to Individual Librarians

Know your audience – research their needs, discuss with them

Go beyond the comfort zone – expand skills and knowledge beyond librarianship

Recommendations to Libraries and their Managers

Skills assessment & staff development at your institution

Free up time for new demands on librarians Document and share the process of building

partnerships – for the benefits of other librarians at your institution (Wiki-based document?)

Start to collect evidence of value Success stories? Quantifiable evidence?

To find out more… Final report now published Project website

http://libraryvalue.wordpress.com/ Contact

SAGE: elisabeth.leonard@sagepub.com

LISU: lisu@lboro.ac.uk

Who is Wake Forest University?

• WFU is a private co-ed liberal arts university in Winston-Salem, NC

• We describe ourselves as a “collegiate university”• Mid-size, under 5,000 undergraduates, total including

graduate and medical school: under 7,000• Traditional school with a primarily residential student

population• ZSR Library is the 2011 ACRL Excellence in Libraries

winner in the university category• Our mission is simple: “to help our faculty, students

and staff succeed.”

Complexity of Demonstrating Value

Framework for Demonstrating Value

• Targeting WFU faculty through– Embedded instruction– Teaching & Research Support– Raising visibility through

relationships and partnerships

Embedment @ ZSR

Social Stratification in the Deep South, 2009 Trip

Teaching Support: Technology

Building Relationships

• Library Lecture Series• Annual Faculty Author Dinner• New Faculty Orientation

Buidling Partnerships

• Initiatives– Digital Humanities– WFU Digital

Publishing– Documenting

Diversity

• Events– Faces of Courage:

50 Years of Integration

– Allen Mandelbaum Memorial

– Gay Pride Parade

Expanding Roles

• Faculty status opened new doors

• Liaisons: Not just about collection development

• Academic Advisers

Transforming Positions to Meet Changing Needs

• Every open position is evaluated and may be re-defined if there is need

– Scholarly Communication Librarian

– Outreach Librarian– e-Learning Librarian– Digital Initiatives

Librarian

Increasing Visibility via Library Spaces

• Starbucks• 118-Seat Auditorium• Writing Center• Group Study Rooms with

Technology• The Bridge• New Mac Teaching Lab• Musicircus

What’s in our Future?