Presentation delivered by Anne Costigan at Supporting Researchers at Your University event, at Kings Manor, University of York, organised by the Academic and Research Libraries Group Yorkshire and Humberside branch, 18th November 2015

1. Research support at the University of
Bradford Library:
Investigating the needs of researchers
Anne Costigan
University of Bradford Library
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2. Research Support Librarian
• Appointed to complement University initiative to
improve services to researchers
– Part time alongside other responsibilities
– Still doing all of the old job as well until March this year
• Remit
– Improvement of services to PGR
– Number of services to researchers already running
– Wanted to investigate what researchers did and what they
needed
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3. Final title of investigation
• Investigating the needs and experiences of
researchers at Bradford University Library
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4. Research Support services in place
• Subject librarian support
• Programme of 2-hour workshops
• Bite size workshops
• Weekly visit to PGR Lounge
• Web page
• http://www.brad.ac.uk/library/services/researchers/
• New Research Support Librarian post
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5. Project
• March – Kirsty Carver, team colleague, spotted
Summer Experience intern advertisement
• April – placement brief advertised
– Initial plan was for intern to conduct two pieces of research
– Job specification included experience of research methods
– Second project dropped
• June – interviews and appointment
• Appointed Somaya Mahmoud, just completed Year 2
Psychology
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6. Summer Experience
• New University of Bradford initiative to provide work
experience for undergraduates
• Up to 6 weeks cofunded by Summer Experience and
employer
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7. Timescale
• 6 weeks
– Mid June – end July
• Week 1 – plan
• Week 2
– Pilot and launch questionnaire
– Conduct focus group
• Week 3
– Promote questionnaire
– Transcribe focus group
• Weeks 4-5
– Analyze results
• Week 6
– Produce report
• Really tight timetable!
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8. Questionnaire
• Used Bristol Online Surveys (because I have used it
previously)
– onlinesurveys.ac.uk
– University subscribes
• 105 responses (from 1361 research students and staff)
– Happy with the response rate, given that we ran it for less than 2
weeks in middle of summer
• Responses by type of researcher
– 40% academic staff
– 48% research students
• Raffle for £50 Amazon voucher
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9. Focus groups
• 11 attendees in 2 groups
• Conducted by Somaya
– Somaya’s experience of ethics of consent etc very valuable
here
• £10 Amazon voucher for all who attended
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10. Library
• Strong support for subject librarian
– 90% aware
• Library used
– 91% visited the Library at least once a month
– 81% borrowed a book at least once a month
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11. Space
• Researchers appreciated the silent space within the
Library but expressed a wish for a dedicated space
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12. Dedicated space for researchers
• 68% would like a dedicated study space for
researchers with the Library
• 61% of those who want the space would prefer it to be
silent
• Also requested: computers, printer, drinks machine
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13. Library training
• 70% aware of workshops
• 44% attended some
• Workshop programme only 2 years old
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14. eresources
• 98% of respondents used Library ejournals
• 96% used Library Website
• 85% used Library ebooks
• Do you feel you have access to all the resources you
need?
– Only 60% said yes
• But…. When we asked what resources they needed
that we do not have access to…
– Most of those mentioned resources we already have!
– More education needed
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15. Databases
• Specific question: When you start a literature review on
a new topic, which would you use first?
– 28% said Library catalogue or Summon
– 25% said Databases
– But 31% said Google Scholar
– More education needed
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16. Research data
• Small numbers identify as using university servers
• But this is probably due to wording of question
• Even so increased publicity about university facilities
required
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17. Open access
• 55% aware of the concept of Open Access
• 40% aware of the new HEFCE requirements
• Focus group
– Fears of cost, low quality journals
– Negative attitude generally
• Campaign of publications workshops now in progress
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18. Reference management software
• University provides and supports EndNote
• Only 60% claim to use reference management software
• Of those, 81% use EndNote desktop or Web
• 15% use Mendeley
– Do we need to increase support?
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19. Surprises
• 30% Mac users
• Do you have constraints on your time because of
caring responsibilities?
– Yes 61%
• Both surprisingly high
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20. Lessons conducting the study
• Student interns are great!
• You need more time….
• Don’t try to do too much!
– We thought we could do two studies. We must have been
mad!
• Offer a prize
– Generated queries
• Bristol Online Surveys
– Somaya found it very easy to set up and use
– Provides simple analyses of results
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21. Next steps
• Using SPSS to analyse by multiple criteria
– Analyse answers by department and type of researcher
• Open access publications workshop programme
underway
• Research data initiative under way
• Eresources publicity intiatives have taken place,
support initiatives in preparation
• Dedicated space for researchers under investigation
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22. A final question
• We found the experience very worthwhile
• Question of needs that they do not acknowledge –
copyright information for instance
• How do you explore those? All suggestions welcome!
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