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Dynamic Research Support for Academic Libraries

Dynamic Research Support for Academic Libraries

Starr Hoffman

(2016)

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Book Details

Abstract

This inspiring book will enable academic librarians to develop excellent research and instructional services and create a library culture that encompasses exploration, learning and collaboration. Higher education and academic libraries are in a period of rapid evolution. Technology, pedagogical shifts, and programmatic changes in education mean that libraries must continually evaluate and adjust their services to meet new needs. Research and learning across institutions is becoming more team-based, crossing disciplines and dependent on increasingly sophisticated and varied data. To provide valuable services in this shifting, diverse environment, libraries must think about new ways to support research on their campuses, including collaborating across library and departmental boundaries. This book is intended to enrich and expand your vision of research support in academic libraries by; inspiring you to think creatively about new services; sparking ideas of potential collaborations within and outside the library, increasing awareness of functional areas that are potential key partners; providing specific examples of new services, as well as the decision-making and implementation process; and encouraging you to take a broad view of research support rather than thinking of research and instruction services, metadata creation and data services etc as separate initiatives. Dynamic Research Support in Academic Libraries provides illustrative examples of emerging models of research support and is contributed to by library practitioners from across the world. The book is divided into three sections; Part I: Training and Infrastructure, which describes the role of staff development and library spaces in research support; Part II: Data Services and Data Literacy, which sets out why the rise of research data services in universities is critical to supporting the current provision of student skills that will help develop them as data-literate citizens; and Part III: Research as a Conversation, which discusses academic library initiatives to support the dissemination, discovery and critical analysis of research. This is an essential guide for librarians and information professionals involved in supporting research and scholarly communication, as well as library administrators and students studying library and information science.
This inspiring book will enable academic librarians to develop excellent research and instructional services and create a library culture that encompasses exploration, learning and collaboration.
Higher education and academic libraries are in a period of rapid evolution. Technology, pedagogical shifts, and programmatic changes in education mean that libraries must continually evaluate and adjust their services to meet new needs. Research and learning across institutions is becoming more team-based, crossing disciplines and dependent on increasingly sophisticated and varied data. To provide valuable services in this shifting, diverse environment, libraries must think about new ways to support research on their campuses, including collaborating across library and departmental boundaries.
This book is intended to enrich and expand your vision of research support in academic libraries by:

  • Inspiring you to think creatively about new services.
  • Sparking ideas of potential collaborations within and outside the library, increasing awareness of functional areas that are potential key partners. 
  • Providing specific examples of new services, as well as the decision-making and implementation process. 
  • Encouraging you to take a broad view of research support rather than thinking of research and instruction services, metadata creation and data services etc as separate initiatives.
Dynamic Research Support in Academic Libraries provides illustrative examples of emerging models of research support and is contributed to by library practitioners from across the world. The book is divided into three sections:
  • Part I: Training and Infrastructure, which describes the role of staff development and library spaces in research support
  • Part II: Data Services and Data Literacy, which sets out why the rise of research data services in universities is critical to supporting the current provision of student skills that will help develop them as data-literate citizens.
  • Part III: Research as a Conversation, which discusses academic library initiatives to support the dissemination, discovery and critical analysis of research.
This is an essential guide for librarians and information professionals involved in supporting research and scholarly communication, as well as library administrators and students studying library and information science.
Inspiring ... This collection is highly recommended for academic librarians who are wondering how to support emerging methods of research.

Robin Dean
Michigan State University Libraries
Against the Grain
Hoffman’s collection showcases how we can add long-term value for our users by focusing on going “deeper” and delivering comprehensive specialist services which tap into a very real need. Whilst such projects may require significant investment (particularly in terms of staff time, which is a recurring motif), the examples in Dynamic Research Support provide evidence that the return will often far exceed the cost.
Michelle Dalton
Libfocus
Starr Hoffman is Head of Planning and Assessment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she assesses many activities, including the library’s support for and impact on research. Previously she supported data-intensive research as the Journalism and Digital Resources Librarian at Columbia University in New York. Her research interests include the impact of academic libraries on students and faculty, the role of libraries in higher education and models of effective academic leadership. When she’s not researching, she’s taking photographs and travelling the world.
I greatly enjoyed this book, in particular the well-crafted and engaging introductions. There was much on which to reflect, and prompt new ways of thinking and working in the library sector. A particular strength of this title is its broad appeal to any library engaged in research support.
An Leabharlann
"Dynamic Research Support for Academic Libraries" provides illustrative examples of emerging models of research support and is contributed to by library practitioners from across the world. Knowledgeably compiled and expertly edited by Starr Hoffman (Head of Planning and Assessment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she assesses many activities, including the library's support for and impact on research), "Dynamic Research Support for Academic Libraries" is strongly recommended for college and university Library Science instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
Midwest Book Review