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Research Support, �or There and Back Again

Monday, 10 February 2020

Rachel Chidlow, Dahlia Han

Research Services

Te Tumu Herenga – Libraries and Learning Services

r.chidlow@auckland.ac.nz, d.han@auckland.ac.nz

@RChidsNZ@dahliahan

https://doi.org/10.17608/k6.auckland.11775039.v1

Research Support, or There and Back Again - Changes in the provision of support to Researchers resulting from a review of Libraries and Learning Services at the University of Auckland 2018–2019, an update.

Kia ora koutou, today I’ll be talking about Changes in the provision of support to Researchers resulting from a review of Te Tumu Herenga - Libraries and Learning Services at the University of Auckland 2018–2019

This presentation is an update to a conference poster with the same title, presented at the University Research Offices of NZ conference on the 10^th of September 2019.

[Chidlow, Rachel; Richardson, Emma; Busby, Hine Rangi (2019): URONZ 2019 Poster. figshare. Poster. https://doi.org/10.17608/k6.auckland.9789311.v1]

Improving research rankings and research performance, and the importance of international collaboration were drivers for change within Te Tumu Herenga. Alignment to University Strategy and the University’s commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi were also key drivers for the review and subsequent restructure.

The current state of operations pre-2018 led to variability in the service offered to researchers across the University. Changes were required to better cater to the transforming research ecosystem and associated needs of Researchers. The 2018 implementation of a new Service Delivery Model in Libraries and Learning Services enabled significant changes in research support to be implemented.

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Who do we support?

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Official figures from 2018, 2019 data not yet available

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What changed–staffing

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What changed–services

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Queries received by topic by the Research Services Team in 2019, n=1953

The scope and range of our services has been expanded and continues to grow as the research life cycle evolves. This slide shows the break-down by topic of the 1953 separate queries received by the Research Services Team in 2019, 474 of which resulted in 1:1 consultations.

Interestingly, most enquiries are for the more traditional support area of finding literature, data and information – even though Research Services provides support & services in a number of other areas. We have not been very proactive yet in promoting our range of services as we are still defining those, so this slide represents what Researchers know the Library provides support in.

‘Other’ includes the following, each accounted for less than 4% of total queries: [you may not need to say this during the presentation, but if anyone asks you have something to respond with!]

Collections
Open Access
Research data management
Impact and alternative metrics
Learning & Teaching referral
Copyright & licences
Maori/Pacific [related to topic, not ethnicity of requestor]

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One year on

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Achievements

Opportunities

Challenges

Achievements

We have created a diverse and multi–skilled team of Research Advisers, some of whom have Masters and Doctoral qualifications, others of whom have more traditional Library qualifications, some have both. All Advisers have disciplinary expertise, with many having discipline specific qualifications as well. As we are providing a research support service (rather than a more traditional subject librarian service), Advisers are able to spend time developing and transforming their skills to better support the research ecosystem.

Opportunities

While the team has already established some good connections and relationships with key stakeholders across the University, there is an opportunity to expand these networks further and form true partnerships with stakeholders. Forming networks with Centre for eResearch, The Research Office, UniServices (commercial arm of the University), Faculty based research support teams etc. I convene the Research Service Community of Practice for the University and find this an informative and invaluable networking opportunity.

Challenges

Scoping service provision has been challenging. With a significant increase in staffing FTE what new services might we consider offering? Are there existing services to consider for modification or discontinuation?

Supporting our Maori and Pacific researchers is both a challenge and an opportunity – how to we support these cohorts in the best possible and most authentic way – this is an area we will put more time and effort in to during 2020.

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https://doi.org/10.17608/k6.auckland.11775039.v1

@RChidsNZ@dahliahan

Rachel Chidlow, Dahlia Han

Research Services

Te Tumu Herenga – Libraries and Learning Services

r.chidlow@auckland.ac.nz, d.han@auckland.ac.nz