Transcript Where is the Library? Research Support at MMU Mary Pickstone Research Support Librarian.

Where is the Library?
Research Support at MMU
Mary Pickstone
Research Support Librarian
MMU – some background
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post-92 University
traditionally learning and teaching
research in ‘pockets of excellence’
Research Strategy – aspiration to be
in top 50 universities for research by
2020
REF 2014
• Has risen 12 places (from 78 to 66) in
the overall rankings according to the
THES
• But in some areas MMU scored much
more highly eg 6th out of 84 in Art and
Design; 12th out of 94 in Health
• Submission was strategic so didn’t
submit to all Units of Assessment
Supporting researchers:
where is the Library?
• 1 FTE post dedicated to research
support
• other support given by Faculty teams
and subject librarians
Role of research support
librarian
• Point of contact for library staff on
research issues
• Liaise with researchers and research
administrators
• Contribute to Graduate School
inductions and researcher
development programme
Role of research support
librarian 2
Oh, and also…
• produce a weekly bulletin in term-time
of items of interest from the web
• manage the institutional repository
(IR) e-space including input, advice
and advocacy
e-space, MMU’s repository
• managed by the Library
• had an IR since 2006
• actively managed, staffed and
promoted up to 2009
• 2009 onwards - input is a mediated
service by library staff alongside other
roles
OA agenda
• has changed the role of the research
support librarian and how the library
supports researchers
Finch Report - 2012
• advocated Open Access publication
• changed the scholarly
communications landscape
• triggered publication mandates from
funders such as RCUK, the Wellcome
Trust, and HEFCE
e-space, MMU’s repository
now
• vehicle for green OA
• June 2015 - completed linkage with
the CRIS, Symplectic Elements
• leading to self deposit via Symplectic,
with library staff checking before
submissions go live in e-space
RCUK block grant
• MMU has received a very small
amount
– 13/14 £11,442
– 14/15 £13,461
– 15/16 £15,361
• recently set up an institutional Article
Processing Charge (APC) fund of
£80,000 for 2015/16, administered by
the Library, to supplement the RCUK
grant
Supporting researchers:
where is the Library now?
Additional areas of support:
• advising on Open Access issues
• managing APCs
• working with Research and
Knowledge Exchange (RKE) to
formulate policy
Engaging with the (REF) concept
of ‘impact’
has opened up a whole new world…
• Questions about where to publish
• Metrics
– Traditional metrics – helping researchers
decide where to publish
– Alternative metrics – helping researchers
track the impact of their research
Challenges
• Advocating open access agenda and
thinking about how we can do this
• Persuading researchers to engage
with the process
• Ensuring colleagues are kept up to
date with the latest developments
Going forward…
• address Research Data Management
(RDM) – currently looking at solutions
• working with RKE to get the OA
HEFCE message out to researchers
• developing procedures and workflows
to administer APCs and changes to
the IR
• Working with the Graduate School to
be more responsive and flexible in
Infoskills delivery
Any questions?