Barrie Hayes

Development of the research lifecycle model for library services

QUESTION Can the niche services of individual librarians across multiple libraries be developed into a suite of standard services available to all scientists that support the entire research lifecycle? SETTING Services at a large, research-intensive state university campus are described. METHOD Initial data were collected via concept mapping by librarians. Additional data were collected at conferences and meetings through interactive poster presentations. MAIN RESULTS Services of interest to scientists for each of the stages in the research lifecycle were developed by the team to reflect the wide range of strengths of team members in aggregate. CONCLUSION Input from researchers was the most effective tool for developing the model. A flexible research lifecycle model can be developed to match the needs of different service groups and the skills of different librarians.

Data management and curation of research data in academic scientific research environments

The Structural Bioinformatics Core Facility at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (SBI Core) assists researchers university-wide in computational structural biology techniques and incorporating structural biology/bioinformatics into their grants and publications. The SBI Core works with a diverse population of researchers from numerous departments and provides support to an ever-changing body of research. The computational biology services provided by the SBI Core are data-intensive and use a diverse and distributed set of applications for processing, data storage, and data management. As the amount of data and number of projects have increased, the SBI Core requires an effective strategy for managing data and facilitating data sharing between the SBI Core and the researchers it assists. The UNC-CH Health Sciences Library (HSL) has begun a collaborative project with the SBI Core to identify the crucial data management needs and to envision new roles for the library in e-science and data management. In partnership, the SBI Core and the HSL have identified major obstacles in data sharing, data management, and data access. Furthermore, the SBI Core and the HSL will develop solutions in which the library facilitates collaboration among campus resources and matches unmet needs to external resources. One of the librarys goals in this proof-of-concept project with the SBI Core is to become a central campus resource for research support and data management.

Developing an interdisciplinary collaboration center in an academic Health Sciences Library.

Abstract This article describes the evolution of the Health Sciences Librarys plans for an interdisciplinary, technology-enhanced collaboration center, from a technology-driven space to one with a vision of support for peer-to-peer learning and research. The center offers an exciting opportunity to be an essential partner in collaborative and interdisciplinary programs such as the new Carolina Center for Exploratory Genetic Analysis. The Library is a centrally located and neutral place, which helps minimize geographical and territorial obstacles to effective collaboration. The collaboration center raises the Librarys visibility and allows staff to demonstrate the value of knowledge resources, services, technology expertise, infrastructure, and facilities for group study and collaboration.

Reinventing a Health Sciences Digital Library- Organizational Impact

Abstract What is the organizational impact of becoming a digital library, as well as a physical entity with facilities and collections? Is the digital library an add-on or an integrated component of the overall library package? Librarians see sweeping environmental and technological changes. The staff members feel exhilarated and challenged by the pressures to adapt quickly and effectively. Librarians recognize that a Web presence, like other technology components, must be continuously enhanced and regularly re-engineered. The Health Sciences Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is reinventing its digital presence to better meet the needs of the community. This paper provides a case study focusing on major changes in planning processes, organizational structure, staffing, budgeting, training, communications, and operations at the Health Sciences Library.

Keeping the Momentum: Moving Ahead with Research Data Support

From June 2011 to early 2012 the NCSU Libraries and the UNC Libraries took part in the ARL/DLF E-Science Institute to frame a strategic agenda for supporting research data management and its broader e-science needs at our universities. We conducted an environmental scan, interviewed key researchers and administrators, and participated in capstone meetings with peer institutions. Our two institutions represent two strategies with varying degrees of divergence and convergence. At the NCSU Libraries, with no repository explicitly designed for research data, we are focusing on developing a portfolio of services and partnerships to create a “campus collaborative” of experts, tools, and training to support research data. With limited or unbalanced domain expertise, we are rethinking how subject specialists can be deployed to serve diverse research needs. At the UNC Libraries, we have an institutional repository, but recognize that it cannot serve all data management needs across campus. We, too, are developing a cooperative network of campus partners to guide researchers to various campus services at their point of need. The Carolina Digital Repository, UNC’s institutional repository, is one option among these services as is helping researchers identify disciplinary repositories where appropriate. Both institutions are particularly interested in exploring the long term possibilities of creating cultural shifts in research data stewardship by educating graduate students and early career researchers, and the ways in which regional library consortia can partner in data management support in the same way we’ve partnered on other issues. Reflecting on these two institutions’ goals, we will discuss the opportunities and challenges centered on supporting data-driven research. We’ll share our plans for next steps and invite discussion on how to respond to those opportunities and challenges in practical, achievable, sustainable, and repurposable ways with limited human, technological, and financial

Co-Streaming Classes: A Follow-Up Study in Improving the User Experience to Better Reach Users

Co-streaming classes have enabled library staff to extend open classes to distance education students and other users. Student evaluations showed that the model could be improved. Two areas required attention: audio problems experienced by online participants and staff teaching methods. Staff tested equipment and adjusted software configuration to improve user experience. Staff training increased familiarity with specialized teaching techniques and troubleshooting procedures. Technology testing and staff training were completed, and best practices were developed and applied. Class evaluations indicate improvements in classroom experience. Future plans include expanding co-streaming to more classes and on-going data collection, evaluation, and improvement of classes.