Academic and professional publisher SAGE has commissioned a new research study to investigate library value. The project, 'Working together: evolving value for academic libraries,’ will investigate the value of academic libraries for teaching and research staff.
The research is being undertaken by LISU, a national research and information centre based in the Research School of Informatics and the Department of Information Science at Loughborough University (UK).
Commencing this month, the six month project will build on existing research to identify how libraries can better market their services, and how they can improve perceptions with key decision makers. While value can be defined in many ways, this project will provide a global perspective on the issue of library value focusing on the relationship between academic libraries and teaching and research staff.
The research team will be undertaking eight case studies for the project from January to March 2012. Libraries interested in taking part may contact LISU via the project website.
The case studies of individual libraries and universities will be undertaken with a mix of both research intensive and teaching intensive institutions, and be drawn from three broad geographical areas - two from the UK; four from the USA; and two from Scandinavia. In order to give an indication of how typical the case study experiences are within their wider regional and academic context, a series of triangulation surveys will then be carried out to ascertain the extent to which the issues and findings from the case studies resonate with wider experience. Volunteers for the surveys are also encouraged to contact the research team via the project website.
Interested parties may visit http://libraryvalue.wordpress.com for further information about the project and to contact the research team for participation.
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