scholarly communications in flux michael jubb director, research information network bloomsbury...
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Scholarly Communications in Flux
Michael JubbDirector, Research Information Network
Bloomsbury Conference on E-Publishing and E-Publications29 June 2007
1. Researchers’ behaviour and perceptions as information users2. Researchers as creators of information and key developments in the scholarly communications system3. Some conclusions
The Enlightenment Ideal
1. Researchers’ behaviour and perceptions
Two recent studies: Researchers’ Use of Discovery Services
http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/Report%20-%20final.pdf
Researchers’ Use of Academic Libraries and their Serviceshttp://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
The Role of Information in Research: a Crude Model
Defining a set of research questions, issues or problemsIdentifying relevant existing knowledgeAccessing, analysing, and evaluating existing knowledge and dataDesigning a methodology for generating new knowledgeApplying the methodology and discovering new knowledgeCombining old and new knowledge to answer research questions and to enhance understandingDisseminating the outcomes of research in a form that is both sustainable and retrievable
What do researchers want to find and use?
Research Resources Yes No Journal articles 99.5% 0.5%
Chapters in multi – authored books 97.0% 3.0%
Organization’s websites 90.8% 9.2%
Expertise of individuals 90.1% 9.9%
Conference proceedings 85.8% 14.2%
Monographs 83.3% 16.7%
Datasets – published or unpublished 62.0% 38.0%
Original text sources, e.g. newspapers, historical records 61.5% 38.5%
Preprints 54.7% 45.3%
Non-text sources, e.g. images, audio, artifacts 47.0% 53.0%
Other 18.0% 82.0%
See http:/ /www.rin.ac.uk/files/Report%20-%20final.pdf
What Discovery Services do they Use?
Ranked research discovery service/source
Rating
1. General search engine 1.6
2. Internal library portal 2.0
3. Specialist search engine 2.1
4. Research colleague 2.2
5. Subject-specific gateway 2.4
6. Abstract and indexing service, bibliographic database
2.6
7. External library or library portal 2.7
8. Browsing internal library shelves 2.9
9. Citation index 2.9
10. Librarian 3.1
11. List-servs 3.3
12. Blogs 3.5See http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
The long tail of discovery services
Seehttp://www.rin.ac.uk/files/Report%20-%20final.pdf
Most to least popular by number of mentions
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 101 111 121 131 141 151 161 171 181 191 201 211 221
Researchers’ Use of Library-Provided Finding Aids
See http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
The gap between discovery and access
Researchers in all subjects now expect to access resources directly on their desktop, or at home, or on the moveExpectation of seamless movement between discovery services and information resources: from reference to abstract to full text (and vice versa)Main frustration in all subjects is with inability to access journal articles where there is a subscription barrierLibrarians agree…….
Familiarity with Methods for Finding Open Access Content
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
Percent
Arts & humanities 5.8 12.6 37.1 39.0
Social sciences 6.8 17.2 38.3 33.0
Phy sical sciences 11.5 20.8 37.8 25.1
Life sciences 14.3 29.5 34.7 18.9
Library directors 42.9 23.2 32.1 1.8
Other library professionals 19.9 40.3 29.9 8.1
Very familiar FamiliarNot v ery familiar
Not at all familiar
See http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
Visits to the Library
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2001 2006 2011
Per
cen
t
Ov erall
Arts &Humanities
SocialSciences
Phy sicalSciences
Life Sciences
Seehttp://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
Where do researchers access material?
See http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
How Useful are Print Resources?
0
20
40
60
80
100Current issues of journals
Back issues of journals
Books
Reference-only items
Archives
Short loan
Special collections
Non peer reviewed items
Arts & Humanities Social Science
Physical Science Life Science
See http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
How Useful are Digital Resources?
0
20
40
60
80
100
Current issues of journals
Back issues of journals
Books
Special collectionsReference works
Conference proceedings
Digitised archives
Arts & Humanities Social Sciences
Physical Sciences Life Sciences
See http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
2. Researchers as Creators of Information:
developments in scholarly communications
Key Outputs: Journal Articles and Data
Journal articles still the key information outputE-Science and the data deluge?Concerns about data management and curation
availability of knowledge, skills and expertiselack of clarity as to roles and responsibilities
Virtual Research Environments and Virtual Research Communities
51% of researchers and 75% of librarians believe they will be major drivers of change51% of researchers have never heard of them and 31% have heard of them but don’t know much about them
Where do UK researchers publish?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Percent
Arts & humanities 82.0 6.1 8.6 6.5 2.8
Social sciences 77.9 8.6 15.9 5.3 3.8
Phy sical sciences 72.6 20.6 27.8 6.3 5.4
Life sciences 78.3 8.6 14.1 10.1 14.9
Sub-based journal (SBJ )
SBJ + OA repository
SBJ + own website
Fee-based OA journal
Free OA journal
See http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
Familiarity with Options for Making Outputs Open Access
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Arts & humanities 5.4 8.6 36.9 43.9
Social sciences 5.2 12.4 39.5 38.0
Phy sical sciences 10.0 19.7 36.2 29.7
Life sciences 13.5 22.9 36.4 24.4
Library directors 51.8 21.4 25.0 1.8
Other library professionals 21.7 43.4 28.5 5.4
Very familiar Familiar Not v ery familiar Not at all familiar
Does Your Institution have an Institutional Repository?
71.9
10.2
15.4
19.9
25.2
52.0
0 20 40 60 80
Don't know
No
Yes
Percent
Researchers Librarians
See http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/libraries-report-2007.pdf
How Useful are Institutional Repositories?
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
IR for disseminatingwork
IR for e-journalpublishing
IR for ov erlay journalcreation
Percent
Not av ailable in my library Don't use Not at all usefulNot v ery useful Neutral UsefulVery useful
The Gold Route
Blogs, Wikis and Social Networking
Core Functions of the Research Communications System
Doing research to generate new knowledge and understandingAssuring the quality of information outputsEnsuring appropriate recognition and rewardPresenting, publishing and disseminating information outputsFacilitating access and useAssessing and evaluating usage and impactPreserving valuable information outputs for the long term
Key Players in Research Communications
Researchers as creators, disseminators and usersResearch funders
Public, charitable and commercial sectorsNational policy-making bodies
Research institutionsPublishers and aggregatorsLibraries and publicly-funded service providersCommercial information service providers
3. Some Conclusions
See Research Funders’ Policies for the Management of Information Outputs
http://www.rin.ac.uk/files/Funders'%20Policy%20&%20Practice%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf
The need for evidence
Researcher behaviour and needsChanging research methods and culturesDisciplinary differencesGap between the leading edge and the mainstream
Virtual research environments, e-scienceOpen access
Take-up of new services
The information landscapeHighly distributed, nationally and internationallyRoles and responsibilities of key players
Policy, Process and Service Development
Sustaining world-class research and research communications
Continuity and changeChallenge and response
Enhancing efficiency and impactEvaluation and quality assessment(Biblio) metricsKnowledge transfer and social/economic impact
Balances and interfaces International, national and local Researchers, service providers and institutionsCommercial and non-commercial providers
What’s the New Enlightenment Ideal?
Thank You
Michael JubbResearch Information Network
http://www.rin.ac.uk