Where is the Library?Research Support at MMU

Mary PickstoneResearch Support Librarian

MMU – some background

• 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?