The Research Commons: a new creature in the library?

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to explore the use made of the Research Commons during its first year of operation in an attempt to establish whether it actually provides a genuinely new and different service from the point of view of the end-users, and whether a facility such as this could indeed be presumed to support research and enhance research output at the university. Design/methodology/approach -Using Lippincott's assessment grid, an attempt was made to assess activities in the Research Commons according to the dimensions of extensiveness, efficiency, effectiveness, service quality and usefulness. Methodology was mixed, with quantitative and qualitative components that logged the extent and nature of the use of the various facilities in the Research Commons and sought to establish from stakeholder perceptions whether the services on offer are regarded as substantially different from those in the undergraduate Knowledge Commons and whether they are indeed seen to be supporting research activities. Findings -It was found that a combination of numerical and qualitative measurements has yielded sufficient evidence for the drawing of preliminary conclusions. The evidence gathered demonstrates that the Research Commons, designed primarily as a site for the creation of new knowledge in the form of original writing by researchers at postgraduate and academic level, is indeed an advance on the well-established "library commons" concept, and that its creation represents an instance of "parallel invention" -the "new creature" that the title refers to. Originality/value -This paper provides a multifaceted perspective on the activities taking place in a new library facility and should provide librarians and researchers with evidence-based insight into how meaningful research support may be provided to young researchers from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds as part of an academic library service in a middle income country.

Designing Libraries for Research Collaboration in the Network World: An Exploratory Study

“…The space-as-service concept is gaining currency internationally as a visible contribution to research, particularly in support of early career researchers, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with the research commons beginning to emerge as a parallel development to the successful learning commons movement (Corrall & Lester, 2013;Daniels, Darch, & de Jager, 2010;Ohio State University Libraries, 2012). UK examples range from traditional reading rooms to the fully-serviced technology-rich space at Warwick, using early career researchers as peer support advisors, and offering novel services such as research profile matching and suites of bookable rooms for individuals and meetings (Carroll, 2011a,b).…”

The researcher's view: context is critical

“…Second, surveys in several countries show that researchers' experiences and perceptions of libraries are not altogether positive (Daniels, Darch and de Jager, 2010;Schonfeld and Housewright, 2010;MacColl and Jubb, 2011) and their views about future priorities often differ from librarians' views (RIN, 2007). Third, while changes in teaching and learning have largely driven spatial transformations of academic libraries over the past 20 years, we expect changes in research and scholarship to have a more central role over the next two decades in transforming and re--engineering libraries to meet the needs of both researchers and learners (Lyon, 2012).…”

“…Many perceive university libraries as geared towards teaching and learning, prioritizing undergraduates (RIN, 2007;Daniels, Darch and de Jager, 2010) and 'a dispensary of goods (books, articles) rather than a locus for badly needed, real--time professional support' (Jahnke, Asher and Keralis, 2012, 16). Libraries are currently moving into more specialized higher--end research support roles that are aligned with institutional concerns and have the potential to enable strategic repositioning on campus.…”

“…The role of librarians in information skills is also recognized, though more care may be needed to ensure support is geared towards researchers' needs and pitched at the right level (RIN, 2007(RIN, , 2011. In addition, despite visiting them less frequently, many researchers continue to be inspired by the creative and contemplative atmosphere of research libraries, particularly valuing the 'scholarly nature' of library space (Gannon--Leary, Bent and Webb, 2008, 4), but noise levels from mobile phones and group work in contemporary library buildings often make working conditions no longer conducive to individual quiet study (RIN, 2007;Daniels, Darch and de Jager, 2010). Researchers also see the library as a place to access up--to--date technology (RIN, 2007).…”

“…A consortium of research libraries in South Africa collaborated in an innovative programme to improve research support by creating new research commons facilities, along with customizable web--based research resources and advanced training for subject librarians (Daniels, Darch and de Jager, 2010). In the UK, the University of Warwick Library opened its Wolfson Research Exchange in 2009 as a highly visible dedicated research space in a prime location on campus, combining traditional quiet study places, with collaborative and social areas, in a technology--rich environment with mobile equipment that can be reconfigured for different types of meetings -from poster sessions, through project meetings and reading groups, to summer schools and academic conferences.…”