Research Commons @ Stellenbosch University presented at RLC Academy, Mont Fleur 2011

Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service

RESEARCH COMMONS

Lucia Schoombee20 October 2011, Mont Fleur

• Timeline• Big picture• Part of a suite of services• Mission and goals• Four pillars (Facility, Assistance, Partnership, Events) • Feedback (Comments, Focus group)• New initiatives• Surfing the USA

Agenda2

• SU joins the RLC - 2009• Construction completed – Jan 2011• Soft opening – 16 March 2011• Official opening – 9 March 2011

Timeline

• National levelo National System of innovation in South Africao DST’S Ten Year Innovation Plan (2008-2018)

• Institutional levelo Huge targets

• New modes of researcho Interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary,

transdiscipliniary, Solution-basedo Collaborative – more focus on sharing and

communicating research

Big picture

• Institutional repository• Online journal publishing• Research Performance Management

• Scival Spotlight, etc• Elsevier Partnership

• Author workshops etc• Division for Research Support• Information Services (Faculty Librarians)

Part of a suite of services

• Aligned with institutional goals• High-level research facility• Exclusive use by masters and doctoral• Empower research• Increase student through-put• Enhance research output• Holistic approach

Mission and goals

• Spaces • Equipment • Utilities • Hours• Reference collection

Facility

Style

Inspiration

Senior librarian• RLC Academy participant, 2010• USA Intern 2011

Librarian• RLC Academy participant, 2010

Peer-assistance• Six masters and doctoral students with research

experience

Assistance – Staffing model

Specialised Research Librarians• Research process• Referencing• Bibliographic tools• Technical specifications for theses writing• MS Word, Adobe, Latex• Sourcing information from different support units

(Writing Lab, Statistical analysis, Research Office, etc.)• Bibliometrics

Relationship building

Assistance - aims

Research Commons website • News, services, facilities• Online bookings for training events• Online calendar• Postgraduate portal • Library Research Portal • Useful links

Assistance - virtual

Consultations • Within the Library and beyond

Partners• Writing Centre• Centre for Statistical Analysis• Centre for Student Counselling• High Computing Centre• Research Office• Postgraduate & International Office

Partnership

• Using Google effectively • Practical copyright• Tools to stay current in your field• Sharing large files• Finding legislation in your discipline• Finding government statistic• Finding full-text

Events - workshops

• Invited lectures by distinguished researchers and visiting scholars

• Opportunity to share research/knowledge and inspire young researchers

Events – lecture series

• Friday 4 pm – 5.30 pm• Once a term• 15 min research-related talk• cheese and wine• Opportunity for dialogue, discussion and interaction

Events – social hour

• Thank you for extra work space in separate room!

• The new Research Commons motivates you to come here and DO your work. Thank you! Baie dankie!

• Great initiative!• Step up and unto the know ledge• Good coffee!! • Love the red couch• Oh orange chair, thank you for loving

my back…• This place is extraordinary• I LOVE the Research Commons • Thank you so much for the stationary,

really helpful, I LOVE this place

Feedback – comments

• Complements• Suggestions and services required• Technical aspects of theses• Troubleshooting• Latex• Converting chapter of theses to article• Bibliographic tools – Refworks, Mendeley, Endnote, Zotero• Facebook• Notice board• Add reference books• Upgrade wifi• Do not add desks

Feedback – focus group

• iPad• Newsletter• Banner• Touch Screen bulletin/display boards• Blog• Focus group discussion to solicit feedback from users• Survey

Initiatives

Usage - generalJune – August 2011

Gate count: 14 865Approx. 11% unique visitors (1 514)Bookings for seminar rooms: 110Queries: approx. 15 per dayCoffee consumption: 707 cups p.m.Average occupation of computer workstations: optimal

Usage - enquiriesAverage number of enquiries per day 15

• Technical (computers, printing, username/passwords, etc.)

• General (Refworks, catalogue and database searches, room bookings, card access, coffee machine)

• Other: translation, technical editing of thesis, reference techniques, etc.

University of Washington

New York University

Ohio University

UCLA

Research Commons: a literature review by Jonathan Strang, UBC Library (2010)

My experienceExciting and stimulatingChallengeLearning curvePioneer workRewardingRLC contribution • National / institutional research agenda’s• Researcher’s world • Research process• Exposure to US Libraries

Thank You!