Dear Colleagues,

Thank you to those who responded to the question about research support for
Ph.D. students. The question was posted to two lists LIS-INFOSKILLS and
LIS-RESEARCH SUPPORT. This summary collates replies from both lists, 7 from
LIS-INFOSKILLS 4 from LIS-RESEARCH SUPPORT.

The first point is that there is a list for research support - LIS-RESEARCH
SUPPORT with 250 members. If you are receiving this and you are not a member
you can join in the usual way. If you are already a member apologies.

The University of London Library is running a project - called Virtual
Research Environment Project [VRE] focusing on "the qualitative evaluation
of the information needs of the e-researcher rather than technical issues
surrounding the implementation of group-ware." The project URL is
[http://www.external.ull.ac.uk/elpt/vre.asp]. University of Westminster has
information on training days for Research Students, which has helpful
indicative content [http://www.wmin.ac.uk/library/researchsupport/]

In addition to the reading in the original e-mail the following references
were supplied 1) Bruce, C.S., 1994. Research students' early experiences of
the dissertation literature review, Studies in Higher Education, 19,
217-229. There are a series of statistical / psychological studies on
"Library Anxiety" and graduate students 2) Jiao, Q G; Onwuegbuzie, A. J.
2001. Library anxiety and characteristic strengths and weaknesses of
graduate students' study habits Library Review; 50 (1 & 2) 2001, p.73-80 3)
Jiao, Q G; Onwuegbuzie, A. J., 1998. Perfectionism and library anxiety among
graduate students. Journal of Academic Librarianship; 24 (5) Sep 1998,
p.365-71

As a number of responses were posted to the Lists - this is a very abridged
summary:

1)      Some research libraries only have Ph.D. users and therefore have a
wealth of knowledge but no point of comparison with University Libraries
that serve a mix of Ph.D. UG / PG.
2)      One strategic themes of HEFCE for the next 10 years is "enhancing
research excellence" pushing research support up the UKHE agenda of
institutions that previously focused on taught programmes UG/MA/MSc's.
3)      Some libraries are in the process of gearing up to meet a growth in
Ph.D. registrations. Interestingly 3 respondents are in posts dedicated to
research support across Institutions - "Research Librarian" or "Research
Support Librarian" - perhaps a growing trend. Some support appears to be
delivered across service with Ph.D.'s being directed to subject specialists
as part induction/training. Subject specialists deliver support as well.
4)      Ph.D. users appear to differ in that: 1) they are more intensive
library users; 2) they need support over a sustained period; 3) they are
"researchers" not "learners"; 4) they have a need for specialist resources;
5) in general more "demanding" of Librarians - making more use of ILL; 6)
Ph.D.'s need a comprehensive and exhaustive knowledge of the literature of
their research area.
5)      The principle of special courses for Ph.D. researchers seems well
established. The mechanism for delivery varies from drop-in to formal
sessions. Some colleagues deliver into taught research methods
units/modules.
6)      The course contents vary but focus on some or all of these topics
listed here in no particular order: 1) "Advanced" Database Skills; 2) OPAC's
[COPAC]; 3) E-Journals; 4) Current Awareness and Updating Services [ZETOC];
5) Citation Styles; 6) Personal Bibliographic Software [EndNote appears to
be the most popular, although we use ProCite]; 7) Citation Indexes/Citation
Searching; 8) Electronic networking - mailing lists, conferences; 9)
Identifying previous research [Index to Thesis etc.].

In general the value of cross service vs. subject specialist support and
integration into taught elements of research methods techniques are key.
Information skills appear to be both needed and in some cases delivered.
Content is tailored to meet the specific needs of Ph.D. researchers.

Matt
________________________________________________________________________
Matt Holland - Subject Librarian - Bournemouth Media School. Bournemouth
University,
Dorset House Library, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB,
UK.
Tel: ++ 44 1202 595460 Fax: ++ 44 1202 595475 E-mail:
[log in to unmask]