Also of some relevance and interest is the recent article on the Access to
Research initiative by Sarah FAULDER and Shinwha CHA of the Publishers
Licensing Society (PLS): "Access to Research: the experience of implementing
a pilot in public libraries" It describes the background to the initiative
and some early findings from the pilot.

Fortunately this article is Open Access (OA) so is freely available (you
don't need to go into a library to access it)-see below for some additional
comment about access to OA resources

 

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/alpsp/lp/2014/00000027/00000002/art000
02;jsessionid=23iknggxjxoon.alice

In the article the authors say:-

"Our priorities for engagement with librarians and public library users are
to develop a comprehensive understanding of users' interests and to provide
targeted guidance so that different users can find out what they need to
know. We also need to continue to support librarians through training and
guidance, as they are the primary contact with the users. We are considering
as well the kinds of data collection that we need to undertake to provide
evidence for this work"

 

As well as working with the PLS is there not also scope for public libraries
to work in partnership with academic libraries? Most academic libraries
provide 'walk-in' access facilities for e-resources. Are SCONUL and SCL
talking to each other about it? See the SCONUL report "WATER: Walk in Access
to E-Resources. Providing visitor access to e-resources: guidelines and
advice April 2013".
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/SCONUL%20Water%20repor
t.pdf

 

Thinking of OA it's worth pointing out that public libraries can also
provide free (unrestricted) access to journal articles (and other scholarly
resources) to users *at their home* (the Access to Research initiative is
limited to 'walk in' use) via services such as CORE
(http://core-project.kmi.open.ac.uk/ ) and BASE.
(http://www.base-search.net/about/en/index.php ). These services provide
access to *millions* of articles (and there will be surely be some overlap
with the scope of Access to Research.)

 

As a researcher with no academic affiliation I find these services  very
helpful in getting OA versions of articles I'd otherwise have to pay for.
However they are certainly not widely known by the general public. I'd be
interested to know if any public libraries have incorporated these free
services into their offering (maybe integrated with their online
catalogues?) . Anyone know of any public libraries doing this?

 

Ken

Ken Chad Consulting Ltd

Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. Email:  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]   <http://www.kenchadconsulting.com/>
www.kenchadconsulting.com

Skype: kenchadconsulting   Twitter: @KenChad   LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kenchad

Higher Education Library Technology wiki:  <http://helibtech.com/>
http://helibtech.com/

My presentations on slideshare:  <http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad>
http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad

 

From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Spackman, Katharine - Chief Executive's Office
Sent: 01 April 2014 12:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Access to Research

 

Dear All

 

As one of the original technical pilot authorities, I contacted the PLS
yesterday who have replied with the attached poster that can be sent out for
general circulation. Apparently, there will also be a follow up email on
communications for Access To Research that will be sent to all participating
local authorities this week.

 

Regards

 

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Katharine Spackman

Lead Librarian, Information Services

 

Oxfordshire County Council - Cultural Services

Oxford Central Library
Westgate

Oxford

OX1 1DJ

 

Tel:  01865 810210

Mob: 07827 823350

e-mail:  <blocked::mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]

 

 

 

 

From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Darren Smart, Group Library Manager
Sent: 31 March 2014 09:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Access to Research

 

Dear Anne

 

I am not aware of any national promotion strategy for Access to Research,
other than the well publicised official launch, and the few local approaches
I have heard of have been low key poster stuff done by local staff. PMLG did
tweet about the service around the time of the launch & ran a reminder in a
subsequent e-newsletter. If you do find there is a more coordinated
publicity campaign out there please let us know and we will help to spread
the message

 

Regards

 

Darren

 

Dr Darren Smart

Chair of the Public & Mobile Libraries Group

CILIP

 

From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Archer, Anne
Sent: 30 March 2014 15:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Access to Research

 

Dear all

 

Here at Newcastle Libraries we are part of the Access to Research Pilot. We
have been doing our own promotion but I was just wondering if anyone knows
if there is a national and / or local promotion strategy for the resource?
I've contacted access to research through the contact form on the website
(http://www.accesstoresearch.org.uk/) but I've not had a response.

 

Many thanks

Anne

Anne Archer 
Library and Information Officer 
Information and Digital team 
Adult and Cultural Services 

City Library 
Charles Avison Building 
33 New Bridge Street West 
Newcastle Upon Tyne 
NE1 8AX 

E-mail       <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]          
Website    <http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/libraries>
www.newcastle.gov.uk/libraries 
Tel            +44 (0)191 277 4100


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