From: "Baker, Katie" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2013 15:28:58 +0000

***With apologies for cross posting***

Dear colleagues,

We hope that the below may be of interest.

With kind regards,

Katie

********

Re-imaging the role of the library is key to demonstrating value in
the developing world

Los Angeles, London (06 August 2013) - Raising awareness of how the
library supports teaching and research staff is key to demonstrating
library value in developing countries, concludes a new report
published today. The findings are the result of a six-month research
study with twelve developing country institutions conducted by SAGE
exploring perceptions of the value of academic libraries by teaching
and research staff in developing countries.

'Library Value in the Developing World' reports that
developing-country librarians are beginning to recognize the
importance of evaluating their value for research and teaching staff.
Communicating the value of their role however, remains a key
challenge. Librarians noted that whilst they receive positive feedback
about the resource collections they provide, there is limited
awareness of how librarians can better support research and teaching
staff beyond these traditional parameters.

Chief considerations

Outlined in the report are examples of best practice from the case
study institutions, along with recommendations on how working
relations between academic libraries and stakeholders could be
enhanced. These include:

.       Communication
The report highlights the value of increased engagement between
individual libraries and their academic staff to help reinforce their
changing role in supporting academia and in supporting training and
advice. Developing research partnerships, integrated teaching,
research services and literacy instruction were all considered part of
the 'reinvented' librarian role, beyond providing access to resources.
The report suggests that librarians are building an increased
understanding of marketing skills, as well as developing external
relationships with the scholarly community to promote advocacy for the
library.

.       Support from the university
Universities can also help to build awareness of the role of the
library, the report advises, by investing in the professional
development of librarians in both their provision of research and
teaching skills, and by enabling librarians more contact time with
research and teaching staff. It also advises that the University
provide internal marketing support to help raise the status and
recognition of librarians and the value they add to the work of
academic colleagues and senior managers.

.       Collaboration with publishers
There are also considerations for publishers. The report advises that
further research be conducted to understand the ongoing needs of
developing-country libraries and their work. Part of this includes the
adaptation of marketing and online resources to enable greater access
for those in developing countries.

###
The full report can be accessed from:
http://www.uk.sagepub.com/librarians/dw.sp. Follow the conversations
on twitter at #libvalue

###

Library Value in the Developing World, a follow up to the 2012 study
conducted with LISU "Working together: evolving value for academic
libraries", was undertaken by SAGE, in consultation with Claire
Creaser of LISU  the national research and information centre based at
Loughborough University (UK), and Lucy Browse of International Network
for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP).

The findings are based on a series of surveys, interviews and case
studies with twelve developing country institutions; Universidad
Nacional Autonoma de Honduras; Indonesian Research Institute;
University of Cape Coast, Ghana; National Scientific Library, Georgia;
Maseno University, Kenya; Convenant University and Obafemi Awolowo
University, Nigeria; University of the Philippines Visayas,
Philippines;  University of Thies, Senegal; Makerere University,
Uganda; Institute of Intellectual Property of National University
Kiev, Ukraine, and the University of Zimbabwe.

The findings of the report are also being presented at IFLA WLIC
Annual conference 2013 on 20th August by Nell McCreadie, Group
Marketing Manager, SAGE. Full details below:

"Library Value in the Developing World: presentation of research
project ¬findings"

Tuesday 20th August
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Meeting Room 303, Level 3, Suntec Singapore International
Convention and Exhibition Centre


Katie Baker
PR Executive
SAGE Publications Ltd
London, EC1Y 1SP
UK