Assessing Library Research Support in South Africa Pat Busby, Colin Darch, Karin de Jager

1. Assessing Library Research Support in South Africa Pat Busby, Colin Darch, Karin de Jager Quantitative Assessment Qualitative Assessment Our Vision To model transformation & enrichment in the support offered to researchers by South African academic libraries Carnegie Corporation of New York grant of US$2.5 million Three components The Academy (empowering librarians in 2 week residential courses and 6 week US 'internships'); The Portal (facilitating customised access to digital content); The Commons (dedicated hi-tech physical space for researchers) Three partners University Libraries at Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal & the Witwatersrand Baseline Snapshot 2006 - LibQUAL+ data 2005 - Reference statistics - Knowledge Commons usage - Circulation & ILL - Use of electronic resources Consortial Standard Measures Research Commons - Login pop-ups - Exit surveys - Log of activities - Tracking demand Portal - Bandwidth monitoring - Tracking use - Usability studies - Digitisation of African material • Needs assessment • - LibQUAL+ • - Anecdotal evidence • - Focus groups • Research Academy • - Daily ‘post-its’ & blogs • - Virtual Learning Environment • - Publishable research reports • - 'Before & after' assessment • - Impact study at end 2008 • US 'Internships' • - Weekly reports & blogging • - Mid-term evaluation meeting • - Institutional presentations • Outcomes Expected by Donor • - Web portal with new Africa-oriented content • - Three equipped & functioning Research Commons • - Domain expertise & research skills improved among librarians • Longer Term Outcomes • - Develop leadership qualities among librarians • - Expand model beyond 3 institutions • - Increase research output at 3 institutions (indirect outcome) Problems - Project to improve research output - How to measure success? - Institutions are independent - Evaluation is not prescriptive