interests across the nation in addition to the perennial subjects of health, history and science. Looking at the most recent report (December 2019) Medical condi- tions and remedies were well represented (‘Alopecia’, ‘Cognitive Behavioural therapy and depression’) but there is also room for the somewhat specialised (‘Glouces- tershire Regiment’ and ‘Hegel’). “While most searches: ‘Royal Navy’, ‘Archaeology’ and inevitably ‘Brexit’ for example are instinctively what you might imagine people go to their local library to look up, the fact that entering even the most obscure terms usually returns a host of published research demonstrates how broad-based and useful Access to Research is,” said Sarah Faulder, Chief Executive of Publishers’ Licensing Ser- vices (PLS). PLS developed the service in partnership with publishers and librarians and continues to manage A2R with support from the leading academic publishers, Libraries Connected, The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) and the Pub- lishers Association. The service operates on a platform generously provided by ProQuest.
What do users think of the service? An independent nationwide survey2
heard
from Melanie, an archaeologist and A2R user who said: “I wasn’t expecting to have the same level of access as university, but
considering it is a free and public resource it has been very helpful.” Simon, who is using the service to research his book, was similarly impressed. “I was quite surprised”, he noted, “how much material was made available, some sub- scription services exclude some journals. I was surprised to fi nd some that I wasn’t expecting to fi nd.”
Local needs
The current re-launch has a number of drivers, principally to remind all public-fac- ing library staff – who may in some cases have come across A2R infrequently – of its benefi ts, but also to persuade, with much success so far, those handful of remain- ing authorities which have yet to sign up to off er the service to do so. The CILIP Public & Mobile Libraries Group conference in October 2019 included a presentation on A2R and a lively discussion followed including on how librarians might them- selves use A2R to research speakers for library events, and on how the service can support Libraries’ Universal Health Off er as a source of high-quality information on health issues. Naturally, A2R is also a good resource to support Information & Digital Off er activities.
Following feedback from librarians, a news release template for librarians to adapt with a local angle and pass on to their council news- letter or local media is now available.
On 25 March, CILIP is running a free short webinar for librarians about A2R. Participants will learn more about the rationale behind A2R, learn how to help users with their most common question about using the service and how best to answer FAQs that are posed about it. The webinar will also include examples of how librarians can make use of A2R to help fulfi l other objectives including the Uni- versal Health Off er. It is primarily aimed at Public Library workers, as A2R is only available through public libraries. However the webinar is open to anyone wanting to learn more about the scheme. To book a place visit
https://bit.ly/2VFl0AI. For further information on A2R visit www.
accesstoresearch.org.uk. A2R enquiries and to request posters, media templates and leafl ets, contact Robert Stein, PLS, on
r.stein@
pls.org.uk. IP
References
1
http://www.researchinfonet.org/wp-content/up- loads/2012/06/Finch-Group-report-FINAL-VERSION. pdf
2 Shared Intelligence. Access to Research – A Report to the PLS and the Society of Chief Librar- ians.
Upcoming Wednesday Webinars from CILIP
Introduction to Scenario planning with Matt Finch 12.30pm on 18 March
This lively participatory session will introduce you to scenario planning and the benefi ts it can bring to your organisation – Free for Leaders Network members. – Book at
https://bit.ly/3aoNCSW
Access to research webinar with Robert Stein 12.30pm on 25 March
See feature for details – Book at
https://bit.ly/2TykkdF
Conference Poster design with Helen Else 12.30pm on 31 March
Tips on how to create professional looking posters for anyone looking to give a poster demonstration at conferences and events. This webinar has been sponsored by CILIP’s HLG and is free for all CILIP members. – Book at
https://bit.ly/2IhErYu
Killer commands for eff ective information retrieval with Karen Blakeman 12.30pm on 22 April
This webinar looks at the key commands needed to improve the relevance and eff ectiveness of information retrieval. This webinar has been sponsored by CILIP’s UKeiG and is free for all CILIP members. – Book at
https://bit.ly/39mgzyO
March 2020 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
