Adi Alter and Eddie Neuwirth, Ex Libris
The following is one of a series exploring the challenges involved in research management and possible solutions.
In the second part of our series on research services, we looked at how Esploro, the Ex Libris Research Services Platform, uses a new approach to tackle the complexities of the research lifecycle. Esploro integrates and automates common research workflows, breaks down silos between the library, research office, and researchers, and provides metrics and benchmarks for each of these stakeholders.
How can the library leverage the Esploro platform to enhance its role in the research lifecycle?
For many academic libraries, the next question is: How does a unified research services platform like Esploro impact the role of the library? Or perhaps: How can the library leverage the Esploro platform to enhance its role in the research life cycle?
Academic libraries already function as a hub for certain aspects of the research process. They bring together the staff, skills, and expertise needed for curation, data management, research consultation, and content dissemination. In recognition of this, many academic libraries have plans for, or are in the process of, increasing their involvement in supporting research activities.
At Ex Libris, we believe that libraries are well positioned to drive the transition to a more holistic approach to research services management, by enhancing library productivity, scaling up support for research activities, and increasing collaboration with the Research Office and researchers themselves. For the library, one of the key benefits of this transition is the ability to strengthen the library’s position at the heart of academic research.
In fact, an inherent benefit of a comprehensive research services platform is increased collaboration between the library and the research office. Libraries can provide increased discoverability of research outputs and data, support compliance with funding requirements, and enhance the support of data management plans.
Moving to coherent, streamlined workflows does not imply changing the way researchers work today, in cases where processes already work well. In leveraging researcher familiarity with library functions and repositories, the research services platform remains essentially transparent to researchers. However, behind the scenes, the library and the research office share a view and workflows around research publication, data collection, scholar profiles, and related activities.
What are the other important benefits of such a Research Services Platform? More on that in the next installment!
March 22, 2018
